Chapter Twenty-Nine
The hour felt borderline for politeness, but it wasn’t so deep into the night that people would be furious if I knocked on a door.
By people, I meant Keegan.
Not to mention, I couldn’t imagine him getting furious at much of anything.
The decision settled in my chest like a final chord on a piano. I turned away from the faint reflection on Nova’s window of my anxious face, ready to set out, and nearly jumped when Twobble came sidling up beside me. He had that perpetual lean in his stance, like he was half-lounging, half-alert, and gave me a look that said he already knew what I was thinking.
“Should we head out now?” he asked, sounding casual.
“Yes,” I said, squaring my shoulders. “I’m going to see Keegan. I…there’s stuff he needs to know.”
Twobble made a low hum that felt suspiciously like a tease. “Stuff, huh? Right. Very important stuff, I’m sure. Couldn’t wait until morning?”
I gave him a crooked smile and shrugged. “Probably not, no. Besides, I’d just lie awake fretting.”
“That’s fair.” He stepped a little closer. “I’ll walk with you. Doesn’t hurt to have a friendly goblin around, in case the shadows start talking, and your dad missed you more than he’ll admit.”
“What about you? Did you miss me?” I teased.
His brows knitted together, and he promptly ignored me.
We started under the soft glow of a few streetlamps, the lanes mostly empty, shutters pulled tight, chimneys exhaling the last of the day’s smoke. Stonewick looked peaceful, as though nothing unusual had happened lately.
But I knew better. So did Twobble.
I glanced around, half-expecting to spot a figure lurking in a corner or stepping out of a half-lit doorway. That paranoid itch came from the news I’d been carrying. A fae’s presence in the Academy, a swirl of ward-magic that might spin the town on its head if folks found out. Or maybe it was just me, waiting for the next shoe to drop.
Twobble didn’t speak much, though he’d occasionally point out a flicker in the distance and mutter something about Stonewick needing better night patrols. Mostly, though, he let me stew in my thoughts.
When we reached Keegan’s small fence, my heart dipped briefly.A single lantern burned on his porch, giving enough light to show me the shape of the walkway. Twobble paused at the gate, folding his arms across his chest.
“Want me to wait here?”
I considered. “Maybe just for a minute, in case he’s already out cold. I don’t want you to get in trouble too.”
“Sure,” Twobble said. “I’ll guard the perimeter or whatever with Frank.”
He was doing his best to sound bored, but I caught the mild grin lurking on his face. He liked to be dramatic, but deep down, he was all heart.
I climbed the steps of Keegan’s beautiful home, gave a light knock, and realized how quiet everything was: no distant voices, no wind in the trees, barely even the chirp of night insects. The door opened faster than I expected, making me suck in a quick breath.
Keegan stood there, hair standing every which way, eyes puffy from sleep, shirt crumpled like he’d just pulled it on. One sock, no sock on the other foot. He blinked at me, confusion turning to recognition.
“Maeve?” he said, voice thick from dozing. “Is everything alright? You’re back from the Academy.”
“I’m so sorry,” I began, even though I was determined to say what needed saying. “It’s late, I know. But… I had to come by. Something happened.”
He squinted a bit, then his gaze sharpened with concern. “No, it’s okay—come in.”
Keegan stepped aside, pulling the door open.
Warm air spilled out, carrying the scent of firewood and something faintly herbal—maybe tea he’d abandoned when he fell asleep. I stepped in, glancing around the dimly lit living area. A stack of books sat on an end table, and a blanket was tossed over one arm of the couch. I guessed he’d dozed off reading, which was typical for him.
Everything about Keegan’s home felt and looked like him. Between the masculine décor and little bits of magic weaponry, I couldn’t have picked a better place for him to live.
He tugged at the hem of his shirt and tried to flatten his wild hair with a few quick hand swipes. It didn’t do much. Honestly, it made him look more endearing. But I shoved that thought away, clearing my throat to keep focus.
“Sit?” he offered, nodding at the couch.
I lowered myself onto the couch’s edge, perched like I might need to leap up at any second. “Sorry again for barging in. It’s about the Academy. And a… visitor.”
He rubbed his eyes once, then crossed his arms. “Visitor?”
“Yeah,” I said softly, feeling the weight of it all again. “We think a fae has shown up.”
For a second, he just stared like I’d spoken another language. “A fae… in Stonewick?”
“More precisely, in the Butterfly Ward. We’ve sensed it lurking around. Maybe shy, possibly testing us. It’s not openly showing itself. But Nova and I both believe it’s real. Not a dream or a leftover illusion thing. A genuine fae.”
He let out a slow breath, sinking a bit against the armchair.
“I knew the Wards were changing, but I didn’t expect…” He paused, running fingers through his hair again, making it stand up even more. “I thought they were gone for good. They abandoned Stonewick in a heartbeat. What makes anyone think it won’t happen again?”
“True,” I admitted. “But we’re learning the Academy has ideas of its own. Maybe this is how it’s choosing to heal.”
He stared at me, eyes clearing a bit more.
“I wanted you to hear it directly from me. No rumors, no half-truths. If we’re dealing with a fae presence, it could affect the Wards, Stonewick’s future, even the curse. People might panic if word spreads too fast.”
