Page 37 of The Soulmate Bakery

Orion and I were closing up the Treasure Trove after he’d insisted that Melodie leave early. I was midway through re-sorting all my measuring cups – an infuriating task really – when Orion spoke.

‘Would now be a bad time to start on another spell?’ Orion asked.

I looked over my shoulder to see that the task he’d taken on – dishwashing – was done.

I sighed and looked at him sardonically.

‘What?’ he said. ‘I’m just living up to the task you gave me.’

‘There’s no performance bonus, you know,’ I retorted, turning back to my station.

‘Lucky for you, I’m just dedicated,’ he said, and walked over to me.

Hanging from his middle finger was a locket – a gold chain, with a heart-shaped pendant at the end. The pendant was made of red rubies with gold thorned vines twisted around it. I couldn’t tell if he’d spelled the locket out of thin air, or if he had it in his pocket the entire time and only just decided to take it out.

‘I saw it in the Curiosity Shop, and it seemed fitting for you, Reverie,’ Orion said, and there was nothing to his tone. No teasing, no mocking, no probing.

I knew dragons liked gold and gems; it was in their nature to seek treasure. I didn’t find it surprising that the glinting jewellery had caught Orion’s eye. The part that threw me off wasn’t his voice, but the fact that he was right: this pendant felt fitting for me. It was something I would have chosen. And that unnerving feeling of being so clearly seen by someone overwhelmed me.

I always thought I saw Orion too, but, since returning to Maple Falls, I couldn’t help but catalogue all the differences. The streak of rebellion, the easy way he smiled, helping me just because I asked.

This wasn’t the Orion I knew, even though he walked like him, talked like him and looked like him. This was a virtual stranger.

‘Right,’ I said, nerves bundling in my stomach. I stared at the necklace like it was a cursed piece of jewellery, but I didn’t grasp it. Orion didn’t look even slightly offended, as if he expected my hesitation. ‘What kind of spell are we trying today?’

‘You’ve mastered the summoning spell,’ Orion replied, and then grinned. ‘My head is grateful for that.’

I rolled my eyes and pointed my dough-marked finger at him. ‘Go on.’

‘We’re going to do a protection spell,’ Orion replied, and he held the necklace between us. ‘It’s a simple one, commonly done on jewellery.’

‘And if it goes wrong?’ I asked, eyeing the ruby pendant and gold vines. It would be such a shame if it burst into flames or melted into a puddle. Or blew up the Treasure Trove.

‘Stop focusing on the possibility of the spell going wrong,’ Orion chided, dangling the necklace a little. ‘Now, my arm is getting tired holding this. Test the enchantment. Please.’

I didn’t reply to him, or his bossiness. There was a buzzing noise filling my head, my nerves tightening even more in the pit of my stomach. I tried to tell myself it was a simple spell, done on jewellery all the time. You’ve got this.

But it wasn’t as loud as the noise in my mind.

I reached over and grasped the pendant. The cool jewelled metal pressed into the flesh of my palm, my eyes fluttered shut and I whispered the spell.

‘Guard from evil, day or night, protect the wearer from every fright.’

I waited for my magic to awaken the way it did when I baked; for the familiar warmth to buzz at my fingertips like an electric current. I even waited for the pull that came when I was doing the summoning spell. But nothing happened.

I opened my eyes slightly, and I saw Orion’s confused expression. A sudden urge to cry made my throat ache.

Determined not to be a disappointment after all the help he’d given me, I tried the spell again. This time, a little louder.

‘Guard from evil, day or night, protect the wearer from every fright.’

Still, nothing happened. It was like the soulmate cookies all over again.

I tried again. And again. And again.

Until Orion gently pulled the locket out of my hand. Tears welled in the corners of my eyes. I couldn’t look at him, unwilling to see the disappointment on his face. I blinked furiously, jaw setting tight. I downright refused to cry in front of him.

‘So, it’s not just about feeling comfortable,’ Orion said softly. ‘You’re getting better, more comfortable with spellcasting. Something’s just blocking you. But the fact that you tried again – that’s improvement.’