Page 173 of Magical Moonbeam

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Keegan hovered nearby, his hands flexing like he wanted to fight something he couldn’t see.

“I felt him,” I said hoarsely. “Inside. Not just memories.Present.He tried to see something I’ve hidden.”

Nova’s gaze sharpened. “What?”

“I can’t say it,” I hissed. “Even now. He’s not fully gone. He left atether—like a hook. It’s snapped now, I think, but if I speak it aloud, it mightecho.”

Nova frowned, but nodded. “Then we keep it secret.”

I nodded.

Nova placed her palms over mine. “We need to ground you. The tether might be broken, but his magic lingers like mildew. We clean it, now.”

“I’ll guard the room,” Keegan said. “No one gets through.”

Nova pulled a small black stone from her satchel and placed it over my heart. “Close your eyes. Focus only on your name.”

“My name?”

“Your true one,” she said. “The one only you know.”

I closed my eyes.

The Academy faded.

The pain faded.

There was only my breath. My heartbeat. My magic.

And a name whispered to me by the vines, the moss, the wind through the wildwood.

Maeve.

Not just daughter.

Not just Hedge witch.

Not just survivor.

Butrooted.

Mine.

A light bloomed in my chest, soft and slow. It spread outward like honey warming in sunlight. It burned the last of his voice away.

I opened my eyes.

Nova exhaled. “Good. He’s gone.”

But my mouth stayed tight.

Because I couldn’t help but wonder—

Had he seenenough?

Not everything.

But enough to want more?

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