Page 49 of Innocent Until Proven Witch

That gets my attention. "Why build tunnels under the docks?"

My mother leans back. "The coastline wasn't always peaceful."

I wait. She continues. "Back then, ward boundaries weren't nearly as strong."

I pull out my notebook. My mother rolls her eyes. "You're writing this down."

"Absolutely."

"Of course you are," she says, and I grin, though she ignores it. "The tunnels were used by smugglers and merchants."

"Those aren't the same thing."

"They were back then."

I laugh. My mother points a finger at me. "Don't start."

"Wouldn't dream of it."

"That's a lie." She continues before I can answer. "People used them to bypass harbor inspections."

I scribble another note. "Anything else?"

My mother's expression darkens. "A few magic users used them too."

That makes me pause. "To do what?"

"Move without crossing wards."

I slowly lower my pen, the room feeling quieter. "Explain."

She glances toward the harbor through the window. "The old ward network wasn't designed for underground routes."

The realization lands immediately. People could avoid detection and move unseen. Solely operate beneath the town. My pulse begins racing. "How long did that continue?"

"Not long," she says, the answer arriving immediately. My mother folds her arms. "Reina's grandmother discovered it."

A smile threatens my mouth. That sounds exactly like something the old storm witch would do.

My mother notices. "Don't look so pleased."

"I wasn't."

"You were." A little. "Then what happened?"

"She fixed it."

The answer sounds simple. Knowing what I know about Reina's grandmother, it probably wasn't. She continues. "Additional ward pillars."

I stop writing. "Where?"

"Near the tunnel entrances."

Another piece falls into place. "If someone wanted to move magic through Moonhaven without being noticed⁠—"

My mother watches my expression, understanding dawning immediately. "Finn."

I close the notebook, the excitement building in my chest impossible to ignore. "Do you know where the entrances are?"