Chapter 28
TWENTY-EIGHT
“ W ho else would benefit from—“ Vail turned to respond and found his face inches from hers. Her breath caught at the heat in his eyes. The air thickened with possibility as he slowly leaned closer?—
Burke burst through the door, breaking the moment. “Another ward fluctuation. Near the eastern anchor point.”
They exchanged a frustrated look before rushing out. Their combined magic lingered behind, colorful lights fading reluctantly in their wake.
They found Ledger kneeling beside the ward stone, one hand pressed to its surface while the other gripped an ancient-looking journal. Nearby, Felicity swayed on her feet, horror dawning as she registered the chaotic magical residue clinging to her aura like oil on water.
“I don’t understand,” she whispered, voice trembling. “I only meant to strengthen them using traditional methods. But they keep responding strangely when I cast the spells.”
Vail frowned as she noticed Ledger’s magic gathering data rather than containing the disturbance. Her suspicions deepened when she caught him shooting calculating looks between her curse-marked shoulder and where Daisy worked with the remaining students.
Something about his focus on the girl’s curse magic set off warning bells in Vail’s mind. The pieces started clicking together—ward disruptions, curse amplification, hybrid magic catalysts?—
Vail leaned into Kaine’s strength, knowing that whatever threatened the academy, they’d face it together. Her fire magic rose automatically to twine with his bear energy, creating a shield that gleamed with golden light.
Across the courtyard, Madame Zephyrine and Neve huddled over massive tomes, their urgent whispers carrying words like “curse amplification” and “hybrid catalyst.”
Let Ledger plot his schemes. Let the wards fluctuate and ancient curses stir. They would protect what mattered—their students, their community, this precious new connection growing between them. The morning sun climbed higher, casting rainbow patterns through the stained glass onto their joined magic.
Within that prismatic light, Vail glimpsed infinite possibilities—of partnership, strong enough to overcome any darkness gathering on their horizon. Her curse-marked shoulder throbbed in warning, but she refused to let fear rule her choices. She’d already discovered something worth fighting for, worth risking everything to protect.
She squeezed Kaine’s hand, drawing comfort from his solid presence. Whatever came next, they would face it together. The thought should have terrified her—she’d sworn off relationships to focus on the academy, after all. But watching him gather Daisy close, his protective magic extending to include all the students, Vail realized some things were worth the risk of opening her heart again.
Their eyes met over Daisy’s head, and the smile they shared held equal measures of determination and tender promise. The ward stones might be compromised, but they would build something stronger—a foundation of trust and love that no amount of dark magic could shake.
Vail touched her injured shoulder, remembering the instant decision to protect Daisy at any cost. She didn’t regret it for a moment. Some things were worth bleeding for, worth fighting for—worth loving for.