“There’s something more going on here, Maeve. I’ve never seen Twobble care about who’s living inside the cottage. His sole mission has always been to care for the Ward, not the inhabitants.”
“I’m both honored and worried about that shift,” I confided.
“And I’ve certainly never seen the cottage offer itself up to be worn down in place of the target.” He cleared his gravelly throat. “And I’ve seen a lot of battles over the years. The cottagehas housed many magical folk, and I have never seen the cottage try to protect the soul who lives here.”
“I’ve made good friends here. Maybe the Ward knows how much you all mean to me. And to say I’m grateful is an understatement. I don’t ever want to become in the way.”
“Maybe. Maybe that’s it.” Karvey’s expression softened, acknowledging my unspoken gratitude as we walked outside.
“Thank you, Karvey. Please thank the rest, too. I know they’re busy with the cottage.” Before I could finish, the atmosphere shifted.
Miora’s magic pulsed around the cottage's exterior, reinforcing the Ward with a bright, steady glow, while Stella and Nova exchanged glances that voiced unspoken plans.
In that charged second, I looked into Keegan’s eyes. His concern was deep, his resolve unwavering.
“I want to start looking for my dad right now,” I declared, voice trembling with determination. “He’s counting on me.”
“The Academy might have something to offer,” Twobble tried again.
Stella and Ember looked at each other, and even Twobble’s sarcastic smirk had softened into something earnest.
“I don’t think I should go in. It would be better to try to piece together where Gideon has my dad.”
Keegan looked at me, eyes heavy with concern, then sighed.
“I might have a reason for you to go inside.” He paused as if weighing his words carefully. “There’s a passage in the old texts…a spell, a way to trace the lingering magic of a shifter who’s been taken. If we can channel that, we might be able totrack your father’s essence. But it’ll require all of us to work together and a trip to the library for you.”
My heart pounded anew. “Really?”
He nodded slowly. “Yes. But it means leaving now. The Academy awaits your questions, but so does Gideon’s shadow.”
I took a deep breath, my mind racing through all the possibilities, the dangers, and the desperate need to rescue my father.
But if there was a text to track him down, a few words to guide us…
“Then I’m going. I’ll introduce Bella to my grandma, look up the spell, and Bella can ensure I leave right away.”
Bella Sandro smiled a mischievous, confident smile that set my nerves on edge.
I studied her, but a question still burned inside me.
Who exactly was this mischievous fox, and had the Academy truly called her?
She had been let onto the grounds, so that was saying something.
“I’ll be right by your side, Maeve. And I promise we’ll figure this out. Together.” Her eyes landed on me, and only kindness filled her gaze.
The wind howled louder, scattering the last remnants of hope and despair in equal measure, and I stepped toward the cottage as Miora mended the front stones with a flick of her wrist, and I let the weight of everyone’s observations settle on me.
The Ward changed its course and tried to protect…
Me.
Not the Academy. Not itself.
But was that at the Academy’s request, or were these living Wards starting to make their own decisions?
“Nova will wait in the Butterfly Ward for you,” Keegan instructed.
