Magical Musing (Stonewick Magical Midlife Witch Academy #2)

Chapter Fourteen

The moment I looked up at Stonewick Teas and Sundries, I was hit with the full force of Christmas cheer. The whole town had gone from quaintly decorated to a full-blown holiday explosion while I’d been preoccupied with research in the Academy, gargoyle diplomacy, and brooding warlocks.

Garlands wrapped around every lamppost, twinkling lights crisscrossed above the streets, and wreaths adorned every door—some classy, some over-the-top, and one that looked suspiciously like it had been stolen from the goblins’ tunnel.

Snow dusted the sidewalks, and the scent of cinnamon, pine, and what I could only describe as aggressive holiday spirit filled the air.

And then there was Stonewick Teas and Sundries, standing proudly with its frosted windows, promising shelter, comfort, and a selection of teas that could calm a soul…

Or take one.

Before I could even reach for the door, Stella flung it open dramatically, looking, as always, both glamorous and mildly exasperated.

She looked at me, and her quick eyes scanned my giant puffer coat, knit cap, gloves, and overalls.

“Well, well, well,” she said, crossing her arms. “If it isn’t our local cryptid emerging from the wilderness.”

“I do not look like a cryptid.” I removed my gloves, shoving them into my pockets as I stepped inside. “I look perfectly normal.”

“You look like you lost a bet with a snowbank.” Stella flicked at my sleeve, where a few stray snowflakes still clung stubbornly.

“The ski bib is the warmest thing I have, and it’s freezing outside.” I ignored her and inhaled deeply.

“But sometimes, it’s okay to let fashion dictate your day,” she quipped.

I chuckled and inhaled the sweet smells that always centered me.

The shop smelled like a mix of spiced tea, fresh pastries, and whatever magical spell Stella had that made the holiday season feel like something out of an old-fashioned Christmas card. It was warm, glowing, and the kind of place where you instantly felt like curling up with a book and a giant mug of something steaming.

“Okay, let’s hear it,” I said, removing my coat and shaking off the cold. “What’s today’s special? And please tell me it won’t make me hallucinate or suddenly know how to tap dance.”

Stella gasped, a hand over her heart. “Maeve. As if I would do such a commercial thing.”

I just stared at her.

She rolled her eyes. “Intentionally.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Fine. Today’s special is a lovely Winter Solstice Chai, which, I assure you, has only the usual amount of magical enhancement.”

“The usual amount?”

“You know, heat, liquid, maybe a little luck.” She winked. “Nothing that’ll make you see colors. Again.”

“I still haven’t recovered,” I groaned, dropping into my usual seat near the window.

“I take no responsibility for the whims of the universe,” Stella said airily, sashaying toward the counter. “Now, tea?”

“Please.”

Stella grinned. “Coming right up. And don’t worry. I saved you a cinnamon scone before the tourists devoured them like rabid elves.”

As she disappeared behind the counter, I exhaled as Frank snuggled into his spot behind the pastry case. I think he secretly hoped he’d be the main crumb picker-upper.

Stonewick may have been tangled in magic, mystery, and enough danger to make my head spin, but at least I had good tea, a snarky vampire best friend, and one safe haven where the world still felt warm and welcoming.

“Perfection. I missed this place.”

“This place missed you,” Stella said, happily making my brew. “And I did too. I’m just sorry Nova pulled you out of the Academy. I bet you were onto something good.”

“I’m glad she did.” I shook my head. “It’s probably the only way I ever would have found out about Keegan and how the curse affects him. You all have a nasty habit of leaving important details out. I mean, come on…shifting?”

She chuckled and shook her head. “Details.”

Stella slid my cup of tea and the cinnamon scone in front of me, and I thanked her as my mind drifted to Gideon and his sidekicks in the tea shop. They had wreaked havoc in this sacred space, breaking teapots and threatening Frank. A shudder ran down my spine, merely thinking about it.

But now, the shop was a warm contrast to the crisp winter air outside. As I took in the festive decorations of garlands with dried oranges and pine branches draped along the shelves, twinkling fairy lights hung from the ceiling beams, and the faintest sound of an old-timey holiday tune drifting from the back, I couldn’t help but feel at home.

An ache of nostalgia settled in my chest as I remembered when I was here with Skye. Everything had been normal.

