Page 28 of Goody Magic Academy: Year Three

“Peyton, please,” she pleaded, her voice trembling. She pressed a hand to her chest, her eyes wide and sincere. “I swear on my life, these won’t hurt you like the ones you had to wear before. We’re trying to help you.”

I faltered for a moment, confusion mixing with fear as I remembered past betrayals. Jaxon’s grip on me softened slightly, becoming more of an embrace than a restraint.

“Believe her, Peyton,” Jaxon murmured in my ear. “We’re on your side. This isn’t what you think.”

My chest heaved as I looked between them, trying to make sense of the situation. The binding bracelets glinted menacingly in Rose’s hand, but the genuine concern in both their faces made me hesitate.

“Then... What is this?” I asked, my voice a hoarse whisper. “Why do you need to bind my magic?”

Rose took a cautious step closer. “It’s not to take your powers away,” she explained gently. “It’s for your own protection you while you’re at Simon’s estate. Please, let me explain.”

The adrenaline was still coursing through my veins, making my hands tremble and my breath come in short gasps. But as I looked from Rose’s earnest face to Jaxon’s concerned eyes, I allowed myself to take a deep breath, then another.

“I made these bracelets myself,” Rose continued, her words tumbling out in a rush. “They’re different. You’ll still have total control. It’s just...a disguise, that’s all. To fool the high priestess and the others at Ravenwood.”

Suddenly, I saw the situation in a whole new light. The binding bracelets glinted in Rose’s hand, but they no longer seemed like shackles. Instead, they looked almost...like armor.

My muscles quivered with exhaustion as the fight slowly drained out of me. Rose’s familiar scent of lavender washed over me as she drew closer. I searched her face, looking for any sign of deception. But all I saw was concern in her big green eyes.

“Then what...” I started, my mind racing to catch up with this new reality.

Jaxon’s grip on me softened further, becoming purely comforting. “Think about it, Peyton,” he said gently. “What’s the one thing that would keep you safest right now?”

And then it hit me as my fear dissipated. “They’re not to constrain my power,” I breathed, “but to hide it?”

Rose nodded, a small smile of relief crossing her face. “Exactly.”

“So…these bracelets…” I said slowly, reaching out a tentative hand toward them, “they’ll make me appear powerless?”

“To anyone who doesn’t know better, yes,” Jaxon confirmed. “You’ll be hiding in plain sight.”

Embarrassment at my outburst, relief at learning the truth, and a growing excitement at the possibilities this presented swirled through me.

“I’m sorry I doubted you,” I said to Rose and Jaxon softly. “I thought... I was so sure...”

Rose stepped closer, offering the bracelets to me rather than trying to put them on by herself. “It’s understandable, Peyton. Your fear was valid, given what you’ve been through. But we’re on your side. Always.”

Jaxon’s eyes, dark and intense, held mine with an unwavering steadiness. Sincerity was etched in every line of his face, devotion clear in the set of his jaw. When he spoke, his voice was low and fervent, each word resonating with conviction.

“I will always protect you, Peyton,” Jaxon said, his thumb brushing lightly across my cheek. “Never doubt that.”

The simple touch sent a thrilling shiver down my spine, as well as a warmth that spread through my chest, chasing away the last remnants of my earlier panic. I found myself leaning into it as the world narrowed down to just the two of us, the intensity of the moment making everything else fade away.

“This is our chance, Peyton,” he murmured, his voice low and urgent. “A way to keep your magic free. They’ll never see it coming.” His gaze softened, vulnerability creeping into his expression. “The only question is,” he whispered, his voice barely audible, “do you trust that I won’t ever let anyone hurt you again?”

I stood frozen, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and emotions. Everyone’s warnings echoed in my head—friends, family, even my own past instincts screaming caution. But my traitorous heart sang a different tune—one of stolen glances, gentle touches, and the fire in Jaxon’s eyes when he looked at me. It reminded me of the times he’d stood by my side, fought for me, protected me.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry as sandpaper. The choice loomed before me: trust my mind, with its cold logic and bitter memories? Or my heart, with its wild hope and desperate longing?

The silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken words and possibilities. I took a shaky breath, teetering on the edge of decision.

Chapter

Fifteen

The tension in the dining room was quiet, almost like a jet flying overhead right before a sonic boom as my friends’ gazes bore into me, their expectations weighing on my shoulders like lead.

Finn’s eyes blazed with barely contained fury and desperation. His jaw clenched, muscles twitching beneath taut skin. Everything about his posture screamed “Choose me!”—from his clenched fists to the way he leaned forward, as if ready to snatch me away from Jaxon at any moment.

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