“Thank you,” I said softly.
“I’ll protect her, and hopefully there's nothing to protect her from.”
I nodded. “I'll text her later so she knows what’s going on.”
But I also knew what this meant. We were closer to getting my mom back and to stopping the Priestess once and for all.
With these choices came great risk, but we couldn't let it go on anymore. She was twisting magic and livelihoods. It was enough whether we were ready or not.
But first, we had to tell the others.
Because nothing said magical confidence like announcing we were splitting up while an ancient Priestess sharpened her patience somewhere in the dark.
Keegan walked beside me toward the Academy doors.
I could feel every inch of his worry like it had learned how to breathe between us.
“You’re doing the right thing,” he said quietly.
“I know.” I glanced at him. “That’s what makes it worse. I don't feel ready.”
His mouth tilted, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes.
The Academy doors opened before we reached them, which should have comforted me. Instead, the groan of old wood sounded too much like a warning.
When we stepped inside, the foyer still carried the bright chaos of midlife students enjoying the fall semester.
Twobble stood on his stack of books, Cindy the snailacorn perched on his shoulder like a tiny, glittering brooch.
“No,” he told a woman in purple glasses. “You cannot request to move dorms based on proximity to the pastry cart. That’s not how education works.”
The woman blinked. “It seems to in your world.”
Twobble froze as the woman wandered off.
Stella glided in behind him with a tray of teacups.
Nova appeared near the east corridor, her gaze landing on me before I said a word. Of course it did. She started walking toward us, and Ardetia followed, pale and elegant, her expression already pinched with concern. Bella slipped in from the courtyard a moment later, copper hair wind-touched, fox eyes too sharp to miss a thing.
Whatever look was on my face gathered them faster than a dinner bell.
Stella set the tray down. “Oh, bother. That expression means no one gets to finish their tea.”
Twobble hopped down from the books, clutching Cindy with one hand. “Is this a dramatic emergency or a regular emergency? I need to know which comfort food to bring.”
“Both,” I said.
His ears dipped. “Hate those.”
Keegan’s hand moved to the small of my back, brief and steady, and I forced myself not to lean into him. If I started leaning now, I might never stop. And then I just might not do what was best for Stonewick.
“We need to send protection to Celeste,” I said, keeping my voice low enough that the students wouldn’t hear. “Tonight.”
Stella’s face softened instantly. “Oh, darling.”
“And my mom,” I added, the words scraping out of me. “She’s in far more danger, too. I can feel it. Maybe I’ve been feeling it all along and didn’t want to name it.”
Nova’s green eyes flicked to Keegan. “You’re going to her daughter?”
