“I want to work here.”
“You want to stay in the café business?”
“I do if it looks likethis.”
Avery laughed. “It is pretty wonder—”
A high-pitched squeal of delight broke through the calm din of café-goers, drawing attention to a small woman with hair like the aurora: a mix of deep blue, purple, and teal ombred to the tip with a vibrant bright green. She was barefoot and wore a high-low gathered cream skirt, an ocher T-shirt that had been knotted to cinch it above her waist, and a lightweight robe made of deep blue fabric scattered with gold designed to mimic the night sky. As she bounded toward them, Saga could see it was one of Hygge’s shirts, emblazoned with the “H” of the establishment’s name, resembling the oak tree above them by showcasing aspects from every season. “Ah! Is it really you?” She squinted bright aqua eyes at Avery, speaking with a faint Finnish lilt. “Fiore told me they let you out, but I didn’t believe them!”
Avery chuckled, her eyes glassy. “Hello, Essi,” she whispered.
Esteri hopped excitedly from one foot to the other, now only about three feet from both of them. “Are we hugging yet?” Her arms reached out to Avery, fingers wiggling in excitement. “Too late, I am hugging.” She closed the distance between them so quickly, Saga could hear the breath leave Avery upon the impact of Esteri securing her arms around her.
Unlike with Saga, Avery did not initially flinch, nor did she attempt to pull away in surprise. Instead, she seemed completely at peace, and while it took a moment for her to return the embrace, she was happy to do so. This was an old friend who had earned that right.
“So much has changed while you were away!” Esteri exclaimed. “Look at my hair!” She released Avery in order to grab two fistfuls. Perhaps it wasa trick of the light, but the colors shifted like the aurora they resembled. “I go out like this! Well, almost like this. Thetail, you know—but the hair I get to keep—mostly.”
While it was concealed by the flowing robe, Saga could see the flash of a white foxtail tipped with glowing teal wagging behind the woman as she took Avery’s hands in her own.
“Oh, I have missed you so. My life has been lacking far too much in murder with you away.”
“Most people would consider that a good thing, Es,” Avery remarked.
“Most people don’t have the rarity of your friendship,” Esteri countered, her attention abruptly turning to Saga. “Though perhaps the times have changed, I see you brought a friend! How extraordinary! Doyouhug?”
“Yes?” Saga immediately lost what breath remained in her as Esteri caught her up in a similar enthusiastic hold. “Nice to meet you, I’m Saga—”
“You’re Audrey’s girl.” It was a casual matter-of-fact statement, as if the two had grown up together.
“You…know my mother?”
Esteri shook her head. “I know your grandmother—café owner to café owner. We trade secrets, share our lives. She used to show me pictures of Leigh and Audrey. These days it’s all pictures of you.” She gestured proudly to the café around her. “What do you think of Hygge? I know it’s no Hudson’s, but we have our own charm, don’t you think?”
There was a sinking feeling at the mention of her grandmother, as she realized there would be many moments like this one in the near future: telling friends new and old that Saoirse had passed. Her throat felt tight, and her eyes stung. “It’s beautiful,” Saga breathed.
This change in her did not go unnoticed, and Esteri’s face fell. “Something terrible has happened, hasn’t it?”
“You said you missed the murder,” said Avery.
Esteri’s eyes darkened. “I’ll get the tea.”
They sat in the autumn section, tucked in a private corner, Esteri in one of the large wingback chairs and Avery and Saga sitting across from herin a love seat with a low table between them. The teacups mimicked the silhouette on Esteri’s shirt, an acorn and oak leaf saucer. Autumn leaves drifted down from the branches above them, graceful and picturesque, but when they hit any surface they vanished in a shimmer of golden light.
In the midst of this content and cozy setting, Avery relayed the details around Saoirse’s death to Esteri, taking particular care to explain the broken wards and Riddle’s lack of involvement.
When they’d finished, Esteri leaned forward to set down her teacup. “This is troubling…”
“Murder usuallyis, Es,” Avery murmured, scratching the back of her right hand.
Esteri shook her head. “A familiar is able to walk through the mortal realm purely by the magic of their caster and a bond is formed based on mutual trust and care.” She glanced at Saga’s untouched tea. “You can drink that, you know.”
“Oh.” Saga warily eyed her cup, remembering every fairy-tale warning she’d grown up with involving the fey and food. “No, that’s all right…”
“It’s safe, I promise,” said Avery. “We’re still in your realm, not ours.”
“We have laws against that now anyway,” chimed Esteri.
Saga hesitated, then took a deep drink of her tea.