He pushed off the chair and started pacing in the small space, crossing from the hearth to the door and back. “This is big,” he muttered. “Really big. There’s a lot of bad blood between the warlocks, mages, and fae. Shoot, their feeling against shifters isn’t much better.”
I couldn’t argue with that.
“I need to be careful. We all do. If the fae is testing the waters, it might vanish if we give off the wrong signals, like fear or anger. And who knows what happens if it leaves again?”
Keegan nodded, coming to rest near the kitchen archway, arms folded.
“Are you safe? This fae could be a friend, but it could also have motives we don’t understand. The old stories weren’t always flattering.”
“I think so,” I said, measuring my words. “It hasn’t shown any sign of hostility. Just… caution. It’s more like I catch it watching me from a distance. Then it’s gone.”
The fire in the little stove crackled, sending dancing shadows over the walls. I noticed the puzzle on his coffee table, half-finished. A wolf silhouette forming near the edge of the picture. Keegan loved those complicated scenes. Maybe it matched his personality, piecing together hidden details.
“Wow,” he muttered, leaning his hip against the arch. “So Stonewick might be on the verge of having the fae back, after forty years or more. That’s huge. And we now have a shifter living in the Academy, too.”
“Right. Shifter, fae, a reviving Maple Ward… It feels like many broken pieces are drifting back simultaneously,” I said quietly. “Which might be good. But it’s delicate. Could all unravel if we move too fast or let fear get the best of us.”
“The Maple Ward?” he asked.
I couldn’t hide my smile. “Yes, it’s trying so hard to strengthen and renew. I feel like so much is happening that is uniting or…I don’t know, really. It could just be wishful thinking.”
He let out another sigh, nodding in agreement.
“I can see why you didn’t want to wait till morning. This is the kind of news that keeps you up.”
We shared a look that lingered a beat too long. I felt a little jolt in my chest, noticing the warmth in his eyes and how the firelight picked out the sharper lines of his jaw. I swallowed, forcing myself to focus.
He cleared his throat, glancing away. “So, are you heading back to the cottage now?”
I nodded. “That was the plan. Twobble’s waiting by your fence, likely tapping his foot impatiently. I guess I just wanted you in the loop before we start making any decisions.”
“I appreciate that.”
“You’re the one who’s stood by the Academy and Stonewick from day one,” I replied, letting my shoulders drop a fraction.
He gave a small, wry grin. “Even if I am half-dressed and half-asleep, apparently.”
A quiet laugh escaped me. “I’ve seen you worse.”
He smirked, then motioned for the door. “Well, want me to walk you back? Might be safer. Especially if the fae decides to follow you home.”
A flutter of nerves touched my stomach.
“Yes, that would be nice. Twobble might appreciate your tall-human presence.”
“Tall-human presence, right. My specialty.”
I stood, smoothing my coat, while he ducked into the adjacent room, presumably to throw on socks or brush that hair into submission. The little stove snapped again, sending a fresh wave of heat. I rubbed my arms. The day’s tension still weighed on me, but sharing it with Keegan eased some of it. He had that effect—solid and unflappable, making me feel less alone.
A minute later, he reappeared, shoes on, hair slightly tamed. He grabbed a coat from a hook by the door. I followed him outside, trying not to glance too obviously at the curve of his shoulders. It was silly, but I couldn’t help noticing, even in the dark.
Sure enough, Twobble was out there, pacing a small circle in the lamp’s glow, looking mildly offended that it had taken so long. He eyed Keegan suspiciously, though the suspicion was mostly show.
“About time,” Twobble said. “I almost grew roots.”
Keegan lifted a brow. “You could have knocked if you were that impatient.”
Twobble just snorted. “And interrupt your little chat? Didn’t want to ruin your moment.”
He leaned over to my ear. “So, did you get a little…”
“Twobble,” I playfully smacked him. “That was not what this was about.”
“If you say so.”
I gritted my teeth, cheeks warming. Sometimes Twobble was too blunt for his own good. But Keegan just shook his head, a faint grin tugging at his mouth.
“Come on,” Keegan said, stepping off the porch. “Let’s get Maeve home before the next piece of magical chaos finds us.”
The four of us fell into step on the cobbles, the night air cool enough to make me shiver slightly under my cloak. Twobble, as usual, acted like a sentinel, swinging his gaze around as though an army of illusions might leap from the shadows. Keegan walked by my other side, not too close, but near enough that I felt comfortable in his presence. And Frank, always by my side, made me feel like all was right in the world again.
We headed along the familiar route, streetlamps flickering overhead, a hush settling over Stonewick. I couldn’t help thinking about the swirl of change that I felt beneath the surface—fae creeping back, the Wards stirring, alliances that once broke, maybe finding a second chance.
I caught Keegan’s eye in the lamplight, and he gave me the smallest nod.
Even with the unknown looming, I felt a swell of cautious optimism.
Yes, it was late. Yes, tomorrow might bring fresh questions. But for now, we were four allies walking home under a moonlit sky, trusting that this fragile spark of hope would guide us forward.