Or at least what I had thought was normal back then.

No curses, hidden magical legacies, no brooding, complicated men showing up at my door like they carried the weight of the world.

Just my best friend and I were enjoying tea and pastries, blissfully unaware that everything was about to change. My biggest worry had been where I would live for the next year and what I would do with myself.

And the weirdest part was that I couldn’t tell Skye any of this.

Where would I start? I can just imagine the conversation going something like this…

Oh, yes. I’m doing great. I live in a magical cottage with a wonderful housemate who turned out to be my great-aunt. The only downside is that she’s dead. But it doesn’t seem to bother Twobble the goblin or Karvey the gargoyle, so that’s good. And I spend my days researching magic at a dormant witch Academy or working at the tea shop, which…get this, Skye. They did actually feed me magical tea that first night we were together. Funny, right?

I chuckled and shook my head, knowing how crazy it might sound to most people, but I knew it was true. That all of this meant something to people who mattered. They were often the silent cast, ensuring the rest of the world was balanced.

But I really needed to reach out to Skye. I had already made plans to see Celeste for lunch tomorrow, but it had been too long since I’d checked in with my best friend.

Speaking of Celeste, I still wasn’t sure what she wanted to discuss. The way she had phrased it in her text— Hey Mom, yes… let’s do lunch. I have something I want to chat about , but it made me nervous. Chat was one of those phrases that could mean anything from I failed a test to I’m moving to another country and adopting a pet alpaca .

“You’re thinking too hard,” Stella’s voice rang out as she pushed open the shop’s front door, letting in a gust of cold air and a flurry of snowflakes.

“How do you know these things?”

“Call it great fangstinct.”

I chuckled and shook my head. “What were you doing out there anyway? I didn’t even see you go outside?”

“I went out the back and walked around the block to get the sparkle back in my step. Cold does wonders for my kind.” She stomped the snow from her boots and gave me an exaggerated once-over. “You’ve got that furrowed brow thing happening. Either you’re planning an elaborate revenge scheme, or you’re trying to remember where you left your keys.”

I sighed, smiling despite myself. “Neither. Just…thinking about Celeste.”

Stella hummed knowingly, unwrapping the sparkly scarf from around her neck.

“Ah, the kiddo. Let me guess—she sent one of those cryptic, mom-stressing texts?”

“You know me too well.”

Stella patted my shoulder.

“It’s probably nothing. Maybe she just wants to tell you she got a flaming skull tattoo on her ankle or joined a roller derby team. Normal kid stuff.”

“Stella.”

“Fine, fine. No flaming skulls. But I’m just saying. Don’t borrow stress until you know you need it.” She waved toward the back. “Now, sit back and enjoy your tea.”

Stella flipped the Christmas music off and turned on some Madonna. At first, I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but once she started twerking her hips, I couldn’t stop watching. She dusted the shelves and danced like nobody was watching.

Pretty sure I wanted to be her when I grew up.

But I knew she was the one person who would give me an unfiltered take on the Keegan situation.

“Speaking of stress…Keegan and I disagreed.”

Stella turned down the music and raised an eyebrow as she set a teapot down.

“Only one? Wow, you’re slipping.”

I shot her a look. “I told him I was going to see Celeste for lunch before she leaves for Aspen, and he… wasn’t thrilled about it.”

Stella refilled my tea with dramatic precision. “Did he try to lock you in your cottage? Hide your car keys? Conjure a blizzard?”

I smirked. “No. He just got all broody and intense and reminded me that Gideon could see me as an easy target if I left Stonewick. He didn’t forbid me from going but made it clear he didn’t like the idea.”

“Of course, he didn’t forbid you. What do you think this is? The Stone Age? He would never…”

“You know what I mean.”

Stella leaned back, tapping a manicured finger against her mug. “Huh.”

“Huh?” I repeated. “That’s all you’ve got?”

“Oh, I’ve got more, trust me.” Stella winked. “Look, Keegan hasn’t ever had children. He doesn’t understand what it’s like to have that kind of bond. And let’s not forget—his own ‘sacred’ bond was shattered when his parents left him behind.”

The way she said it made me freeze.

