Page 10 of Spellbound and Gagged

They watched as a group of students, led by Professor Plumeria, entered the greenhouse. The students were chattering excitedly about a night-blooming rare plant.

"This is why I called you all here," Professor Plumeria was saying. "The moonlight orchid only blooms once a year, and it's happening tonight."

The moonlight orchid was crucial for her Brewfest project. She'd been planning to harvest its nectar tonight. How could she have forgotten that?

She glanced at Thaddeus, seeing the same realization in his eyes. This rare bloom was vital for both their projects.

As the students gathered around the orchid, Juno felt her heart sink. There wouldn't be enough nectar for both her and Thaddeus's experiments with the students taking samples.

Once the students had left, Juno rushed towards the moonlight orchid, Thaddeus hot on her heels.

"I need that nectar," Juno said, reaching for the delicate bloom.

Thaddeus's hand shot out, grasping her wrist. "Not so fast. That nectar is essential for my defensive potion."

Juno yanked her hand away, glaring at him. "And it's crucial for my nurturing elixir. You can't possibly think you have more right to it than I do."

"Can't I?" Thaddeus retorted, his voice cold. "My project has been in development for months. I've put everything into this. I need it for my Brewfest potion. The department head position means a lot to me."

"And you think it means any less to me?" Juno shot back, hurt and anger bubbling up inside her. "Or have you forgotten how hard I've worked for this, just like you forgot about us when you chose your career over our relationship?"

She hadn't meant to bring that up, but it had bubbled to the surface and all the mind-blowing sex in the world hadn't been enough to stop it.

Thaddeus recoiled as if she'd slapped him. "That's not fair, Juno. You know it was more complicated than that."

"Was it?" Juno challenged, old pain resurging. "Because from where I stood, it seemed pretty simple. You got that offer, and suddenly, I didn't fit into your grand plans anymore."

"You could have come with me." Thaddeus's composure cracked, revealing the hurt underneath. "But you chose to stay here, to pursue your own path."

"Because this is where I belonged." Juno gestured around the greenhouse. "This is my home. These plants, this academy... I couldn't just leave it all behind."

"I couldn't wait to leave it all behind."

"Leave me behind, you mean," she muttered.

"No. Never you."

They stood in tense silence, years of unresolved feelings hanging heavy between them. The moonlight orchid glowed proudly, oblivious to the drama unfolding around it. Juno noticed how the bloom's center pulsed with an ethereal blue light, its magical energy concentrated in the handful of precious nectar droplets at its heart. The bloom itself was surrounded by delicate pollen spores that danced in the air, catching the moonlight in tiny shimmering clouds.

"The pollen," she found herself saying. "It has similar properties to the nectar, doesn't it?"

Thaddeus nodded slowly. "Yes, but it's far less potent. You'd need at least three times the quantity to achieve the same effect."

"But it could work," Juno pressed. "In theory."

"In theory, yes. But there's barely enough pollen here, and it would take weeks to cultivate enough for—"

"That's not what I asked," Juno cut him off. She wasn't going to let him dismiss the possibility so easily. Not when she could smell the answer literally floating in the air around them.

Finally, Thaddeus spoke, his voice low and controlled. "So where does that leave us now? Fighting over plant nectar like freshmen?"

"We could split it," Juno suggested, not taking her eyes off the flower.

Thaddeus scoffed. "There's barely enough for one project after the students took their samples. Splitting it would render it useless for both of us."

"So what do you suggest?" Juno challenged. "A duel for it?"

"If necessary," Thaddeus replied, his hand moving towards his wand.

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