Page 21 of Magical Melee (Stonewick Magical Midlife Witch Academy #1)

I turned to Nova. “Okay, we’ve got Stella the sultry vampire and Ember the ghost,” I said, shooting Stella a playful grin, which she returned with a wink. “But what about you, Nova? You dodged the question back at your shop.”

Nova, who had been quietly sipping her tea, paused mid-sip and sighed.

She deliberately set her cup down as her green eyes met mine. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

“Not a chance,” I said, leaning forward. “Spill it.”

Stella smirked.

Nova rolled her eyes but looked resigned rather than annoyed. She brushed her dark hair over one shoulder, revealing pointed ears that peeked through like little secrets.

“Fine,” she said, her voice calm but with a touch of dramatic flair. “Elfin lineage is on my father’s side.”

“Elfin?” I repeated, staring at her ears. “As in elf? Santa?”

Nova’s lips twitched with an unreadable expression. “Yes, Maeve. I carry the naughty-and-nice list at all times.”

“Sorry.” I shook my head. “But seriously… What does that mean, exactly? What about your mom? How does an elf and a mel get together?”

“Magic,” Nova replied simply, leaning back in her chair. “Elves are rare. Even more so for those who choose to live among humans. My father was one of them. They fell madly in love.”

“And your mother?” I asked.

“She never fully understood the magical side of our family, but she loved my father and me deeply. When he passed, she did her best to protect me from the more… dangerous aspects of our world.” She smiled. “She found out about Stonewick and moved us here for safety.”

“So, you’re a half-elf,” I said, still marveling at her pointed ears. “You’re considered a seer. Are there other things that being an elf includes?”

Nova gave me a look that could only be described as long-suffering . “I’m a seer because I can feel deeply. It can be crippling, but I’ve used it to my advantage. Sometimes, the wind whispers secrets to me, and the vines keep me where I need to be.”

“That’s beautiful.” I thought back to the hidden garden’s vines and their ability to run over my feet.

Nova’s expression softened, and she rested her hands on the table. “I’m more attuned to the magical energies around us. I can sense things others might miss—shifts in the balance of power, hidden dangers, even emotions to some extent.” She shook her head slowly. “I saw Gideon coming, but I couldn’t get here fast enough.”

“Wait,” I said, narrowing my eyes. “You can sense emotions? Like a magical therapist?”

“Not exactly,” she said, a faint smile playing on her lips. “No. More like the energy people give off in the present. It helps when I’m doing readings or trying to understand someone’s intentions. For instance, I know that Skye cares about you deeply and would do anything for you.”

“I feel the same.”

She nodded. “I know you do.”

“And my mind…”

“That’s a special secret of mine. Thanks to Stonewick.” She glanced at Stella. “This village imparts gifts to those it feels are worthy. It’s why Stella isn’t only a vampire but can also harness magic from her previous life.”

“Wow. That explains a lot,” I said, nodding. “You always seem to know exactly what I’m thinking.”

Stella chimed in, her voice light. “Nova’s abilities have saved us more times than I can count. She’s our secret weapon when it comes to sniffing out trouble.”

Nova gave a modest shrug. “It’s not as glamorous as it sounds, and sometimes, the timing is off.”

“Are you immortal like Stella?”

“I age slower than humans, but I’m not immortal. Elves live longer lives, but we’re not invincible. I’ve been around for a while, but I’ll eventually grow old like anyone else.”

“How old is a while?” I asked, leaning forward with interest.

Nova smirked. “Let’s just say I’ve seen more than a few generations come and go.”

“Ah, the elusive answer,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Classic.”

Nova chuckled, and even Keegan looked faintly amused. Ember, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up.

“You know, Maeve,” Ember said, her tone dry, “for someone who just found out about vampires, ghosts, and elves, you’re taking this surprisingly well.”

“Honestly?” I said, glancing around the table. “At this point, finding out Frank is secretly a wizard wouldn’t even surprise me.”

Frank, at the mention of his name, let out a low grumble, his face a perfect picture of bulldog disapproval.

The air shifted in the room.

“He’s not a wizard,” Stella said, patting Frank’s head. “But he is remarkably perceptive for a dog.”

Nova raised an eyebrow. “You’re assuming dogs can’t have their own kind of magic.”

I gave Frank a skeptical look. “If you’ve been holding out on me, buddy, now’s the time to come clean.”

Frank just snorted and laid his head back down.

Stella laughed, and the sound rang like a bell. “See, Maeve? You fit right in.”

The funny thing was that it felt like the biggest compliment I’d ever received, besides being told I was a good mom.

Nova leaned forward. Her green eyes turned serious. “And you’ll need to keep fitting in. The more you understand our world, the better you’ll be prepared for what’s coming.”

My smile faded, and I nodded, feeling the weight of her words. “Right. Shadowick, Gideon, and whatever else is out there.”

“We’re not going anywhere,” Stella assured me.

I looked around the table at Stella’s sparkling confidence, Nova’s calm wisdom, Keegan’s steady strength, and Ember’s stealthy determination. Despite the chaos, I felt the familiar sense of belonging.

For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t facing the unknown alone.

