Page 30 of Magical Melee
“Because I revealed something private about Skye, and she’s a friend of yours. He didn’t like that I was trying to establish trust with you through her.”
“Is that what you were doing?”
“Yes.”
I frowned and spun around. “Why would that matter to him.”
“He’s got his rules, and I have mine,” she said matter-of-factly.
I folded my arms to keep the chill at bay. “Why does it matter what he thinks?”
A smirk spread across her features, and I realized they must be together.
“Oh, you’re with him?”
She hissed and shook her head. “Never. No, we’ve never been together.”
“There’s so much about this place I just don’t understand. If it’s a tourist destination, why do so many things feel…genuine?” I didn’t expect her to answer the question and continued. “Keegan gifted me a photo of my dad and me from when I was a little girl, and we were here. It’s funny. I lookedso happy. Probably the happiest of any of my childhood photos, and I didn’t remember a bit of it until I saw the picture.”
Nova tilted her head slightly.
I eyed her. “You were in it too.”
And then it hit me.
Chapter Seven
It had been nearly forty years since that photo had been taken.
I stared at Nova. She didn’t look a day older than when the picture was taken.
Not one day.
I rubbed my temples and thought back to Stella, who hadn’t aged at all, either. Granted, her starting point was a bit heftier, but still.
I let out a deep breath. “Stella was in the photo, too.”
She ignored my observations and pressed on, looking at me. “Your father’s a good man.”
“You knew him well?” My stomach clenched with a deep ache. There were times when I realized just how many people knew my father better than me.
“Yes.” She took a few steps forward and rested her fingers on the gate. “And your mother.”
My brows lifted in surprise. “I got the distinct feeling she hated this village. She wouldn’t even let me go on a class field trip here.”
Nova nodded with a soft understanding in her expression. She stepped closer to me, her gaze drifting over the symbols on the buildings.
“I doubt she wanted to be reminded of this town.” Her eyes connected with mine. “I don’t blame her.”
“Well, she’s floating on some cruise ship now with my stepdad.” I shrugged. “So, she’s gotten over it.”
Frank growled and turned to face the building. I bent down and scratched his ears, which seemed to calm him down.
“What is this building?”
“It’s one of our wards,” she said, gesturing to the building. “Each one protects a different part of Stonewick, maintaining the balance of energies here. Most visitors don’t even notice them, but you… you seem drawn to it.”
I frowned, realizing she was back into her part again. I let out a sigh and shrugged. “Okay, whatever. You don’t want to tell me the truth. Is it like storage or something?”
