Chapter 8
EIGHT
V ail sat in her great-aunts’ cozy kitchen, surrounded by the mingled aromas of herb-roasted chicken and freshly baked bread. Madame Zephyrine’s magical cooking timer chimed a cheerful tune as it danced across the counter, while Neve added a pinch of enchanted rosemary to the gravy—her secret ingredient that made everything taste like childhood memories.
“More wine, dear?” Madame Zephyrine lifted the bottle with a knowing smile. “You might need it when we start discussing eligible bachelors in Mystic Hollow.”
“Great-Aunt Zephyrine!” Vail groaned but pushed her glass forward anyway. “I’m focused on the academy right now. The last thing I need is another relationship weighing me down.”
“Weighing you down?” Neve’s silver brows drew together as she settled into her chair. “Is that how you view love?”
“No.” Vail swirled the ruby liquid in her glass, watching it catch the candlelight. “But that’s how it became with Ames. Six years of shrinking myself smaller and smaller until I barely recognized my own magic anymore.” Her fingers tightened around the stem. “Did you know he actually suggested I turn down the headmistress position? Said it would ‘interfere with our future plans.’”
“By which he meant his plans,” Madame Zephyrine sniffed disapprovingly.
“Exactly.” Vail took a long sip of wine. “When I ended things, he couldn’t understand why. Kept saying we could work it out, that I was being hasty. As if I hadn’t spent years trying to fit myself into the box he built.”
“And how did he handle the actual breakup?” Neve asked quietly.
“Not well.” Vail’s laugh held no humor. “There were dramatic speeches about betrayal and wasted time. But here’s the thing—I didn’t care. That’s when I knew for sure I’d made the right choice. All those years, and I felt nothing watching him leave except relief.”
“Good for you.” Madame Zephyrine reached over to squeeze her hand. “Though speaking of handsome men who might appreciate a powerful witch, have you met Mystic Hollow’s remarkable bear-shifter craftsman? Kaine Urso has?—“
“No.” Vail pointed her fork at her aunt. “Absolutely not. No matchmaking. I need to focus on the academy, starting with tomorrow’s staff meeting.” She sighed, setting down her utensils. “Speaking of which, how should I handle Felicity? She’s been... difficult.”
“Ah, Felicity Hawthorne.” Neve’s expression grew thoughtful. “A talented witch, but one who lets bitterness cloud her judgment. She applied for the headmistress position three times over the years.”
“Three times?” Vail blinked in surprise.
“And was passed over each time,” Madame Zephyrine added. “She has knowledge, certainly, but lacks the vision to lead the academy forward. Instead of growing from the experience, she’s allowed rejection to warp her perspective.”
“She practically radiates disapproval every time I suggest changes,” Vail admitted. “Earlier today, she cornered me to explain why the traditional ward alignment ‘must never be altered.’” She mimicked Felicity’s precise, clipped tones.
Neve chuckled. “The wards haven’t been traditionally aligned since the Great Magical Convergence of 1987 rearranged them. But Felicity prefers her version of history.”
“Your best approach,” Madame Zephyrine said, “is to acknowledge her experience while remaining firm in your authority. She responds to strength—show her you won’t be intimidated.”
“And perhaps,” Neve added, “remind her that as former teachers ourselves, we’re always happy to provide historical context when memories get... selective.”
Vail laughed, some of her tension easing. “You’re both so badass, you know that? I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Probably set fewer things on fire,” Madame Zephyrine teased. “Remember when you first discovered your fire magic? Three curtains and your father’s favorite armchair didn’t fair well.”
“I was five!” Vail protested. “And Dad said the chair looked better with the scorch marks.”
The conversation flowed easily after that, filled with laughter and family stories. By the time Vail headed home, she felt centered and ready for whatever challenges tomorrow might bring.