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THE DUST SETTLED LIKE a thin, gray shroud over Ingrid’s office, muting the echoes of the battle that had just torn through it. Shelves lay toppled, books sprawled open with their pages crushed, and the air was thick with the acrid stench of spent magic. Amidst the wreckage, I found myself standing, chest heaving, my hands trembling with an adrenaline hangover.
My stomach roiled as I surveyed the chaos. This was my fault. If I’d been faster, smarter, maybe we could’ve stopped Voss before he tore through here like a tornado on steroids. But no, I’d fumbled, and now look at this mess.
My friends and Agatha had left to go downstairs and give their statements to the authorities.
“Damnation, Sage.” Ingrid’s influence punctured sharply through the haze, her gaze scanning the ruin. “Voss tried to outplay us.”
I followed her gaze to the empty pedestal where the Echoing Locket used to rest—an absence that clawed at my insides.
“At least he doesn’t have it,” I said.
She gave me a clipped nod, her slender fingers tight around her wand. “But you shall find it for me.”
My jaw dropped. Me? Find a magical artifact that even Ingrid couldn’t keep safe? Yeah, right. And pigs might sprout wings and do the cha-cha.
“But why me?” I stammered, struggling to keep my voice steady.
“Your parents may not have wielded magic, but they gave you something more potent—resolve,” Ingrid remarked, coolly assessing the damage around us.
A lump formed in my throat at the mention of my parents. Would they be proud of me now, standing in this disaster zone? Or disappointed that I’d let things get this far?
“Resolve won’t track down dangerous stolen artifacts.”
The High Witch sighed, a rare flash of weariness passing over her face, “But you are a creator. You craft new spells as easily as breathing. My family’s locket...I need someone to find it who understands the intricacies of magic.”
Creator? More like chaos-bringer. My spells had a nasty habit of going sideways when I least expected it. But Ingrid’s faith in me, misplaced as it might be, triggered a warm sensation through my chest.
“Understands, maybe. But controlling it?” I shook my head, bits of plaster falling from my hair. “That’s a different story.”
Ingrid frowned, stepping carefully over a shattered vase. “Control comes from confidence, Sage. Your natural flair for magic, it’s unrefined, but it’s there. And it is the crucible that will forge your strength.”
Crucible, schmucible. I’d rather face a pack of ravenous werewolves than go toe-to-toe with Voss again. But something in Ingrid’s expression, a mix of hope and desperation, made me bite back my protests.
“But let’s not forget the part where Voss, the Council’s golden boy, has gone rogue.”
“Former golden boy,” she corrected with a thin smile. “The authorities will have to hunt him down.”
I sighed, rolling my shoulders to release some tension. “They’ll have a hard time outwitting the warlock with a penchant for fire and theatrics with an army of loyal allies.”
And here I was with my ragtag group of misfits, expected to outmaneuver him. Talk about bringing a spoon to a gunfight.
“Begin at dawn. Time is of the essence.”
“Isn’t it always?” I spat, watching her regal figure move amidst the wreckage.
“Now, go home and get cleaned up,” the High Witch ordered. “And get some rest. Your mission to retrieve my locket starts tomorrow, young lady.”
I wasn’t some errand girl she could boss around. But as I opened my mouth to argue, exhaustion hit me like a tidal wave. Maybe a shower and a nap weren’t such bad ideas after all.
An hour later, I made it home. Dragging my feet across the threshold, I felt every bruise and scratch from the battle in Ingrid’s office with an acute sting. The quiet was startling compared to the din of spells and curses that had filled my ears mere hours ago.
“Welcome back, young witch,” Agatha greeted, her feline form slipping out from a shadow in the corner. “You look like you’ve been through hell and back. Worse than me.”
My muscles ached, and my head throbbed. I swear I could still smell the acrid stench of Voss’ fire magic clinging to my clothes.
“Holy hell.” I groaned, collapsing onto the couch. “That’s putting it mildly.”
Agatha leaped onto my lap. “The Echoing Locket...any idea who could have taken it if not Voss?”
“None.” My fingers plucked at the frayed edges of a throw pillow, my thoughts whirling. “It has to be someone with access to Ingrid’s sanctum. Someone we wouldn’t expect.”
The list of suspects grew longer by the second. Each name brought a new wave of unease, settling like lead in my stomach.
“An inside job,” Agatha mused, her yellow eyes narrowing. “Ingrid won’t rest until she finds it. That locket isn’t just powerful, it’s personal.”
“Yeah, I know.” I sighed, recalling the reverence with which Ingrid spoke of her sister, Zephyria. “It’s as much about family legacy as it is about magical security.”
“And it was nice that Evie and Brad showed up to help us battle Voss earlier. I’m glad everyone is okay,” Agatha said.
“Me too.” My heart ached at the thought of Brad—my rock, my best friend, the one whose hand I longed to hold without fear of reprimand. Brad and I were a ticking time bomb, ready to blow up at any moment under the scrutiny of Ingrid and the Council.