I had been so focused on my needs to see Celeste that I hadn’t stopped to consider how Keegan might view parent-child relationships. Maybe, in his mind, Celeste and I staying connected, no matter what, was a risk he couldn’t understand because he had never been given that option. His parents viewed his choices as a liability and abandoned him. A ripple of disdain for his parents ran through me.

Stella must have seen the realization settle over me because she softened, resting a hand over mine. “Doesn’t mean you’re wrong, Maeve. Just means he’s got his baggage about it.”

I nodded slowly, letting out a breath. “I still have to go.”

“Of course you do,” Stella said easily. “You’d be a pretty crappy mom if you didn’t.” She smiled. “And I’d be forced to revoke your tea privileges.”

“God forbid.”

She grinned. “That’s the spirit. Now drink your tea and stop making that face before your wrinkles set in permanently. We don’t have a Botox joint here yet.”

I laughed, taking a sip. The calmness curled through me, settling me in the present.

I wasn’t going to let anything stop me from seeing Celeste. Not Gideon, not Keegan’s protectiveness, and certainly not my own creeping doubts.

But maybe I’d try to see Keegan’s side a little more, too. It was only fair.

Stella leaned in, one brow arched, her expression expectant.

“So?” she prompted. “How’s the Academy?”

I hesitated.

Not because I didn’t want to answer but because I wasn’t sure how much I should say. The Academy wasn’t just some forgotten relic. The place was alive, pulsing with magic, history, and secrets I was only beginning to understand. Some of those secrets felt personal. Some felt dangerous. And some… some I wasn’t even sure I wanted to uncover.

But this was Stella.

She was my friend.

Not to mention, she probably knew more about it than I did.

I let out a slow breath. “It’s… a lot.”

She snorted. “Well, that’s vague. Come on, give me something. Did you find a ghost professor? A secret dungeon full of enchanted artifacts? A hidden tunnel leading straight to Keegan’s brooding lair?”

I rolled my eyes. “No, but I did find my grandmother.”

Stella nearly choked on her tea. “I’m sorry—what?”

“Elira. She’s—she was—trapped inside the Academy. Bound to it, in a way.” My throat tightened just saying it aloud. “She’s been there for decades, waiting for someone to open it again.”

Stella’s eyes softened. “Maeve…”

I shrugged, trying to act like it wasn’t messing with my emotions whenever I thought about it.

“Getting to know someone who’s technically been gone for most of my life is strange. But she’s incredible. Sharp as ever. And she knows things about the Academy, the curse, and my father.”

Stella exhaled. “I can’t even imagine. I remember your grandmother fondly. She was fiery, and she was extremely devoted to your grandfather.”

I nodded, my fingers tracing the rim of my cup. “There’s an entire library, Stella. And I don’t mean just bookshelves— an entire living collection. Some books can only be read when they choose you. Some are written in shifting languages. And some are just—”

I stopped myself before mentioning the snakelies. Some things still needed to be kept quiet.

“Just what?” Stella pressed.

“Just full of secrets,” I finished.

She raised an eyebrow, clearly sensing I was holding back, but she let it slide. “Sounds like a dream and a nightmare all at once.”

“It is,” I admitted.

She sat back, studying me. “And?”

I knew what she was asking. The but. There was always a but.

“And the creatures? Did you meet any of the magical beings?” She played coy, and I immediately relaxed.

Of course, she knew about the wings of magical creatures.

“I didn’t see many, but what I saw were so beautifully haunting that I can’t wait to return.” I let out a sigh. “And at the same time, I’m a little fearful.”

“You’re afraid of the creatures?”

I shook my head. “No. I’m afraid of getting trapped there like my grandmother.”

“Oh.” Stella frowned. “I understand, but as trust is built between you and the Academy, you won’t feel so…”

“Panicked? Scared to death? Worried?”

Stella chuckled. “Exactly. All of the above.”

“The magical creatures that live there are magnificent, and they fill me with something I can’t quite explain. Boundless joy or infinite hope... Some of them… I think they’re more than just residents. I feel like the Academy relies on them.”

“For what?”

“I don’t know yet,” I admitted. “But I’m starting to think they’re not just there needing sanctuary. They might be a source of magic itself.”

Stella studied me for a long moment, then said, “Maeve, I think you’re about to uncover something even bigger than you realize.”

I couldn’t shake the feeling she was right.