Page 50 of Magical Mischief

He shook his head and plowed images of a future victory into my head.

But he didn’t understand. I wasn’t looking for victory. I was looking for peace.

He slammed one last rush of power with a dizzying, seductive force, and I hated how a corner of my soul reacted with curiosity instead of outright revulsion.

From somewhere behind, I heard Keegan’s voice, strained and urgent: “Maeve, fight it!”

Nova’s chanting rose in pitch as a shimmering wave of magic crested near the circle. Bella’s creations darted again, dancing lights that drew Gideon’s attention.

He growled, swatting them away, but the brief lapse gave me space to breathe, to push back.

They were trying to break his hold on me.

I clung to that anchor and focused.

A wave of black fire roared up from the ground, and I stumbled. The circle flickered, half-broken from the mental struggle.

Stars danced in my vision, and the cold air stung my lungs.

Keegan’s voice echoed through the air with archaic chants I didn’t understand, coating me with love and the kindness I craved. He was protecting me…again.

A crack boomed through the air as I saw Keegan’s large silhouette raising something I hadn’t seen before.

A staff, perhaps?

Light reflected into the night’s sky as the ground rumbled and then…

Gideon was gone.

I knelt in the snow and panted as tears of embarrassment burned hot trails down my cheeks.

Footsteps crunched up behind me.

Stella helped me to my feet.

“Maeve,” she whispered, checking me for injuries. “Are you all right? Did he—?”

“He tried to take me. He… he showed me a part of himself.”

Nova approached, breathless.

“We almost severed his magic entirely.”

Keegan hopped down from the hotel’s steps, eyes roving the damaged circle with anger and worry.

“Maeve, are you okay?” His voice lowered as his hands ran along my arms, attempting to catch my gaze with his. “Maeve?”

I brought my eyes to his and let out a slow breath. “Yes, thank you. I can’t thank you all enough. I wasn’t…strong enough.”

“He’s a powerful mage, Maeve. It’s not your fault. You did extraordinarily well.” Keegan’s voice was controlled.

I forced a nod and swallowed the knot in my throat.

Bella joined us, her foxlike grace dampened by concern.

“Did you learn anything about why he’s doing this?” she asked.

I remembered the flicker of heartbreak in Gideon’s memories and the sense of isolation twisted into a cruelty of his making.