26Maggie
Sondre had been furious that she’d sought Ellie out, and Maggie understood that she’d been a little reckless. She didn’t want to burn her relationship down, but she also figured that if she was important enough toalsobe leverage on Ellie… well, it only made sense to rekindle their friendship.
The only issue Maggie really had was that it seemed that her actions were sparking actual conflict with Sondre. Her recent time with him had been idyllic, although she did recall her arrival in Crenshaw and their initial sparks. Lately though, everything had felt perfect—and here she was trying to rattle him.
Her heart of hearts said that full truth was what she needed and wanted. Craig was safe. With that detail sorted, her ability to ignore the blatant misuse of power that the Congress of Magic had used was… absent.
Now she was sitting in her suite of rooms, replaying memories with Sondre, looking for any other fracture in the reality she currentlyknew—because he’d erased something utterly unrelated to Ellie. That small detail changed her acceptance of everything.
“I don’t deserve your trust or your loyalty, but I tried to protect you,” Sondre said. “If I could free you from me—”
“I like you. You keep me and Craig both safe.” Maggie curled into his embrace. “I have you both in my life. No ex to deal with. No shared custody with the man that tried to kill me. Why would I want to leave you?”
“I’ll do my best to keep you safe, to love you, and to take care of your needs,” Sondre had started to say. He paused. Then he stared at her. “But if you start talking to Elleanor regularly, I can’t protect you. Hestia is fine, since she’s nonmagical like Craig, but Ellie is dangerous to you—”
Maggie shook her head. He was always so serious about everything. “Now, let’s discuss these needs you plan to take care of… Are you sure a man of your age can—”
He had done just that.
Now Maggie was left wondering how to get all her memories, not just the ones he or the Congress decided she could keep. No rational soul would fault her for wanting answers. Still, Maggie resolved to be more cautious the next time she sought out Ellie.
A knock on the door interrupted her musing. So few people came to the door that she hesitated before opening it. The lack of a peephole to see who was there went on the list of things to correct.
“Hello?” Maggie called.
“Hello,” a woman’s voice echoed.
Maggie cracked the door slightly. Ellie Brandeau stood at Maggie’s door. That was not exactly subtle—and honestly, Maggie respected it. That didn’t mean she could invite Ellie inside.
“Sorry, the headmaster is out.” Maggie kept the door partially shut, leaning on it to prevent Ellie from pushing it all the way open. “He has a new office on the main floor, though. This is not a place that students are to visit now.”
“I’m not here to see him,” Ellie said. “Could I come in?”
“No. I’m sorry, but I’m busy and—”
Ellie leaned forward and kissed Maggie. It was awkward and unexpected, and it felt weirdly like kissing a relative. Ellie held on to the back of Maggie’s neck and deepened the kiss, which made it even more awkward.
Maggie jerked away. “What the actual fuck wasthat? Aside from super inappropriate?”
“A test.” Ellie shrugged. “I have memories of you… we climbed down an apple tree.”
“Is that a euphemism for something?” Maggie kept her voice low, glancing into the hallway to be sure there were no witnesses. “Look, I don’t have any issues with women being with other women or whatever, but I am not going down an apple tree or whatever that means.”
“A literal tree, Maggie. I remember leaving the castle with you, and I remember being in a car with you.”
“That’s not possible. I didn’t know you over—”
“You can’t drive stick—nota euphemism. Literally, you can’t drive a stick-shift car.” Ellie tacked the last bit on quickly. “You’re actually a hellish driver in general.”
“Okay… well, I can’t explain why you know that. Don’t care, either.” Maggie shook her head. Everything that Ellie said just now rang as true, but Maggie didn’t care. “You can’t be here. Do you not know that? I can talk to you about it later, but not now. Not here.”
“Did you or did you not seek me out?”
“I did, but you need to go away.” Maggie could see someone walking this way. “Later, Ellie. I swear, we can talk later. Elsewhere.”
“We are in this together somehow. You know that,” Ellie insisted.
“Fine, but nothere.Did you miss my angry husband bustling me away?” Maggie glared. “You make me seem like the levelheaded person. Also, no kissing me. You can’t just—”
