“No,” Nova said. “Let's show the priestess what happens when she messes with the Academy.”
Chapter Sixteen
“I'll speak with the shifters. We'll leave about twenty percent here at the Academy, same with the orcs, but the rest come with us,” Caleb told me.
“Thank you, Caleb.” Somehow, hearing that made things feel a little safer. He left the room, and I looked over at Nova.
“On a side note, I think we're getting closer to restoring the orcs' homeland. The spell is close,” Nova told me. “It won't be easy, but it would certainly be easier if the Priestess wasn't in the picture.”
I laughed. “That's a running theme.”
Twobble turned his crouton bag upside down and shook it.
“I’ve informed all of the professors as well as Lady Limora and the crew that we will be indisposed for a short period of time, but we will be back, and all will be in order again.” Stella flashed a mischievous grin, and I did my best to ignore it.
“The one thing I don't want is for students to get wind of what we're about to do. These are midlife witches who came here to start over or get away from a life that was no longer theirs. They didn't sign up for this,” I explained to everyone.
Nova and Ardetia exchanged a look as I walked to the door.
“I mean, it's bad enough that they've been dragged into some of the battles, like with Malore.” I shook my head. “But my job is to keep them safe.”
Twobble came up next to me. “Technically, I'm not sure that is part of your job.”
I rolled my eyes and chuckled as I opened the door.
But what I saw in front of me took my breath away. It was like a continuous sea of midlife witches and their familiar faces. There were the vampire witches like Lady Limora and her crew, human witches, Fae, goblins…
They crowded the halls shoulder to shoulder. Their eyes were focused on me as I scanned the crowd and glanced back behind me to see Nova, Ardetia, and Stella watching.
“Hello, ladies.” I smiled. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“I think there's something we can help you with.” Lady Limora stepped forward. “Isn't that right, dears?”
All the midlife witches nodded their heads as nervous enthusiasm ran through the crowd.
“I'm not sure where you're going with this.” I shook my head.
“You of all people should know The Academy is strongest when we're united, when we are together.” Lady Limora beamed.
Stella walked up beside me. Her gaze met mine. “What they're trying to tell you, darling, is that you can't hold them back. They’re going to help get your mom back.”
I shook my head. “I can't let that happen.”
The floor beneath me rumbled, and Stella smiled. “I don't think you have a choice in the matter. The Academy has spoken.”
The magical lanterns overhead flickered warmly. If I didn’t know better, it was as if they moved to the heartbeat of the Academy as golden light spilled over the gathered witches and familiars.
I saw the nervous excitement stitched into every face staring back at me.
There were too many people, too many people willing to step into danger for me.
For my mother.
For Stonewick…
That idea alone made my chest hurt worse than fear ever could.
“Okay. Before this turns into a magical stampede fueled by emotional solidarity and poor decision-making, maybe we should all take a breath,” I said, glancing at the witches before me.