I turned to Keegan, still processing everything I’d just learned about Stella and Nova. If a vampire and a half-elf were sitting at this table, what did that mean for the brooding, enigmatic man who always seemed to be lurking in the background?

“So,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him. “What about you, Keegan? Are you a mel like me? Or do you have some supernatural secret, too?”

He let out a low chuckle, the sound rough and surprisingly warm. “A mel? Maeve, you’re no ordinary human yourself.”

“Right,” I said, crossing my arms. “You mean the whole witch thing? Still wrapping my head around that, by the way.”

Keegan’s grin deepened, but he didn’t comment. Instead, he sipped his drink. His eyes glinted with amusement.

“Fine,” I pressed. “If I’m not ordinary, what about you? Are you a witch, too?”

Before Keegan could respond, Stella pushed back her chair and stood, brushing imaginary crumbs from her sparkly blouse. “I’ll leave you two to it.” She winked. “Some of us have scones to bake.”

Nova and Ember followed. Each offered a brief nod before heading toward the small kitchen. I could feel the air shift as they left, the tension between Keegan and me growing thicker with every passing second.

Once the door swung shut behind them, I turned my full attention back to him. “Well?”

Keegan leaned back in his chair, his arms crossing over his chest. “You’re persistent.”

“I’ve been told it’s one of my better qualities,” I said, matching his posture. “Come on, Keegan. You’ve dodged this question long enough. What are you?”

He tilted his head, studying me for a long moment before finally speaking. “I’m a warlock.”

I blinked, not quite sure what I’d expected, but that wasn’t it.

“A warlock,” I repeated. “Okay. And what does that mean exactly? Are you just a male witch, or is there more to it?”

Keegan’s mouth twitched like he was holding back a laugh. “There’s a bit more to it than that.”

“Enlighten me,” I said, leaning forward.

“A warlock is someone who’s forged a bond with magic through ancient rites. It’s not just about casting spells—it’s about channeling energy, tapping into forces that most people can’t even comprehend.”

I nodded slowly, trying to absorb this new information. “So, you’re like… supercharged?”

“You could say that,” he said, his tone carefully neutral.

“Do you have a huge wand?” I asked, genuinely curious.

Keegan’s lips moved into laughter when I realized what my question sounded like.

“What do you think?”

My cheeks instantly flamed red, but I couldn't stop laughing.

“I mean, it’s not the size of the wand. It’s how you use it,” I offered.

Keegan laughter only grew as he shook his head. “My wand suits me just fine.”

“So, no complaints then?”

His brows lifted. “Would it matter?”

I liked seeing this side of Keegan but had to look away as heat rolled through me. Seeing him like this felt natural and more like him. But the moment my eyes returned to his, he grew serious again.

“What kind of magic do you know?”

“It depends on what’s needed. Protection spells, elemental magic, healing, guardian practices…”

“So, a little bit of everything?”

He nodded.

“Is Gideon a warlock, too?”

Keegan nodded. “A powerful one. But unlike me, Gideon’s bonded with dark forces. He uses his power to manipulate and destroy.”

“And you use yours to protect,” I said, more to myself than to him. “You’re like Stonewick’s magical bodyguard.”

Keegan raised an eyebrow. “Something like that.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “You seem like the bodyguard type.”

“Why’s that?” he asked, his tone light.

“Big, broody, sincere,” I said, smirking. “But you’re allergic to giving straight answers.”

Keegan laughed again, a sound that sent a pleasant warmth spreading through my chest. “Fair point.”

The tension between us shifted for a moment, becoming something lighter, almost playful. I could see a different side of Keegan now—one that wasn’t all seriousness and stern warnings. It was a nice change and, honestly, kind of endearing.

“So,” I said, leaning back in my chair, “what’s your go-to magic trick?”

Keegan’s smile widened. “You’ll have to wait and see.”

“Typical,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Fine, keep your secrets. But don’t think I won’t figure them out.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” he said. His gaze steadied on mine, and I felt a thrill.

The room fell into a comfortable silence, the weight of earlier conversations momentarily lifted. I found myself relaxing, despite everything. For the first time since arriving in Stonewick, I felt like I was starting to understand the people around me—and maybe even myself.

“Thanks, Keegan,” I said softly, breaking the silence.

“For what?” he asked, his tone curious.

“For finally answering my question,” I said with a small smile. “And for, you know, not being a total enigma for once.”

Keegan chuckled, the sound low and genuine. “Don’t get used to it.”

I laughed, the sound light and freeing. “Too late.”

As the laughter faded, I realized just how much I appreciated this moment. In a world full of mysteries and danger, it was nice to have someone like Keegan—a warlock with a sense of humor and a knack for keeping things interesting.

“Why didn’t you tell me some of this when I first came to Stonewick or back at the cottage?”

“Do you actually think you would have believed me?”

I laughed. “You’re right.”

A few seconds of silence sat between us.

“And thank you for the other night at the laundromat.”

“My pleasure.” His eyes stayed locked on mine. “I’ll always be there to protect you. I gave your father my word.”

Keegan’s words hit me hard, and as I looked at the boy I used to know, I believed it. I just prayed he never had to rise to the challenge.