“I’m tasting them,” Skonk said through a mouthful of pastry. “I’m tasting victory. I’m tasting what it means to be alive.”
Despite everything, I smiled, but then the feeling came back.
That same prickling awareness along the back of my neck.
Someone watching.
I turned again toward the road.
The figure was gone, but the air still held that strange tension.
It felt as if someone had stepped out of the room but left the door open behind them.
I took a step forward and another, and without even a say in it, my broom yanked itself straight out of my hand and dove under me like an overexcited slingshot as I sailed into the air.
“Hey—!”
Before I could argue with the broom, I barely had time to grab the handle to steady myself.
“Excuse me!”
The town dropped away beneath my feet.
My coat flapped wildly as the broom sailed over the rooftops.
“This wasnotdiscussed!”
Below me, Twobble dropped his donut.
“MAEVE!”
Skonk blinked upward.
“Is this part of the plan?” Twobble was already running.
“STOP THE BROOM!” Skonk hollered.
I gripped the handle tighter as we glided toward the edge of town.
“Stop?” I shouted. “I would LOVE to stop!”
The broom ignored me completely.
Of course it did.
Below me, Twobble sprinted down the road as fast as his little goblin legs could carry him.
“MAEVE!”
“I’m aware!” I shouted back, feeling my palms get slippery.
“MAKE IT STOP!” he called.
“If you know how, this would be a wonderful time to share!”
“I’M THINKING!” Twobble was breathless with each word.
The broom drifted lower as we reached the edge of Stonewick with a smattering of trees lining the forest.
