Page 66 of Magical Moonbeam
“I meant it endearingly!”
“You saidit explains a lot!”
I stepped into the hall, startled and a little breathless. “What is going on?”
Skonk ducked behind me without shame. “Sanctuary! She’s trying to whack me!”
“Iamwhacking you!” Lady Limora snapped, still in full pursuit. “And I’d do it again if you weren’t hiding behind the headmistress like a cowardly turnip!”
“I resemble that remark,” Skonk mumbled. “I embrace it.”
I stepped between them quickly, holding up both hands.
“Okay! Everyone breathe. One deep breath. Two seconds of peace. That’s all I ask.”
Lady Limora paused, panting lightly, her broom raised but not striking.
Skonk peeked from behind me, his expression sheepish. “I may have made a comment that came out… poorly.”
“Youalwaysdo,” she said, dropping the broom to her side.
“Can I assume no actual curses were thrown?” I asked.
“Only verbal,” Limora replied coolly, brushing a strand of hair back into place with impressive poise. “Though I did briefly consider turning his mouth into a June bug.”
“I’d make a lovely beetle,” Skonk said brightly.
Limora narrowed her eyes. “You’d make a…”
I rubbed my forehead. “This is my quiet day. My soup is going cold.”
Limora finally cracked a smile. “Apologies, Maeve. I’ll let him live. For now.”
She spun on her heel and swept down the hall with a dignity only someone truly furious could maintain after chasing someone with a broom.
Skonk exhaled like he’d just faced down a dragon. “She isterrifying.”
“She’s also the reason the Moonbeam calendar is accurate to the hour,” I said. “So maybe keep the eyebrow commentary to yourself next time.”
He nodded solemnly. “Understood.”
I turned to go, then paused. “Skonk?”
“Yes?”
“What did you mean by leaky dreams?”
He froze.
“Ah,” he said slowly. “Just… that Hedge witches sometimes have a thin Veil. Between dream and thought. Between memory and instinct. Sometimes what’s inside you doesn’t stay there.”
I studied him.
“Should I be worried?”
He tilted his head. “Maybe. But only if you’re keeping secrets worth dreaming about.”
And with that, he winked and scurried away.