The memory of his worried expression during the battle made my chest tighten. I pushed the feeling down, burying it beneath layers of duty and responsibility.
“Can we talk about something else?” I asked, desperate for distraction. “Like how Voss managed to fool everyone? How he led the supernatural uprising right under our noses?”
“Ah, yes. The Council’s prodigal son turned traitor.” Agatha sneered. “His fall from grace will cause distress throughout Emberwick Crossing.”
“He wasn’t working alone. There’s a whole conspiracy we’re missing.”
Who else might be involved? How deep did this betrayal run?
Agatha’s tail flicked in agitation. “With Voss on the run, it’s only a matter of time before his cronies start scurrying out of the woodwork. We need to be ready.”
“Ready to face friends who might be foes, and foes who might be allies,” I added, the gravity of the situation settling deep in my bones. “Emberwick Crossing will never be the same after this.”
“Change is often necessary for growth,” Agatha observed sagely. “And you, Sage Holland, will be at the heart of it.”
“Goody for me,” I said dryly, standing up with Agatha still perched on my shoulder.
She yawned, jumping down and sauntering towards the kitchen. “Now, let’s eat. I’m famished, and you need your strength. Tomorrow, we hunt for a locket and unmask a conspiracy.”
“Sounds like a typical Thursday,” I joked weakly.
As I followed Agatha to the kitchen, my head buzzed with unanswered questions and half-formed plans.
I rummaged through the fridge, grabbing some leftover Chinese takeout. “Chicken lo mein, dinner of champions,” I quipped, shoveling a forkful into my mouth.
Agatha eyed me critically. “Nutritious. I’m sure that’ll fuel that big brain of yours for the coming battle of wits and magic.”
“Hey, don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. Besides, I need comfort food right now. Plotting against powerful magical foes is stressful business.”
“Fair point,” Agatha conceded, hopping up on the counter. “So, what’s our first move, Sherlock? Please tell me it involves me getting to scratch someone’s eyes out.”
I snorted. “As much as I appreciate your bloodthirsty enthusiasm, I think we need to play this smart. Gather intel first, then go in claws blazing.”
“You’re no fun,” Agatha pouted. “But I suppose you’re right. Where do we start digging up dirt on our suspect list?”
“I say we hit up Eden,” I suggested, polishing off the last of the lo mein. “That gossipy aide seems to have her nose in everyone’s business. If anyone knows something about this locket situation, it’ll be her.”
“Ooh, I like the way you think,” Agatha purred approvingly. “A little subtle interrogation over tea and crumpets. The trick will be getting her to spill without letting on what we’re really after.”
“Well then, it’s a good thing subtlety is my middle name,” I said with a wink.
Agatha rolled her eyes. “I thought it was Danger. Or was it Reckless Overconfidence?”
“Ha ha,” I deadpanned. “Seriously though, this is our chance to prove ourselves. To show everyone that we’re more than just the quirky witch and her snarky cat sidekick.”
“Excuse you. I am nobodyʼs sidekick,” Agatha huffed indignantly. “But I take your meaning. It’s time to step up and show these magical bigwigs what we’re made of.”
I nodded. “No, now it’s time to eat.”
Once we’d finished, I cleaned up the kitchen while Agatha went to take a nap.
Stepping out into the cool night air, I found Brad waiting for me in my backyard, his silhouette outlined by the soft glow of the porch light. He turned at the sound of the door closing behind me, his blue eyes searching mine.
“Hey,” he said gently.
“Hey.”
My stomach twisted into knots. Brad’s presence always did this to me—a fusion of contentment, lust, and desire. And right now, I wanted to run to him and away from him all at once.
The tension from earlier had yet to dissipate, and now, cloaked in shadows and secrecy it ratcheted higher.
He took a cautious step closer. “You, okay?”
“Define ‘okay,’” I huffed, hugging myself against the chill. “I feel like I’m standing in quicksand, Brad. Everything’s shifting beneath me.”
My admission clung to the air, leaden with voiceless fears. Part of me wished I could take them back, stuff them down where they belonged. But another part of me relished the honesty, the uninhibited vulnerability.
He nodded, reaching out to push a loose strand of hair from my face. “We’ll figure this out, Sage. We always do.”
His touch set off electricity through me, a harsh reminder of everything we couldn’t have. I bit my lip, fighting the urge to lean into his hand.
“Even when we’re not supposed to be together?” I couldn’t keep the bitterness from seeping into my question.
“Especially then. The Covenant of Veiled Boundaries can’t dictate how we feel. It can only tell us what we’re allowed to show.”
“Which is nothing,” I whispered.
A lump formed in my throat. Nothing. That’s what we were reduced to—stolen moments and whispered promises. It wasn’t enough. It would never be enough.
“Listen to me. What we have—it’s real. And no law, no matter how ancient, is going to change that.”
