Page 29 of Board Games and Broomsticks

Alaric was looking at her with newfound respect. ‘So that’s the secret you’ve been keeping. You’re the one who defeated Delamorte.’

‘I thought I had,’ Nyssa admitted, hating the shake in her voice as she gestured to her café. ‘Obviously, I was wrong. He seemed even more powerful than before.’ Somehow, Morven had managed to gain an ally loyal enough to help him regain not just the power they’d taken from him, but a hell of a lot more.

‘And yet you still managed to best him.’ Elowen offered her a gentle, reassuring smile, but there was a slight uneasiness in her eyes as she added, ‘Right?’

‘I did. He’s … Well, let me show you.’ It was easier than explaining. Dropping Liora’s hands, Nyssa trailed over to the shelf where Familiars still sat. She could feel the hum of her spell radiating from it as she carried it across the café and placed it gently on the counter. ‘He’s in here.’

Nyx jumped on top of the box and did her best impression of a loaf, her claws outstretched as if to silently warn the warlock trapped inside that she was on guard.

Alaric peered at the game with his brow furrowed. ‘What do you mean he’s in there?’

Nyssa quickly explained the spell she’d cast, and by the time she’d finished, each of her friends’ eyes had widened exponentially.

‘Pixie’s tits,’ Liora said, ‘that’s brilliant.’

Heat pooled in Nyssa’s cheeks. When was the last time someone had complimented her magic, rather than judged it? Enchantments were one thing, but to have someone praise her for successfully performing such a high-level spell made Nyssa’s heart swell.

‘It’s … a solution. But I’m not sure it’s a permanent one.’ Nyssa chewed on the inside of her cheek, her attention returning to the game. Already, she could feel Morven’s own magic fighting against her spell, testing its boundaries. If he’d been able to undo her banishment spell on the isle – a spell that had required her entire coven plus some members of The Briar Council – then Nyssa had no doubt he’d eventually be able to undo this one.

She couldn’t let that happen. If he’d been annoyed at her before, he’d be furious now. ‘Don’t worry, though – I’ll find a way to make sure he can never escape. I just need a bit of time …’

It would be a heck of a lot easier with her coven and their unlimited resources, but Nyssa would make do. She had to.

‘We can all help. I can reach out to some of my elven friends about possible magic or artefacts that might be useful,’ Elowen said. Liora and Alaric nodded their agreement.

‘I may not be a witch,’ Alaric said, ‘but you know we druids have our own spells, and I’ve researched a fair amount about binding magic in my time. I’ll bring by my tomes first thing tomorrow, and we can look into it together.’

‘And I happen to know a thing or two about enchanted objects!’ Liora held up her lyre. ‘Give me a few days, and I can try and find out more about where my family got this from, and who enchanted it. Maybe they can help!’

Nyssa’s heart swelled once more, her chest filling with warmth. Perhaps she didn’t need her coven, after all. Perhaps everything she needed was right here. Voice thick, she said, ‘Thank you all so much. I’m sorry I worried you; go back to the tavern, I’ll have this place cleaned up by tomorrow.’

Alaric snorted. ‘Yeah, like that’s going to happen.’ The druid was already directing his magic towards one of the overturned couches, while Liora grabbed one of the non-enchanted brooms and started sweeping up glass with a song on her lips. Nyssa moved to help the former, but was stopped by a firm hand on her arm.

‘Oh no you don’t,’ said Elowen, ‘not until you let me tend to those wounds.’

She led the witch by the hand to the back room, where she promptly sat Nyssa down on the small two-seater sofa and began running her fingers softly over the small cuts the shattered bulbs had left Nyssa with. Elowen’s touch warmed, her fingertips glowing faintly, lips puckered in concentration. A second later, the cuts she’d been touching began to disappear, until all that was left was Nyssa’s unblemished skin.

‘I didn’t know you could do that,’ Nyssa whispered, her breath catching as Elowen’s fingers drifted to the next wound. It was impossible not to watch her. To wonder what those long, elegant fingers might feel like on other parts of Nyssa’s body.

Not the time, Nyssa.

‘I don’t let a lot of people know about it,’ Elowen admitted. ‘It’s a gift most of my former clan harbour. Technically, I’m not supposed to use it now that I’m not a member, but … well, it’s you.’

Her eyes darted up to meet Nyssa’s as she seemed to realize what she’d just said. A pretty blush spread across her cheeks. ‘I’m sorry, that was inappropriate …’

Nyssa’s own cheeks were flushed, her breath short as she replied, ‘Not at all.’

Ancestors, she wanted to kiss her. To close the space between them and find out what Elowen tasted like. But before she could work up the courage, Elowen rose to her feet and took a few small steps back. ‘All done. How do you feel?’

‘Good.’ Nyssa marvelled at her now unmarked skin. She’d been so focused on Elowen that she hadn’t noticed her pain had completely faded. It was as if her wounds had never existed.

And as Elowen gave her a polite nod and returned to the front of the café, it was as though whatever had transpired between them had never existed, either.

CHAPTER TWELVE

In the end, they’d decided to close Teas and Tales until further notice.

It wasn’t a decision Nyssa had wanted to make, but the damage done by Morven was more extensive than she’d first thought: cracks had formed in some of the walls, tables had been splintered, and no matter how many times Nyssa swept, she kept finding shards of glass in the rugs.