Page 36 of Magical Melee (Stonewick Magical Midlife Witch Academy #1)

The quiet was disconcerting after the chaos of the fight. The townspeople had left, their numbers dwindling back into the safety of their homes.

It was just Stella, Keegan, Twobble, and me at the cottage. The gargoyles had returned to their perches, statuesque and vigilant once more.

I spotted Twobble near the garden, perched on a low stone wall, his small frame silhouetted against the moonlit woods. His sword rested beside him, and he was chewing on something that looked suspiciously like a leftover pastry from the tea shop.

I walked over, my boots crunching softly on the gravel path. “Twobble,” I called gently.

He turned, his sharp eyes glinting in the low light. “Ah, Maeve! Come to praise my heroics, have you?” He grinned, flashing his tiny, pointed teeth. “I’ll allow it.”

I chuckled, settling onto the wall beside him. “You were incredible out there,” I said sincerely. “You and your army saved us.”

Twobble puffed out his chest. “Of course we did. Goblins aren’t just for setting traps and stealing pastries, you know.”

“Clearly,” I said, shaking my head. “But seriously, what happened to you? I thought you were staying behind in the tunnel.”

His grin faded slightly, and he leaned back on his elbows, gazing up at the stars. “Ah, about that. Turns out you were in the Academy for days.”

My jaw dropped. “ Days ? That’s not possible. It felt like—what? An hour, maybe?”

Twobble nodded sagely. “Time gets a little… wobbly in there. Happens to everyone. Well, everyone who’s not a goblin. We’re too practical for that kind of nonsense. You know the phrase, time stands still?”

I frowned as my chest tightened.

“Anyway, after you disappeared, I sensed something was wrong. By the time I got back here, Karvey was doing his best to keep the evil shadows at bay. Stubborn old gargoyle doesn’t like asking for help.”

I smiled at the mention of Karvey. “Sounds about right. Why didn’t you come back through the tunnel?”

Twobble’s grin returned, his sharp teeth catching the moonlight. “Ah, that’s the fun part. The Academy shut off the tunnels. Completely sealed them.”

I blinked. “It can do that?”

“Apparently,” Twobble said, his tone mock-serious. “I had no idea the Academy even cared about what I do. Makes me wonder if it secretly likes having me snoop around.”

I laughed despite myself, shaking my head. “So, you think the Academy has a soft spot for you?”

“Why not?” Twobble said, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “I’m charming, resourceful, and clearly indispensable. Who wouldn’t want me around?”

“True.”

Twobble leaned in slightly, his tone dropping to something more serious. “You’re not convinced about the whole missing time thing, are you?”

“Not really,” I admitted. “It just seems… impossible.”

“Well, believe it,” he said, tossing the last bit of pastry into his mouth. “Tomorrow’s Thanksgiving.”

That stopped me cold. “Thanksgiving? No, that can’t be right.”

“Check the date if you don’t believe me,” Twobble said with a shrug. “People have been talking about time getting all twisted around the Academy for years. Go in for an afternoon stroll and come out a week later. Happens more often than you’d think.”

I stared at him, my mind racing. “But days… how did it happen so fast?”

“The Academy plays by its own rules,” Twobble said. “And if you’re asking why, well, that’s something only it knows.”

I shivered slightly, pulling my coat tighter around me. The idea that I’d lost days without even realizing it was…unsettling. Yet, as unnerving as it was, a part of me longed to go back, to learn more, to understand the pull I’d felt the moment those grand doors opened.

Twobble watched me for a moment, his gaze unusually perceptive. “You’re scared,” he said softly.

“Yeah,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “A little.”

“Good,” he said, surprising me. “Means you’re not stupid. Fear keeps you sharp.”

I chuckled and nodded. “Thanks for that.”

I looked out toward the woods, the moonlight casting long shadows between the trees. “But it also makes me hesitate,” I said. “And we don’t have time for that. It also makes me wonder if I should have stayed at the Academy. When I came back to the cottage, I could see you all had it handled. I’m not sure I did anything much to help, but honestly, maybe it would have been more helpful to stay there and learn actual magic.”

