Page 71 of Magical Melee

Stella sighed, and her gaze turned distant. “The cottage is alive in its own way, Maeve. It senses things—changes, needs, even danger. Much like our town.”

“It’s the Stone Ward, correct?” I asked.

She nodded. “Yes, it offers a place of refuge and protection for those who need it, including the town itself. But it’s a long and complicated history.”

I clenched my fists, frustration bubbling to the surface. “But why keep it all from me? Why let me stumble into this blindly?”

“Because sometimes,” Stella said gently, “we’re not ready for the truth until we’re ready. And maybe the cottage knew you’d find your way back when the time was right.”

I slumped back in my chair. My mind whirred at warp speed. “So what am I supposed to do now? Just wait for more visions? Let Twobble drag me around the house like it’s a scavenger hunt?”

Not to mention, I couldn’t shake the nightmare I’d had. Something about the guy made me curious, and I knew that shouldn’t be my reaction. He was scary and bad.

A very bad guy.

It was written all over him, but he was also wholly opposite of Alex, and his cockiness was kind of…

Attractive?

No. Not attractive or appealing, but possibly alluring.

A spell…

Spellbinding?

Exactly!

He was probably warping my mind with some voodoo.

I shook myself out of my thoughts. “I’m just worried that more things are happening than even Twobble knows, and if I’m not clued in, I’ll…” My voice trailed off.

“Twobble’s methods may be unconventional, but he’s a valuable ally. He’ll help you uncover what you need to know, piece by piece. He’s done it for over a century.”

“And Keegan?” I asked, my voice softer.

Stella’s smile faded slightly. “Keegan is… complicated. He cares more than he lets on, but he’s bound by responsibilities that even I don’t fully understand. Trust him, but don’t rely on him to give you all the answers.”

I nodded slowly, feeling a strange mix of relief and apprehension. “I wish I grew up knowing all this like it was second nature. Being in my forties and trying to let my mind believe in the unknown and the magic of it all is tough, especially with my life recently imploding.”

“It is,” Stella agreed. “But you’re not alone, Maeve. You’ve got me, Twobble, and this entire town behind you. Stonewick has always taken care of itself. We won’t stop now.”

I finished my tea and let the warmth spread through me. Despite the chaos and uncertainty, there was a part of me that felt… grounded in this shop.

In this town.

Like I was exactly where I was supposed to be. But when I thought back to the dream where the man was trying to coax me into another place…

A great amount of uncertainty toyed with me.

Stella stood as her playful smile returned. “Now, how about we restock those shelves before the evening rush? And maybe later, I’ll show you a few tricks of the trade.”

“As in tea or…”

She winked at me. “You’ve got the tea down.”

A ripple of excitement shot through me.

“Sounds like a plan,” I said happily.