Page 81 of Uncharmed

‘How are you feeling?’ Annie asked keenly, holding the back of her hand against Maeve’s forehead, then shimmying up her blankets, then adjusting the pillows behind her, then handing her a glass of water before starting the cycle all over again.

‘Like I’ve been hit by a truck. Or a metric ton of starlight, I suppose.’ A sprinkle of cuts and bruises had already bloomed like winter violets and she looked exhausted, but the glint in her dark eyes remained. ‘Did you see my spell?’ Maeve asked with a weak smile, squinting a little against the brightness of the first November day pouring through the curtains.

‘No, I missed it,’ Annie said with a disappointed frown. ‘Can you do it again?’

Maeve gawped.

‘Kidding,’ she smirked. ‘Of course I saw your spell. You were incredible, better than incredible.’

Maeve looked prouder than Annie could ever remember.

‘But that doesn’t mean that you’re not also in seven hundred different kinds of trouble. You have to stop keeping secrets from me,’ Annie went on. ‘Since when have you known how to do that? And how did you possibly know?’

Maeve, of course, just shrugged. ‘I read a lot. Don’t underestimate me.’

As if she could, as if she would ever dare to again. ‘Never.’

Hours later, after sipping on more varieties of Salutaris Medella healing potion than any one girl should have to stomach in a lifetime, Maeve was fortified enough to demand a trip out of bed. Not only was she feeling a little stronger with such skilled potion brewing on hand from the makeshift infirmary, but she had also heard that there was a rapturous audience waiting just outside her room to pile endless praise on her and generally go on about how much of a wonder she was. Annie had warned them to please stay quiet and to try not to overreact at the sight of the girl who had brought down starlight itself. Her warning was not noted.

Leaning on Annie’s arm, Maeve slowly hobbled out into the living room and was met by enthusiastic cheers and applause.

‘Hello, stray.’

With a billow of cloak, Morena stepped directly in front of Maeve just as she was attempting to take a grand bow, despite bruised limbs and sore muscles. Annie had conjured hasty baked supplies to boost everyone’s waning energy and Morena was brandishing a cheese twist slightly like a magic wand, as though she wasn’t entirely sure what to do with it.

‘Here,’ Morena said, handing Hal the twist and scattering a rainfall of flaky pastry crumbs across the floor in the process. ‘Dispose of this, Mr Bancroft. Miss Cadmus and I have much to discuss.’

‘Morena, can you give her a moment? She’s only just woken up,’ Annie said.

‘Can Annie come?’ Maeve asked, evidently unbothered by her injuries, but her grip tightened a little around Annie’s arm as she asked.

‘If she must.’ With a sharp, subtle nod of her head, Morena gestured for the witches to take the lead and (rather slowly) they shuffled and limped carefully towards the front door. Before they’d quite reached it, they were intercepted once again, but Annie was delighted by the interruption this time. It was Ruby, with an impressive black eye and her arm held tenderly in a sling.

‘You should see the other guy,’ she said with a grin through her split lip. ‘It was Vivienne’s father and I hear he’s now in a dungeon somewhere. Oh, I would pay big money to witness that.’

Annie pulled her carefully into a hug. ‘You joined the other side,’ she smiled.

‘It’s a much better fit,’ Ruby said proudly. ‘I went straight to Hecate House after those witches made it clear I wasn’t welcome and – you know me and my big mouth – it wasn’t long before I’d spilled a few secrets and opened up a whole can of worms,’ she smirked. ‘When Hal’s letter came through and I heard you were in trouble, I had to come, didn’t I?’

‘Thanks, Ruby,’ Annie said. ‘You’re a good friend.’

‘It was nothing – most exciting Halloween I’ve had for a while. They’re very welcoming folks at Selcouth. It’ll take me a little while to learn the ropes of being part of a half-normal coven rather than a menacing elite club, but I think it suits me much more.’

‘I have to agree. Don’t get me wrong, they have their faults,’ Annie admitted, too many examples to count on both hands all springing to mind. ‘But they’re the good side of magic,’ she added reassuringly.

‘Right, I can already tell,’ Ruby said, nodding with a slight wince at her shoulder. ‘I’ve just met my buddy Rune here, he’s going to show me the ropes at ol’ Hecate House.’

A slightly gangly warlock, all long limbs and towering height, the one who had managed to take hold of a Herald for himself, took a bold step towards them when Ruby introduced him. He pushed back a curl of dark hair as it fell into his exceedingly handsome face and Annie suddenly felt a little giggly as he removed his round wire glasses and gave her a lazy smile.

‘Rune Dunstan. New watchman for Selcouth,’ he said, shaking Hal’s hand enthusiastically. ‘A pleasure to meet you both, I’ve heard great things. Admired your work for a long time, Hal. And, Maeve, of course, that was really something special out there.’

‘Thanks for stepping up,’ Hal said, looking a little confused by all the human interaction. ‘Congratulations on the role. Nice coat that, mate. You look the part, at least.’

‘Oh. Right. Thanks,’ Rune said, taken aback as he looked down at his long black leather coat. ‘It was just a new thing I wanted to try, really. I wasn’t sure . . . You think it works?’

‘Looks cool,’ Hal shrugged, turning himself back towards the porch and looking slightly unsure as to why he’d entered into a conversation about coats.

‘Totally classic for a refined warlock,’ Annie jumped in, keen to thank him herself. ‘Effortlessly chic for autumn and winter. Really works for you with your beautiful bone structure. That should be your signature look,’ she added, giving him an approving nod. ‘I’ll come and find you soon,’ she said to Ruby. As she guided Maeve away, she noticed how a distinctly pleased smile tugged at the corners of Rune’s mouth. She even thought she saw him punch the air ever so subtly.