Page 67 of Magical Mischief

I nodded. “Yes, absolutely. I…I felt something during that last incantation.”

Images danced between me and Gideon the night I freed Dad, and I couldn’t shake the union. “Like a… connection. Memories pushed into my mind, but I also saw glimpses of something. I’m unsure if I can trust it, or if it’s just another trick.”

“A connection of some sort to his thoughts?” Bella asked.

“It felt deeper,” I admitted. “Like… a bond, if that makes any sense. I saw flickers of his pain, his resentment. Maybe even a shred of regret.” A wave of uncertainty washed over me. “But Gideon is cunning. He might’ve planted it all on purpose, to manipulate me.”

Stella let out a low hum, eyebrows rising.

“I hope there is no true bond there,” Stella said softly, glancing at Keegan.

Keegan, who’d been pacing near the fire, froze mid-step. His jaw clenched slightly.

“A bond?” His voice edged with bitterness. “Gideon’s illusions latch onto vulnerabilities. Don’t confuse that with real connection.” His gaze locked on mine, hazel eyes darkening, and a tremor of tension rippled between us.

My mouth went dry.

Did… did he think I was choosing Gideon somehow?

“I’m not confusing that,” I started, heart pounding. “I’m just uncertain if any part of him is genuine, or if all of it’smanipulative magic? I’m just trying to glean information about the curse.”

His posture remained tight, arms rigid at his sides. “I saw when it happened between you two, and it worried me. I’d hoped I was wrong.”

“I don’t believe anything that came from Gideon’s mind, but I won’t forget it. Things might be valuable or give us answers that even he didn’t intend.”

Keegan’s gaze filled with understanding as he nodded. “Take it from me. Gideon doesn’t form meaningful bonds. He exploits them.”

A flicker of something else passed between us—anger, maybe jealousy, or fear. I suddenly realized, with a jolt, that maybe Keegan’s protectiveness was more personal than I’d thought.

The idea lit a flutter in my stomach. The tension radiating from him suggested more than duty.

Stella picked up on the upheaval of emotions and cleared her throat diplomatically.

“Anyway, focusing back to the Academy… You should probably head there soon. The sprites might have new guidance.”

“That’s what I’m hoping.” I nodded in agreement and was happy to put aside my worries about Keegan and his feelings, or non-feelings.

“Right,” Bella agreed. “I can do some recon and see if the Wards are stirring. With Frank safe, you can shift your attention to breaking this curse, and I’m here to help however I can until we get our first wave of students.”

I smiled at Bella. “I’m itching to get back inside. I know what you’ve told me about the shifters being even more on edge. Our world can’t survive a divide for too much longer, and we certainly don’t want the other factions to start to crumble.”

Between the dragons’ lure and the feeling of something else the Academy wanted to reveal, I knew I had to return soon. Grandma Elira needed news of her son, and the faster I opened the Academy, the quicker my dad could come onto the grounds.

And maybe…just maybe, if the doors opened to students, we might get enough energy to fuel the Wards and gain more insight and protection while we end the curse.

A rap on the front door cut through the cozy hush.

My dad jerked his head up and let out a curious growl.

Twobble nearly dropped his bacon, and Bella’s fox ears flicked in and out.

“Huh,” she said warily. “Expecting anyone?”

I shook my head. “Hopefully, it’s Nova, but she would have just walked in.”

Twobble straightened his narrow shoulders. “Certainly doesn’t feel like Nova, but I recognize this presence, and with that, pardon me while I exit through the back.”

His brows pulled together in annoyance, and his mouth clenched shut, and I knew I wouldn’t be getting any further answers from him.