Page 24 of Spellbound and Gagged

"Not again," Thaddeus muttered.

Juno nodded grimly. "The Brewfest is to blame. Everyone is careless and thinks all plants are the same. A mess indeed, but we've faced worse before. Together we'll set this greenhouse to rights once more."

They sprang into action, working in tandem as if no time had passed since their student days. Juno soothed the more aggressive plants with gentle words and waves of calming magic, while Thaddeus erected magical barriers to contain the chaos.

As they worked, Juno noticed that Thaddeus's strength balanced her nurturing touch perfectly. It was like a dance, each anticipating the other's moves, filling in the gaps.

By the time they had the greenhouse under control, the sky outside was beginning to lighten with the first hints of dawn. Juno and Thaddeus stood in the center of the now-calm greenhouse, covered in dirt, sweat, and glittering pollen.

"Tomorrow's Brewfest," Thaddeus said. As if she needed the reminder. "I can bring you the antidote for the rhyming verse later."

She nodded, but before he turned to go, she laid a hand on his arm to stop him.

"About us, about what comes next," she began, struggling to shape her rhyming speech into something meaningful. "The position, the feelings, it's all so complex."

"What do you mean?" Thaddeus asked, his gaze intent on her face.

"Our work and our hearts, they're tangled together," she explained. "To separate one from the other? I'm not sure I've ever. We compete for the same job, yet we draw ever near. How can we make space for both careers and what we hold dear?"

Juno could see understanding dawn in his eyes. She'd always found it nearly impossible to separate her feelings for Thaddeus from their professional competition. It was why their breakup had been so devastating—it hadn't just been losing a lover, but losing her research partner, her academic equal, her challenger who pushed her to grow.

"If you don't win," she said, dropping the rhyme for a moment through sheer force of will, "are you leaving again?"

"You can't get rid of me that easily," he promised.

And then he kissed her again.

He left her with her eyes still closed and her body racing with the thrill of his touch.

Tomorrow.

Juno slowly made her way back to her quarters, the first rays of dawn painting the hallways with golden light. The rhyming side effect was beginning to subside—she could feel the magic loosening its grip on her speech. By evening, with Thaddeus's antidote, she should be back to normal in time for the competition.

She slumped into her chair, emotional and physical exhaustion washing over her. Tomorrow—no, today—was Brewfest. The culmination of months of work. The decision about the department head position.

As she stared at her completed potion, glowing softly in its vial, Juno found herself wondering if it was all worth it. The position would validate her approach, give her the authority to shape the curriculum, advance her career. All things she'd dreamed of for years.

But at what cost?

If she won, would Thaddeus resent her, despite his promise to stay? If he won, could she accept working under his authority without bitterness? And if their rekindled feelings couldn't survive the competition, would any victory feel hollow?

"Maybe," she whispered, relieved to hear normal speech again, "there's something more important than being department head."

She gazed at the moonlight orchid pollen she'd so carefully distilled. It sparkled with possibility—not just for her potion, but perhaps for a different kind of future than she'd imagined.

A future where professional rivalry didn't have to mean personal sacrifice. Where perhaps two different approaches could coexist and even strengthen each other.

With that thought tugging at the corners of her mind, Juno finally allowed herself to rest. Tomorrow would bring its own answers. And perhaps its own questions.

Chapter Eight

The morning of Brewfest dawned bright and clear, the air thrumming with excitement and magic. Juno stood at the edge of the competition grounds, her stomach a knot of nerves and anticipation. All around her, Grimm Mawr Academy buzzed with activity as students and faculty prepared for the day's events.

Colorful banners fluttered in the breeze, proclaiming "Welcome to Brewfest!" in shimmering, magical script. The scent of exotic herbs and bubbling potions filled the air, mingling with the aroma of freshly baked treats from the refreshment stands. It was a feast for the senses, and under normal circumstances, Juno would have been thrilled.

But these were not normal circumstances. Not with Thaddeus standing just a few feet away, looking confident and unconcerned. Not with all the things that had been left unsaid between them and all of the promise for tomorrow just a day away. But first, they had to see who would come out on top.

Juno took a deep breath, trying to focus. She was here to win.

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