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“That’s enough of the magic for now,” Chrissie says, plugging in some tongs. “I prefer to do this bit by hand.”

I relax as she methodically waves my hair.

“Should I invite Connor tonight?” Chrissie asks, as she twists yet another strand around the heated barrel.

I attempt to shake my head, but she holds it firm. “It’s definitely over now. He’s right—I never should have lied about who I was while I was sleeping with him.”

A pang of sadness goes through me when I think about Connor’s anger and pain. Hopefully we can try again in a few weeks’ time, when he’s had time to calm down. I think he could forgive me and might like to make another go of it. But if I attempt to contact him too soon, he’ll probably never speak to me again.

Chrissie raises her eyebrows. “So you did get together? I wasn’t sure. I still think of you as my sweet, innocent baby sister.”

“And I still think of you as a wild thing, when you’re a happily married mum of two. It’s scary how things change.”

“I still like to flirt, but it doesn’t mean anything. From the moment I met Ray, deep down, I wasn’t interested in anyone else.”

“The whirlwind Jamaican holiday romance.”

She smiles. “Something like that. Ray’s family have a similar set-up to us. A domed village in the Blue Mountains, with loads of factories in Falmouth and hotels in Montego Bay. They’re all very strong practitioners, and they were seeking an alliance. Then his sister had a vision of me.”

“Are you saying it was a fated marriage?”

Traditionally, practitioners tended to believe there was one person in the world who was right for every other person. If you were lucky, someone would have a premonition and discover who was meant for you. Sometimes, they’d be next door neighbours. Other times, they’d live on the opposite side of the world. Either way, you pretty much had to track them down and make them yours.

Chrissie laughs. “Kind of. Mum persuaded me to go and meet him. She wouldn’t have forced the issue if we hadn’t hit it off and neither would his mother. But his sister was sure we were right for each other. And from the moment we set eyes on each other, it was obvious it was true.”

I smile outwardly at the romantic story, but the fact it’s the first time I’m hearing the details makes me sad. I was right to stay away from Mannith all these years, but I could have made a better attempt to stay in touch.

“I guess I need to find my Ray,” I say, as Chrissie finishes with my hair and steps around me to make me up in a far more elaborate way than I could ever manage. “Maybe tonight’s the night?”

I say it to drive the serious look off my sister’s face. Deep down, I know I’ll never have a vision of some fated, perfect partner and neither will anyone ever dream of me. Even if Connor does forgive me, it’ll never last. I was ruined for love the moment that mark appeared on my finger.

* * *

“Today, there’s no skulking around. There’s no apologising for our presence. There’s no pretending Sadie is our lawyer. Tonight, the Sadlers are on the town, and we are making a spectacle of ourselves.”

It’s a rather dramatic statement for Liam. More the sort of thing Bren would say, were he here. In his absence, Liam has seemingly appointed himself family spokesperson.

Chrissie could not have done a better job with me. The green dress is as perfect as my hair and make-up. She’s fashioned something similar for herself, only in black, which is striking against her ultra-pale hair. Shane and Ray, in tuxedos, look just as glam as the pair of us. Liam, on the other hand, is channelling a rather different, but no less impressive, aesthetic, in athleticwear and a T-shirt that shows off his biceps, ready for his fight.

“I wish Bren was here,” Shane says. “If only to draw a picture of us all dressed up.”

I agree. I also can’t help but wish I’d swallowed my pride, tried again to apologise to Connor, and let Chrissie invite him along.

“Is anyone else tempted to traverse straight into the middle of the arena?” Ray asks, grinning.

“How about we compromise by landing in the reception area?” Shane suggests. “There’s something to be said for a bit of subtlety.”

Everyone nods. Outside the Dome, no practitioner would use their powers so publicly. But in Mannith, everyone knows about magic, and if anything, we like to remind people of our powers. Remind them who they have to thank for their blessings.

“You okay to do this?” Chrissie asks.

“Have a bit of faith.”

We land in perfect sync in the entrance to Mannith Hall, a Victorian building built in the gothic revival style and used for everything from wedding receptions to political gatherings. A few people stare. It’s not clear whether they’ve noticed our unnatural mode of entrance or know us by reputation.

Liam gives me an appraising glance. “Sadie. Straight back. Long and confident stride. Arrogant smile. You’re a Sadler again, and we have a reputation to uphold.”

I nod and attempt to mimic Chrissie’s posture and expression. We all link arms and stride into the main room, pretending not to notice everyone’s eyes on us.