Page 13 of Spellbound and Gagged

Juno headed for the door, determined to sneak back to her quarters and hide until she figured out how to de-green herself. She poked her head out into the hallway, checking to make sure the coast was clear.

And then, because the universe clearly had it out for her today, she heard familiar footsteps approaching.

Thaddeus. Of course it was Thaddeus. Because this day just wouldn't be complete without him seeing her in all her green glory.

Juno tried to retreat back into her lab, but it was too late. Thaddeus rounded the corner, his dark robes swirling dramatically and stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of her.

For a long moment, they just stared at each other. Juno, green-skinned and wild-haired, half-hidden behind her laboratory door. Thaddeus, impeccably groomed as always, his eyes widening in a mix of surprise and... was that concern?

"Juno?" Thaddeus said, his deep voice sending an involuntary shiver through her. "Are you... is everything all right?"

Juno wanted to sink into the floor. Or turn invisible. Or possibly both. Instead, she forced herself to step fully into the hallway, lifting her chin defiantly.

"Everything's fine," she said, trying to sound nonchalant. As if being green was a perfectly normal occurrence. "Just a small magical mishap. Nothing to worry about."

Thaddeus's eyebrows shot up, disappearing under his artfully tousled hair. "A small mishap?" he repeated, his tone caught between amusement and disbelief. "Juno, you're green."

"Really? I hadn't noticed," Juno snapped, her embarrassment making her voice sharper than she'd intended.

To her surprise, Thaddeus's expression softened. He took a step toward her, his hand half-raised as if he wanted to reach out to her. There was something in his eyes—a flash of guilt quickly masked by concern.

"I've seen this before," he said, reaching into his pocket. "During my second year in South America, one of my colleagues had a similar reaction to a botched distillation of blue moonvine. Try this."

He pulled out a small glass bottle filled with a pearlescent silver liquid. "Essence of reversal lily mixed with quicksilver sap," he explained. "Three drops twice a day, and the color should fade within forty-eight hours."

Juno eyed the vial suspiciously. "And why do you just happen to have this on you?"

Thaddeus shifted his weight, not quite meeting her eyes. "I may have... anticipated that you might try to create a substitute for the moonlight orchid nectar."

"I don't need your help," Juno said stiffly, even as her fingers itched to grab the remedy. "I'm perfectly capable of fixing this myself."

Thaddeus sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Look, Juno, I..." he hesitated, running a hand through his hair. "Just take it, please. Consider it... a peace offering. For the orchid."

There it was—not quite an apology, but the closest thing to remorse she'd seen from him since his return. Thaddeus held out the vial, a tentative olive branch between them.

After a moment's hesitation, Juno reached out and took it. "Fine," she said, trying to sound ungracious even as relief washed through her. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Thaddeus said, the corner of his mouth lifting in a small smile. "Though I have to say, the green does bring out your eyes."

"Don't push your luck, Shadowspire," Juno warned, but there was no real bite to her words.

"Wouldn't dream of it," he replied, taking a step back. "I should let you... de-green in peace. And Juno?"

"Yes?"

"The remedy works best when taken with honey tea," he said over his shoulder as he walked away, not turning back to see her reaction.

Juno shut the door to her laboratory, leaning against it as she examined the vial in her hand. She uncorked it cautiously and sniffed. The scent of lilies and something metallic filled her nostrils—exactly what reversal lily essence should smell like. Thaddeus hadn't tried to trick her, at least.

Sighing, she rummaged through her desk drawer until she found her emergency stash of honey, then conjured a quick cup of tea. Following his instructions, she added three drops of the pearlescent liquid and drank it down.

Almost immediately, a tingling sensation spread across her skin. Looking in the mirror, she saw with relief that the vibrant green had already faded to a softer, more pastel shade.

"Well, I'll be damned," she murmured, touching her cheek in wonder. "It's actually working."

A small voice in the back of her mind whispered that perhaps Thaddeus wasn't entirely the villain she'd made him out to be. Maybe there was still something of the boy she'd loved in the man he'd become. She quickly squashed that thought. One helpful gesture didn't erase years of heartache.

But as she settled back into her work, mixing potions with renewed vigor, Juno couldn't help glancing at her reflection every few minutes. The green was definitely fading, becoming more of a faint tinge than a full transformation. By Brewfest, she'd be back to normal.

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