“Real and impossible,” I mumbled.
My chest ached with the suckage of it all. Real, impossible, and utterly maddening. How were we supposed to navigate this minefield of emotions and rules?
“But since when has impossible stopped either of us? You’re the most resourceful person I know.”
“Resourceful enough to find a stolen magical locket and expose a conspiracy, but not enough to keep the guy I—” I caught myself, the confession dangling precariously on my lips.
I’d almost said it. Those three little words that would change everything...or maybe nothing at all.
“Keep the guy you what?” Brad moved closer.
“Never mind.” I shook my head. “It’s all too complicated.”
Complicated didn’t begin to cover it. This was a tangled mess of feelings, duty, and magic that even my best spells couldn’t unravel.
His smile held a sad edge. “Complication doesn’t mean defeat. We can be strong for each other, even if we can’t be together.”
“It’s the wanting more and knowing I shouldn’t.”
Wanting more felt like a betrayal of the Covenant, of my mentor, of everything I’d worked for. But denying it felt like a betrayal of myself.
“Wanting more is human, Sage. And so is fighting for it.” Brad stepped back, giving me space yet somehow remaining my anchor. “No matter what happens, I’m here for you. You know that, right?”
“Knowing it is the easy part.” I managed a small smile. “Believing it when everything else is falling apart—that’s the tough one.”
“Then let’s start by believing in each other,” he said, and there was a promise in his voice that felt as solid as the earth beneath our feet.
Brad leaned in, his breath cool on my cheek. Before I could react, his lips met mine in a passionate kiss. For a moment, I melted into him, feeling the tenderness, the connection. Then reality crashed over me like a bucket of ice water. I jerked away abruptly, my hand flying to my mouth.
Oh, gods, what was I doing? This was exactly what we’d promised not to do. My heart pounded, with lingering desire and rising panic.
“Brad, we can’t,” I choked out, fighting back tears. “This... us... it’s getting too dangerous.”
His face clouded with hurt. “Sage, I care about you so much.”
His declaration and devotion twisted like a knife in my gut. I cared too, more than he knew. But caring wasn’t enough, not with the stakes so high.
I shook my head, steeling myself. “No, we can’t. The Covenant of Veiled Boundaries isn’t just some rule we can bend. It’s magical law, Brad. Ancient and binding. And Ingrid wouldn’t hesitate to—”
“To what? We’re both consenting adults, Sage.”
I paced, swallowing hard “You don’t understand. As a civilian, you’re not protected. If Ingrid catches us again...”
Images flashed through my mind: Brad stripped of his magic, exiled from our world. All because of me. My throat tightened.
Brad reached for me, but I stepped back. “Then we keep it secret. We’ve done that before.”
“And look where that got us,” I said. “I can’t risk you losing your magical builder license, Brad. I won’t. We can’t...it’s over. I’m sorry.”
The words felt like ash in my mouth. Every fiber of my being screamed to take them back, to throw caution to the wind and choose love. But I couldn’t. Not when the cost was Brad’s entire future.
Brad’s jaw clenched, his expression flashing with both hurt and frustration. “So that’s it? You’re just going to throw away everything we have?”
I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold it together. “Brad, please. Don’t make this harder than it already is.”
“Harder?” He let out a bitter laugh. “Sage, you’re the one making this impossible. We can be careful. We can—”
“No,” I cut him off, my tone sharp. “We can’t. Don’t you get it? Every stolen moment, every secret touch... it’s like playing with fire. And sooner or later, we’re going to get burned.”
My stomach twisted into knots. Brad’s optimism was like a knife to the gut, reminding me of everything we could never have. I wanted to scream, to shake him until he understood the impossibility of it all.
Brad stepped closer, his sexy smell making my head spin. “I’m willing to take that risk.”
I backed away, bumping into the wall of my house. “Well, I’m not. Not with your future on the line.”
Tears stung my eyes. I couldn’t let him see how much this was killing me. If he knew, he’d never let go.
“That’s my choice to make,” he argued, frustration coloring his tone.
“Is it?” I shot back. “Because last time I checked, I’m the one with the power to strip you of everything you’ve worked for. One slip-up, one moment of weakness, and poof—your magic, your career—gone.”
Brad’s face fell, the reality of our situation finally sinking in. “There has to be another way,” he said.
I shook my head, blinking back tears. “There isn’t. Not as long as the Covenant stands.”
“Then we fight it,” Brad said. “We go to the Council, we—”
“Stop,” I pleaded, my resolve crumbling. “Just...stop. It’s over, Brad. It has to be.”
I could hear my own heart hammering in my chest, feel unshed tears burning behind my eyes.
Brad’s shoulders slumped. “I love you, Sage,” he said softly, his voice breaking.
Those four words shattered what was left of my composure. All the air left my lungs, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
A sob escaped my lips before I could stop it. “I know,” I said. “That’s why I have to let you go.”