Page 39 of Magical Moonbeam

I looked at Nova, who had already pulled a tarot card from the air, turning it slowly in her fingers like it might answer everything.

“Here’s what Idoknow,” I said, finally. “The Moonbeam is approaching. Shadowick is stirring. The Wards are strong, for now, but we’ve all felt it. Something is waiting on the other side of that thinning Veil.”

I let that settle for a moment.

“I know the layout of Shadowick by heart,” Skonk announced.

My gaze whipped to his. “How is that possible?”

“I was running a mission, more of a reconnaissance, if you will.” Skonk polished his nails on his chest and blew his fingertips. “And I managed to get in and get out pretty quickly, but not before I skittered along each street and alleyway.” He tapped his temple. “I know it like the back of my palm.”

Twobble turned to look at his cousin and glanced at me.

“Still trust him?” I asked.

“Implicitly, even though I wish I could say otherwise.” Twobble pursed his lips together.

“What were you doing there?”

“Official goblin business.” Skonk lifted his brows. “Couldn’t tell you even if I wanted to, which I don’t.”

I snickered and shook my head, realizing the goblin life was something I needed to get used to.

“I’ll offer you room and board if you’ll stay and help us with our plans.” I knew they loved nothing more than a good trade.

Twobble gasped. “He’s going to be on the property?”

“Only until Moonbeam, the day after,” Skonk lifted his chin. “I have other places to be after this.”

Twobble’s shoulders relaxed.

“Thank you, Skonk, for offering your expertise.”

Skonk stretched out with a lazy sigh. “Well,nowI feel welcomed.”

“No one welcomed you,” Twobble grumbled.

Skonk tossed a pebble into the air and winked.

“I know.”

I glanced around the room and saw Nova’s steady eyes, Bella’s furrowed brow, Keegan’s quiet worry, and even Skonk’s smug little grin, and something clicked into place.

We weren’t ready.

Not even close.

“We need a dry run,” I said aloud.

That got everyone’s attention.

Stella perked up, lifting her teacup like she was toasting to the chaos. “Ooh. I do love rehearsal.”

“No, I mean it.” I stood a little straighter, thoughts falling into place like puzzle pieces. “Skonk knows the layout of Shadowick, every street, every alley, every crooked corner. But the rest of us? We’re going in half-blind.”

“I can sketch you a map,” Skonk offered casually, flicking another pebble between his fingers.

“Not good enough.” I shook my head. “We don’t need sketches. We needexperience.Muscle memory. Visual cues. Places to hide. Lines of sight.”