Page 1 of Magical Mirage (Stonewick Magical Midlife Witch Academy #6)

For the first time in weeks, the cottage smelled less like singed rosemary and misplaced spells and more like hot mint tea and possibility.

Of course, that might’ve had something to do with Stella insisting I needed magical fortification in liquid form and had set up an endless supply of summery brews to celebrate the end of the spring semester.

“Drink up, dear,” she said, gliding through my kitchen with a grace no mortal could possess, let alone a vampire witch of her vintage. “If we’re going to keep your handsome wolf from the jaws of this pesky curse, we’ll need your strength.”

"Is this tea or courage you're brewing, Stella?" I teased, wrapping my fingers around the warm mug as the spicy scent tingled my nose.

"Why, both, of course," she replied, leaning in conspiratorially. "Although it's mostly spice and a whisper of desperation."

I chuckled, feeling lighter despite everything that happened during Moonbeam. We’d all been attempting to heal from the bumps and bruises, but the emotional toll still lingered.

It was hard not to smile with Stella here, fussing and bossing as if she hadn’t spent centuries surviving on sass and tea. I glanced toward the fireplace, half-expecting to see Frank curled in front, snoring in bulldog bliss.

Oddly, my heart clenched sharply. I’d gotten so used to the constant hum of my dad in bulldog form that now that he had two legs and a five-foot eleven-inch human frame, I was mourning all over again.

But space was good. He needed time to remember what it was like to be human and was trundling around the Academy grounds with Grandma Elira.

Twobble bounded in, a goblin on a mission, with his pockets rustling suspiciously with what I presumed to be pilfered sweets from Stella’s tea shop. He’d gone there to pick up some more loose-leaf tea at her request, but that was over two hours ago.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I appointed myself Official Snack Inspector of the tea shop,” he announced proudly, though crumbs betrayed his methods were questionable at best. “I think some of the student workers you have there might be dabbling a little too much in the secret stash.” He knowingly waggled his brows.

“Seemed a little loopy…if you know what I’m saying. ”

I chuckled and nodded, realizing I knew exactly what he was saying, and I wasn’t sure if that should delight me or frighten me at this point.

He pulled out a croissant and took a bite as I narrowed my eyes on him.

“As long as you don’t get caught,” I said, a smile escaping despite myself.

“I always get caught,” Twobble replied earnestly, “but luckily, I’m cute. It’s advantageous to be adorable in my position, Maeve.”

“Don’t get all high and mighty,” Skonk barked, walking into the cottage’s kitchen. “We all know I’m the cuter twin.”

Oh, no. Here we went again.

“What are you even doing here? You said you’d leave the day after Moonbeam, and it’s been weeks.” Twobble frowned and polished off his pastry. “Weeks.”

Skonk folded his tiny arms over his chest and tilted his head. “I’ve been organizing the Academy’s papers. Maeve isn’t the best record keeper, and I thought with my impeccable organizational skills, I could get everything sorted since she took over before I headed out.”

“I’m not that bad.” It was hard not to like Twobble’s cousin.

“That explains the jelly smudge on the Academy’s newest mission statement,” Stella chimed in, one eyebrow arched high in amusement.

It felt good to laugh, to have their warmth easing away the sharp edges of my worry. But beneath the cozy comfort, an ache still pulsed, raw and unyielding.

Keegan.

The curse had sunk its teeth deeper into him, twisting him from fierce protector to unwilling prey, and every beat of my heart reminded me that time wasn’t our ally.

A soft knock at the door scattered my thoughts. I swung it open to find Nova and Ardetia standing side by side, a study in contrasts. Nova, with her knowing gaze, and Ardetia, with her hesitant grace, stood before me, and I quickly invited them in.

“The Wards,” Nova began, her voice low and steady, “they’re shifting.”

“Is that good news or bad news?” Twobble chirped, peeking from behind my leg, wiping his mouth with the backside of his hand.

Ardetia tilted her head thoughtfully.

“Perhaps both? Maple Ward has brightened again, Maeve. I’ve not seen it so vivid since...” Nova glanced at Ardetia uncertainly, “since long before the curse invaded Stonewick.”

Ardetia’s eyes sharpened with quiet intensity. “It means hope, but it also means we’re more exposed than ever. Gideon will notice. Soon.”

Gideon.

Even the sound of his name made my birthmark burn like a whispered warning. And to think that I wanted to help him, change him, turn him back so that he’d willingly release the curse.

