“No,” Keegan said before I could answer. “Nothing useful.”
Across the room, Stella’s laughter rang out again, bright and full, pulling my attention back to the present, to the women gathered here, to the Academy humming beneath our feet like it believed in something stronger than fear.
“We can’t let this become the only thing we focus on,” I said, straightening slightly. “Not today. These witches deserve a semester that isn’t overshadowed by what’s coming.”
Lainsley inclined her head. “Then we give them that.”
Petrah smiled softly. “And we prepare quietly.”
Lemonia adjusted her glasses. “Information can be gathered without alarm.”
Keegan nodded. “That’s the plan.”
Twobble perked up again, as if the shift back toward normalcy gave him permission to return to himself. “And in the meantime, we eat pastries.”
I glanced at him. “Of course you’d bring it back to that.”
“It’s important,” he said seriously. “Morale.”
My dad chuckled. “He’s not entirely incorrect.”
I shook my head, though a small smile tugged at my lips as I picked up one of the pastries and broke it open, the soft lavender scent rising again.
“Alright,” I said, looking back at the group. “We keep things moving. Classes, introductions, structure. We don’t let the Academy feel what’s pressing at the edges.”
“And when it does?” Keegan asked quietly.
I met his gaze, the weight of everything settling into place where it belonged.
“Then we’ll be ready for it.”
Stella walked over, reached for a pastry, and Twobble slapped her hand away, which made her chuckle as she grabbed one anyway.
“You all look like you're having quite the conversation,” Stella said.
The other teachers drifted away, and I let out a sigh.
“The Priestess is preparing the dungeons,” I explained.
“And there is no sign of Gideon,” Keegan added.
“Which means he’s either protecting the stone,” Stella said slowly, “or positioning himself somewhere we haven’t considered.”
“Or both,” I added.
Stella’s gaze lingered on me. “And you believe the stone is still beyond the Priestess’ reach.”
“For now,” I said, the words feeling heavier the moment they left my mouth.
“That ‘for now’ carries a great deal of weight,” she replied gently.
“It does,” I admitted.
Stella waved her hand in the air and shrugged. “Those are just logistics. We have heart, hope, and the intention to do what is right.”
My birthmark warmed, but what concerned me was that the shadow mark felt like ice. Keegan noticed me reaching for it, and I dropped my hand immediately.
As a large group of midlife witches came over to the buffet table, I smiled and welcomed them, offering pastries and small reassurances as they introduced themselves one by one, their voices filled with that mix of excitement and hesitation I remembered so well.