A wry grin slipped across his lips. “The Academy presented you with the choice?”

I nodded with a shrug.

“Oh, Maeve. There is so much you don’t know.”

“Then tell me.” I glanced over his shoulder to see Keegan inside the cottage. There was something about the latest events that pulled me closer to him. “I haven’t had any time to actually learn what I need to know. Did I choose wrong?”

“That’s for the Academy to decide.” Twobble nodded slowly. “But you’ve got something better than time—you’ve got us. You have heart. And trust me, Maeve, no matter how bad it gets, you’re not doing this alone.”

His words warmed me, easing the anxiety in my chest. I reached out and placed a hand on his small, bony shoulder. “Thanks, Twobble. For everything.”

“Anytime,” he said, flashing me a grin. “But if you really want to thank me, bring some pastries next time. Fighting evil works up an appetite.”

I laughed, the tension easing just a bit more. “Deal.”

We sat in companionable silence for a while, the quiet hum of the night settling around us. Despite the lingering unease, I felt a small spark of hope. Twobble was right—I wasn’t alone in this fight.

Eventually, I stood, brushing the dust from my coat. “I should get some sleep. Tomorrow’s… Thanksgiving, apparently.”

Twobble smirked. “And you’ve got a cottage full of magical misfits to celebrate with. What more could you ask for?”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “You’re not coming inside?”

He shook his head. “I need to talk to my clan about the days ahead.”

My chest tightened, wondering what all he knew. “Goodnight, Twobble.”

“Goodnight, Maeve,” he said, his grin fading to a softer smile.

As I walked back toward the cottage, the weight of the past few days settled over me. The thought of the Academy, its ancient halls and infinite mysteries, lingered in my mind. I still didn’t fully understand my place in all of this, but I knew one thing for sure: I had chosen my friends, and I would fight for them, no matter what the future held.

The cottage was quiet when I stepped back inside, the warmth from the crackling fireplace a stark contrast to the cool night air outside. Frank was sprawled out on the hearth rug, his snores a sweet rumble as his stubby legs twitched in his sleep. For a moment, the scene felt almost normal—a cozy home, a sleeping dog, and the distant scent of something vaguely sweet in the air.

I think he’d finally forgiven me for locking him in the cellar.

Keegan stood near the window, his profile outlined by the flickering light. His sword leaned against the wall, and his arms were crossed as he stared out into the woods, lost in thought. He turned as I entered, and his gaze locked onto mine.

There was something different in his eyes, a softness I hadn’t seen before. The usual intensity was still there, but now it was tinged with something warmer, something that made my heart skip a beat.

“Everything okay out there?” he asked, his voice low, almost gentle.

I nodded, trying to ignore the sudden flutter in my chest. “Yeah. Twobble’s holding court in the garden. He’s fine, and so are the goblins. They’ve earned a break.”

Keegan’s lips quirked in a half-smile, but his eyes stayed on me, studying, searching. The air between us felt charged, and for a moment, I was hyper-aware of how close we were. The spark between us wasn’t new, but tonight, it felt stronger, more dangerous.

I looked away, pretending to fuss with the hem of my sleeve, but the warmth of his gaze lingered.

“You’re not tired?” he asked, stepping closer.

“No,” I admitted. “Too much adrenaline, I guess.”

Keegan nodded, his expression thoughtful. “That’ll do it.”

He stepped closer, and his lips were so close to mine that I wondered…

If maybe…

His mouth parted slowly, and he let out a deep breath. “Thank you, Maeve.”

My heart clenched, and I realized the missed opportunity was just that. A chance that neither of us was ready to take.

The silence stretched between us, comfortable but heavy with unspoken thoughts. But something from earlier started to stir inside of me.

“Keegan,” I said, my voice hesitant but firm. “What did you mean earlier? About the curse?”

His jaw tightened, and the warmth in his eyes dimmed, replaced by a shadow of regret. “You remembered that, huh?”

“I did,” I said, crossing my arms. “You brought it up, so now you have to explain. What curse?”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s not something we like to talk about.”