But hope, that single fragile word, pushed me forward. The curse was cracking. My thoughts returned to Keegan, his fierce hazel eyes filled with quiet strength, even when shadows pulled at his edges. He'd faced worse, he’d claimed, though neither of us truly believed his words.

“I think it’s time to lean into the hope,” I said softly, more to convince myself than the others.

Nova smiled faintly, the seer’s edge softening in her gaze. “Agreed. Hope is powerful. It's what drives the Academy, and what makes you its heart.”

Twobble sniffed dramatically. “Stop or you’ll make me misty. And I can’t afford the soggy pockets. It ruins the chocolate.”

Stella scowled. “You snatched that too?”

“What do you mean too ?” Twobble shrugged.

Stella eyed him. “You have croissant crumbs on your upper lip, extra flaky.”

The laugh bubbled out before I could stop it, real and rich. I’d found a family here, unexpected, unruly, but fiercely loyal. Their belief was magic of its own.

Before Celeste left to return to college a couple of weeks ago, she’d felt it too.

Family in friendship.

Things had shifted between us, and I was looking forward to her returning this summer.

She’d promised her dad she’d go on a trip with him to Greece, or more like, I told Alex that if he was going to take his flavor of the week to Greece, he was certainly going to spoil his daughter with a special trip too.

Since I also managed to provide special cream for Alex’s bed bug bites, he readily agreed with me. Truthfully, all it took was for Keegan to undo his spell, which he did begrudgingly, and that made me fall a little harder.

A sudden flicker danced across the windowsill.

My heart stilled, then quickened. I stepped closer, seeing the struggling herb garden swaying in the breeze and bountiful butterflies fluttering from blossom to blossom. It might not be as grand as one planted by someone with a green thumb, but it made me happy.

After all, I was a Hedge witch, not a Kitchen witch, or a Green witch.

“I think good things are in store,” Nova said, noticing my gaze drift outside.

“It’s really happening,” I whispered, awe and hesitation threading through each word. “The curse... it’s losing its grip.”

“About time,” Stella muttered, casting a dramatic glance skyward. “I’m getting too old to defend against dark forces, Maeve. It's terribly inconvenient. Between teaching unruly witches of a certain age and running a tea shop, I’m ready for some spa days.”

I chuckled. “You don’t have to wait until the curse is over to have a spa day, Stella. It could be a while.”

Her gaze met mine, and her bright blue eyes sparkled. “I’d feel too guilty, and that in itself would ruin the experience.”

“Then we’ll hurry up and break the entire curse so you can have a relaxing spa day soon,” I teased.

“In all honesty, I bet Gideon is quaking in his boots.” Stella eyed Twobble, polishing off another chocolate from his pocket.

I frowned and took a sip of tea. “He doesn’t strike me as that type.”

Nova met my gaze, unspoken understanding passing between us. “The magic is reclaiming Stonewick, Maeve. It's your strength, your heart driving it.”

But even as hope kindled brighter, my heart tightened and my birthmark burned.

“Then why does it hurt so much to believe?” My voice wobbled despite my resolve.

Stella placed a gentle hand on my shoulder, the strength beneath her delicate touch undeniable. “Because caring deeply always carries a bit of pain. But it’s the best sort of ache, dear. It means you're alive.”

“And deeply stubborn,” Twobble added helpfully. “You just won’t stop until the task is finished.”

I laughed again, softer this time, warmth filling every hollow space in my heart. Stella was right, and Twobble, despite his questionable snack ethics, saw more clearly than most.

Magic wasn’t just spells and enchantments. It was love, messy and fierce. It was second chances and found family, the whispers of laughter when the world pressed too heavily, and it was falling for a man who would do anything to protect you.

“Let’s embrace the hope,” I said firmly, turning toward them. “Let’s use it as fuel. Keegan is counting on us, even if he’d never admit it.”

Nova nodded solemnly, eyes gleaming. “Then we fight for him and Stonewick.”

Stella straightened, adjusting her velvet cloak with practiced elegance. “With magical tea, of course. One can’t properly battle darkness without refreshments.”

And as Twobble excitedly rifled through his pockets, spilling chocolates and jelly beans across my table, I realized we truly might just crack this curse after all.

Together.

For a heartbeat, the garden shimmered with warmth, a fading golden glow stretching gently toward dusk. Stella, having assured me that courage could indeed be brewed into tea, adjusted her cloak, brushing nonexistent crumbs from the velvet hem, and motioned me outside.

“Come along, Maeve. No need to let this sunshine slip away without a little magical meddling.”