He rubbed his eyes once, then crossed his arms. “Visitor?”
“Yeah,” I said softly, feeling the weight of it all again. “We think a fae has shown up.”
For a second, he just stared like I’d spoken another language. “A fae… in Stonewick?”
“More precisely, in the Butterfly Ward. We’ve sensed it lurking around. Maybe shy, possibly testing us. It’s not openly showing itself. But Nova and I both believe it’s real. Not a dream or a leftover illusion thing. A genuine fae.”
He let out a slow breath, sinking a bit against the armchair.
“I knew the Wards were changing, but I didn’t expect…” He paused, running fingers through his hair again, making it stand up even more. “I thought they were gone for good. They abandoned Stonewick in a heartbeat. What makes anyone think it won’t happen again?”
“True,” I admitted. “But we’re learning the Academy has ideas of its own. Maybe this is how it’s choosing to heal.”
He stared at me, eyes clearing a bit more.
“I wanted you to hear it directly from me. No rumors, no half-truths. If we’re dealing with a fae presence, it could affect the Wards, Stonewick’s future, even the curse. People might panic if word spreads too fast.”
He pushed off the chair and started pacing in the small space, crossing from the hearth to the door and back. “This is big,” he muttered. “Really big. There’s a lot of bad blood between the warlocks, mages, and fae. Shoot, their feeling against shifters isn’t much better.”
I couldn’t argue with that.
“I need to be careful. We all do. If the fae is testing the waters, it might vanish if we give off the wrong signals, like fear or anger. And who knows what happens if it leaves again?”
Keegan nodded, coming to rest near the kitchen archway, arms folded.
“Are you safe? This fae could be a friend, but it could also have motives we don’t understand. The old stories weren’t always flattering.”
“I think so,” I said, measuring my words. “It hasn’t shown any sign of hostility. Just… caution. It’s more like I catch it watching me from a distance. Then it’s gone.”
The fire in the little stove crackled, sending dancing shadows over the walls. I noticed the puzzle on his coffee table, half-finished. A wolf silhouette forming near the edge of the picture. Keegan loved those complicated scenes. Maybe it matched his personality, piecing together hidden details.
“Wow,” he muttered, leaning his hip against the arch. “So Stonewick might be on the verge of having the fae back, after forty years or more. That’s huge. And we now have a shifter living in the Academy, too.”
“Right. Shifter, fae, a reviving Maple Ward… It feels like many broken pieces are drifting back simultaneously,” I said quietly. “Which might be good. But it’s delicate. Could all unravel if we move too fast or let fear get the best of us.”
“The Maple Ward?” he asked.
I couldn’t hide my smile. “Yes, it’s trying so hard to strengthen and renew. I feel like so much is happening that is uniting or…I don’t know, really. It could just be wishful thinking.”
He let out another sigh, nodding in agreement.
“I can see why you didn’t want to wait till morning. This is the kind of news that keeps you up.”
We shared a look that lingered a beat too long. I felt a little jolt in my chest, noticing the warmth in his eyes and how the firelight picked out the sharper lines of his jaw. I swallowed, forcing myself to focus.
He cleared his throat, glancing away. “So, are you heading back to the cottage now?”
I nodded. “That was the plan. Twobble’s waiting by your fence, likely tapping his foot impatiently. I guess I just wanted you in the loop before we start making any decisions.”
“I appreciate that.”
“You’re the one who’s stood by the Academy and Stonewick from day one,” I replied, letting my shoulders drop a fraction.
He gave a small, wry grin. “Even if I am half-dressed and half-asleep, apparently.”
A quiet laugh escaped me. “I’ve seen you worse.”
He smirked, then motioned for the door. “Well, want me to walk you back? Might be safer. Especially if the fae decides to follow you home.”
