The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
by Sangu Mandanna
Contents
Chapter Twenty-One
Overview
On the drive home, Jamie detours so Mika can forage on the Solstice, and their simmering attraction erupts into a passionate kiss before rain interrupts. Their banter and shared magic reaffirm trust. Near Nowhere House, Jamie urges Mika to open an enchanted tea-and-potion shop, reframing belonging as something they can create.
Summary
Driving south after the family visits, Jamie spots woods and stops so Mika can forage on the Winter Solstice. They collect plants while talking lightly about Belfast, belonging, and books, their closeness building into mutual, unspoken desire.
The tension breaks when Jamie and Mika finally kiss, urgent and hungry, until rain forces them to stop. Laughing and breathless, they stumble back to the car, teasing about secrecy and Ian’s likely smugness, and Mika casts a keep-warm spell to steady them.
Back on the road, Mika brews tea from a thermos that dries Jamie’s soaked clothes as he drinks. Impressed, Jamie tells Mika she’s excellent at her craft, a recognition that warms her more deeply than the tea.
As they near Nowhere House, Jamie describes a nearby flower-filled town as an example of someone going “all in” on what they love. He urges Mika to do the same by opening an enchanted tea-and-potion shop. Pulling through the gates into clearing weather and golden light, he concludes that sometimes belonging isn’t found—it’s made, planting a hopeful vision for Mika’s future.
Who Appears
- Jamie KellyDetours for Solstice foraging, initiates and shares a passionate kiss, admires Mika’s magic, and encourages her to open an enchanted shop.
- Mika MoonForages on the Solstice, kisses Jamie, uses warming and drying magic, and is urged to pursue an enchanted tea-and-potion shop.