Page 7 of Spellbound and Gagged

Thaddeus looked up, surprise flickering across his face. "It was... intense," he said after a moment. "Beautiful and dangerous in equal measure. The magical flora there has evolved defenses you wouldn't believe."

"Like what?" Juno asked, genuinely curious despite herself.

"There was a species of snap-dragon that actually breathed fire when threatened," Thaddeus said, his voice warming with enthusiasm. "And a canopy vine that could alter your memoriesif you touched it without the proper protection. I spent three months just documenting its effects."

"That sounds fascinating," Juno admitted. "And terrifying."

"What about you?" Thaddeus asked, his eyes meeting hers. "What have you been working on these past few years?"

"I developed a new approach to cultivating empathic herbs," Juno said, unable to keep the pride from her voice. "They can attune to a specific person's emotional state and tailor their healing properties accordingly. It's been particularly effective for trauma victims."

"That's... impressive," Thaddeus said, and Juno was surprised to hear genuine admiration in his voice. "You always did have a gift for understanding the emotional side of herbology."

Their bickering escalated as they worked their way through the greenhouse. Juno felt like she was back in their student days, when their debates would often lead to... other activities. Much more exciting activities that usually involved significantly less clothing and considerably more physical contact.

Not that she was thinking about that. At all.

As they reached for the same harmonizing hollyhock, their hands brushed. Juno jerked back as if stung, a jolt of electricity shooting up her arm. Thaddeus too withdrew his hand quickly, his usually stoic expression flickering for just a moment.

"Perhaps we should discuss the proper placement for plants with complementary magical properties," Thaddeus said, his voice oddly strained.

"Oh, now you want to discuss things?" Juno couldn't keep the sarcasm from her voice. "I thought you preferred to rule your plants with an iron fist."

"And I suppose you'd rather sing lullabies to them and hope for the best?" Thaddeus shot back.

"The whispering willows need some extra encouragement," Juno said defensively. "They're sensitive."

"Yes, your famous nurturing approach." Was it her imagination, or was there a hint of fondness in his voice?

"Plants respond to love and care. They're not soldiers to be drilled into submission."

"And yet, my 'soldiers' seem to be holding their own well." He nodded towards his section of the greenhouse, where his pruned plants stood in perfect formation.

Their debate grew more heated as they backed into a corner of the greenhouse she hadn't paid much attention to before. Juno, gesticulating wildly to emphasize a point about symbiotic magical relationships, pushed aside a curtain of vines.

"Yes, well," Juno sniffed, "some of us prefer our plants to have a little personality."

A ghost of a smile played at the corners of Thaddeus's mouth. "Is that what you call it when your embracing ivy tries to strangle unsuspecting visitors?"

Despite herself, Juno smiled. "They're just enthusiastic huggers. Not everyone appreciates a good cuddle like they do."

The moment the words left her mouth, Juno wished she could take them back. Cuddles? Really?

But Thaddeus didn't laugh or scoff. Instead, his eyes darkened, his gaze intensifying in a way that made Juno's breath catch. "I seem to recall you being fond of a good cuddle yourself, once upon a time."

And suddenly, the world stopped.

Behind the vines was a small, hidden alcove. Sunlight filtered through stained glass, casting colorful shadows over a weathered stone bench. The air was thick with the heady scent of night-blooming jasmine.

Juno's breath caught in her throat as recognition dawned. From the sharp intake of breath behind her, she knew Thaddeus had realized it too.

"Is this...?" she breathed, her eyes wide.

Thaddeus cleared his throat. "It appears so."

This alcove was where they had shared their first kiss as students. It was here, surrounded by the intoxicating scent of magical flora, that their rivalry had first blossomed into something more.

Memories flooded Juno's mind unbidden. The nervous excitement as they'd snuck away from a school dance. The way Thaddeus's eyes had shone in the moonlight filtering through the stained glass. The softness of his lips against hers, tentative at first, then growing in confidence. The feeling that her whole world had shifted on its axis in that moment.

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