“Well, too bad,” I pressed, trying to ignore how my heart ached at the vulnerability in his expression. “I need to know.”

Keegan hesitated, his gaze flicking to Frank, who snored obliviously by the fire.

Finally, he spoke.

Bitterness tinged his voice.

“About forty years ago, a curse fell upon Stonewick,” he said. “It severed us from our allies—the shifter clans, the packs, even some of the fae. They were our strongest supporters, our safety net when things got bad. And then… they turned their backs on us. Some left willingly, others were forced out. The curse made sure we were alone and isolated. Shifter Packs broke up. The Fae divided. Stonewick was left to fend for itself. We’re lucky Twobble and his clan stayed.”

“Why?” I asked, my throat tightening. “What caused it?”

Keegan shook his head, his lips pressing into a thin line. “No one knows for sure. The curse came suddenly, without warning. One day, we were a thriving community with powerful allies. The next, we were isolated, struggling to defend ourselves. The Academy had been closed for about sixty years already, and the town was making do, so nobody truly knows how it happened or where the curse came from.”

The weight of his words settled over me, and I felt a pang of guilt. I had chosen to stay with my friends to fight for Stonewick, but I hadn’t realized just how much they’d already lost.

“Is that why Shadowick is so bold now?” I asked softly. “Because they know we’re vulnerable?”

Keegan’s expression darkened. “Exactly.”

Before I could press further, Stella bustled in from the kitchen, her apron dusted with flour and a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

“Ah, there you are, Maeve!” she said brightly, her voice cutting through the heavy atmosphere. “Come on, we need all hands on deck for Thanksgiving prep. You wouldn’t believe the mess I’ve made trying to bake pies.”

I blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “Thanksgiving? Now?”

“Yes, now,” Stella said, grabbing my arm with surprising strength. “Time waits for no one, especially not pies. Come on, you’ll love it. We’ll bake, we’ll laugh, and we’ll forget for a few hours that we’re under siege. Ember is working hard to strengthen the Maple Ward while Nova is handling the Flame and Butterfly wards. It’s our job to make tomorrow feel as normal as possible.”

I glanced back at Keegan, but Stella was already pulling me toward the kitchen. He gave me a small, apologetic smile but said nothing more. I couldn’t help but wonder if Stella had swooped in deliberately, cutting off the conversation before it could go any deeper.

Keegan knew more about the curse than he was letting on. That much I was sure of.

The warm, buttery scent of pastry dough and spiced apples filled the air as we entered the kitchen. Stella let go of my arm and began bustling around, pulling out mixing bowls and rolling pins.

“Here,” she said, handing me a wooden spoon. “Stir that while I roll out the dough.”

I obeyed, though my mind was still spinning from what Keegan had told me. “Stella,” I said slowly, “was it really that bad when the curse hit?”

She didn’t look up from her work, her hands expertly flattening the dough. “It was worse,” she said quietly. “But we survived. And we’ll survive this, too. If we’re lucky, maybe we’ll even break the curse.”

Her words were meant to be reassuring, but they only made my heart ache more. There was so much I didn’t know, so much history and pain that had been kept from me. I wanted to understand, to help, but how could I fight an enemy I didn’t fully understand?

“Why didn’t anyone tell me sooner?” I asked.

Stella finally looked up, her expression softening. “Because you had enough on your plate,” she said. “And because some things are easier to carry when they’re shared later.”

I frowned, unsure what to make of her answer. But before I could press further, she gave me a pie dish and a playful nudge. “Come on, Maeve. Let’s make some magic in the kitchen. Literally.”

I managed a small smile and set to work, but the questions still lingered in the back of my mind. As I rolled out the dough and sprinkled spices over the filling, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to the story than anyone was letting on.

Later, as the pies baked and the kitchen filled with laughter, I glanced out the window. The moon hung high in the sky, casting a pale glow over the woods. The Academy loomed in my mind, its ancient walls holding answers I couldn’t yet grasp.

But for now, I was here.

With my friends.

And despite everything, I felt a flicker of hope.

We would face whatever came next. Together.