Page 91 of Magical Melee

“You called?” Nova asked, staring at me.

“Uh. No…” I shook my head. “I don’t think I did. I don’t even know where I put my cell. But I’m grateful you’re here.”

Nova chuckled.

The fire’s warmth did little to chase away the chill in my bones as I took a seat. I leaned forward, elbows on my knees, and stared into the flames as if they held answers to the magical melee that had become my life.

Frank sat close by, his eyes flicking back and forth between the window and me, his little body still on high alert. Twobble lounged on the arm of the couch as if nothing had happened earlier.

“Is everything okay?” Nova asked, kneeling in front of me.

“Oh, it was fun. Delicious fun,” Twobble quipped, tossing a small pebble from one hand to the other. “A nice bit of evening drama to keep things lively.”

I shot him a look. “Fun? You call mysterious lights in the woods and potentially hostile figures hanging around fun?”

He grinned, his sharp teeth glinting in the firelight. “Keeps things interesting, doesn’t it?”

Nova squeezed my hand and stood by the hearth.

“You’ve had a visitor?” Keegan asked.

Stella, Nova, and Keegan looked so at ease standing in the living room like they owned the place, their expressions a mix of concern and determination…but like this type of thing always happened.

“I think it’s a dryad.” Karvey gave a quick nod.

“I thought you said a wood nymph?”

“Same difference.” Twobble shrugged.

“Don’t let them hear you say that,” Nova warned.

“Okay,” I said, standing abruptly. “Is there some magical group chat I don’t know about? How did you all get here so fast?”

Nova offered a small smile. “You called for us.”

I blinked. “I… what? No, I didn’t.”

“Not out loud,” Stella said, shedding her sparkly coat with a flourish. “But I felt it. Your thoughts reached out loud and clear.”

“We came as fast as we could.” Stella smiled, but I had to admit it was hard tounseethe fangs.

I laughed, but it came out more like a nervous bark. “Sure I did. Next, you’ll tell me I’ve got telepathic powers.”

“It’s not telepathy,” Nova explained, her voice calm. “It’s a form of magical connection. You’re linked to Stonewick and, by extension, to us. When you’re in distress, we sense it.”

“Distress?” Twobble chimed in, his eyes wide with mock surprise. “Maeve? Distressed? Perish the thought.”

“Shut it, Twobble,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. “I’m not buying this. You’re telling me I sent out a magical distress signal with my thoughts?”

“Whether you believe it or not,” Keegan said, his voice steady, “we’re here. And it seems like you needed us.”

Frank huffed in agreement, his tail wagging slightly as if to say,Finally, someone sensible.

Twobble leaned closer to Nova. “If she keeps doubting her powers, can we stage an intervention? Maybe a PowerPointpresentation? ‘So, You’re a Witch: A Beginner’s Guide to Freaking Out in the Magical Realm.’”

“Twobble,” Nova said without looking at him, “not now.”

Karvey, who had been standing silently near the window, finally spoke. “I should return to my post. The roof offers a better vantage point.”