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He patted my shoulder, and I managed a rueful smile.
‘I suppose you’re right.’
‘Sometimes,’ he said, ‘being a leader means having the strength to hold back, rather than charge ahead. You’re too important, Wulfram. We can’t let anything happen to you, so you must stay here safely until you’re ready to fight.’
‘I know, I know.’ I sighed. ‘Just a bit embarrassing when your girlfriend is more use than you are.’
He laughed. ‘Tell me about it.’
‘Oh yeah.’ I grinned back. ‘Sorry. I forgot.’
‘I think there’s some of Mrs Greenwood’s chocolate fudge cake left,’ he whispered. ‘Shall we treat ourselves?’
‘At four in the morning?’
His eyes twinkled and I shrugged, amused. ‘Oh well, why not?’
We gathered in the living room with our mugs of hot chocolate and cake. The central heating was on, so it was nice and cosy in there, and the lamps added to the homely atmosphere. Romy put the television on and, since Blaise and I weren’t fussed about watching anything, she, Trinity, and Ewella decided to watch some romcom Christmas film.
I leaned back in my chair and surveyed the scene, wondering with amusement what the villagers of Gerrenporth would say if they could see the way we lived here, on this little island less than a mile from them, which was supposed to be bleak and bare, with a basic shack for living accommodation and only intermittent electricity. I remembered when I’d been told I had to visit Peloryon Island by Mr Carpenter Junior. I’d been dismayed at the idea, and that feeling hadn’t been eased when he’d warned me to take a tent to sleep in because there was no decent accommodation on the island. When I’d seen this amazing house…
I took a sip of hot chocolate. Things had changed so much since then, yet it was only in the spring that I’d arrived here, fresh-faced, and completely innocent, having no idea that magic and witchcraft and the fae even existed, let alone that I was the next Great Guardian. Life was full of surprises.
I glanced over at the television where some woman—who, bizarrely, was wearing a smart suit and high heels, despite it being thick snow—was having an argument with a man in jeans and a casual sweater. She was getting very irate—something to do with deadlines and the forthcoming holidays. He, meanwhile, was telling her she was in the country now and they did things differently here. Besides, she wouldn’t be able to do any work because this little town had no internet. Smart woman nearly fainted on the spot.
I drained my hot chocolate, put the mug on the coffee table next to my empty plate, and leaned back, half watching the film, half daydreaming. It was so warm and cosy in here.
Frey leapt up onto my lap and I stroked his ears.
The next thing I knew there was a lot of noise and Frey was padding my chest to wake me up.
You’re always asleep!
‘Well, it is four o’clock in the morning,’ I said, annoyed.
I glanced at the clock and my mouth fell open. It was nearly six! Good grief.
Keely, Harley, Killian, Sirius and Emrick hurried into the living room. They didn’t have to say anything for us to realise something was badly wrong. They were covered in soot and grime, and their expressions were deadly serious.
‘What happened?’ I demanded.
‘Did the fires get out of hand?’ Romy asked.
Ewella put her hand to her mouth. ‘Please tell me no one was hurt.’
Emrick shook his head. ‘No one was hurt. There were several buildings burning, but we managed to contain them even before the fire brigade arrived. They were non-residential buildings, thank goodness, so no one was in them.’
‘Was it drunks?’ Trinity asked doubtfully.
Sirius shook his head. ‘Far from it.’ He dropped onto the sofa and rubbed his face. ‘If I had to put money on it I’d say it was the Pendragons.’
My stomach churned. ‘Why do you say that?’
Trinity and Romy cried out. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Oh, Emrick, not them. Not so close to the island!’ Ewella gasped.
Emrick held up his hands. ‘Okay, let’s just calm down. I’m afraid I think Sirius is right, although we can’t know for sure. It could have been errant fae causing trouble. Except…’
