Page 67 of Uncharmed

‘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.

After a couple more stops for congratulatory handshakes, Annie and Maeve finally made it out onto the porch with the Sage Witch, while Hal hung back to talk to Rune about his plans for magical security moving forwards.

Annie and Maeve each took one of the wicker chairs that looked out onto the meadow. That left Morena with the swing.

‘Why in this universe or the next would anyone require a chair that levitates? Is one’s life really that dull?’

She took a rigid seat on the swing, billowing her cloak out behind her. She looked incredibly unsure, eyes bulging slightly as her feet floated just above the wooden floor.

‘Obscure furnishing decisions aside, I wanted to talk to you, Miss Cadmus, about your display of magic back at the woodland. It was...’

‘Dangerous and stupid and probably now a big, big problem. I know, that’s always my thing,’ Maeve said, wincing as she adjusted herself. She crossly chucked a gingham pillow out from behind her back and onto the floor.

‘Quite the contrary,’ Morena said quickly, causing Annie and Maeve to both startle at the same time.

They shot each other a confused side-eye.

‘It was in fact...rather brilliant. Highly creative, extraordinary magic. The stars don’t bend for many.

I hope you’ll consider a future that works closely with Selcouth to hone your talents as they rightfully deserve. ’

‘Sorry?’ Maeve snorted.

‘Far be it from me to deny talent, Miss Cadmus. As Ms Wildwood knows from first-hand experience, I appreciate a witch who does not shy away from realizing her greatness and putting it to fine use. In fact, I rather admire it, particularly in a witch who has only completed as few orbital completions as yourself.’

‘She means birthdays,’ Annie whispered out of the side of her mouth.

‘Ms Wildwood, this concerns you, too,’ Morena carried on.

‘You know I am not one to sweeten my words and, to be frank, I think you should consider relinquishing my incredibly generous hours of guidance to your charge here. I suspect she could benefit from your apprenticeship much more than you can these days. I suggest that you instead continue your work for Selcouth in a more permanent, respected position and I turn my most...nurturing attentions...to Maeve here.’

Annie’s brows shot up. She hadn’t given a lot of thought yet to how her work at Hecate House would continue, but she knew that it was just another part of her old life that she felt no pull to hold onto any more as she attempted to shed all of the expectations and obligations that had been placed upon her by others.

Her years of apprenticeship with Morena had been enjoyable, but the motivations had only ever really been to secure her uncertain future at the Sorciety.

However, it was a huge compliment (especially from Morena Gowden, of all wicchefolk) to be considered valuable enough for a real position at the coven. And the prospect of saying no, of turning down something that she knew she should probably accept, seemed to stick in her throat.

‘No, thanks,’ Maeve said brightly.

‘I beg your pardon?’ Morena asked, practically spitting feathers at the gall.

‘Nah, I don’t think it’s for me, this coven life – at least for now. No offence, I’m sure you have a great time. But it’s all a little bit...controlled for me. And I’m doing just fine exploring my magic out here, with Annie.’

It was the bolster that Annie needed to hear. If it was what Maeve wanted, too, then all the better; that made her decision even more easy.

‘Maeve’s right, Morena. I’m so grateful for the opportunities that you’ve brought my way.

But...’ She hesitated, but shook back her hair to drag up some extra confidence.

‘But I think I’m ready to take a step back.

We’ll still be a traditional part of the coven, of course, and we’ll keep in touch.

But I’m ready for my life to not be quite so broken up into so many different boxes.

It’s time to try something different for myself. So no. No, thank you.’

Morena breathed out sharply through her nose. Annie prepared to feel her wrath. But none came.

‘As you wish.’

The earth didn’t stand still. The realm didn’t melt to the ground. She had said no and it had not immediately transformed her into a terrible person. She was still herself and the world continued to turn. In fact, she was perhaps even more herself for it.

‘The other matter at hand is your living situation. You are still technically under the responsibility of Selcouth, Miss Cadmus...’ Morena began to say.

‘I want to stay here and live with Annie and Hal,’ Maeve burst out, before immediately beginning to chew on one of her nails, as though attempting to control the exposing words and shove the confession back in.

Annie glanced at her, then back to Morena, uncertain of the right response.

Morena remained silent and pursed her lips, waiting for Annie to speak.

It seemed again that the only correct response was the truthful one.

‘I would love to have Maeve,’ Annie said quietly but firmly, squeezing Maeve’s hand. ‘Please consider it, Morena.’

Morena raised a single pointed eyebrow. ‘You’re sure?’

‘I’ve never been sure of anything in my life,’ Annie said. ‘But I am very, very sure of this. The coven won’t have to worry about her at all, other than to ensure she’s provided with a solid magical education. I’ll do the rest. I’ll pay for everything. We’ll move back to my house...’

‘No, you won’t,’ Hal said gruffly, leaning against the doorframe with his arms folded. He stepped out onto the porch and closed the door quietly behind him.

‘You’ll both stay here, with me. If you’d like to, that is.

Doesn’t much feel like a home any more without you both in it, turning my life upside down.

And the blasted cat, obviously,’ Hal grumbled.

He sent a small side-smile in Annie’s direction and a silent nod that communicated everything she needed to hear.

That he was sure. That he meant it. That he wouldn’t change his mind.

‘Well, isn’t that just marvellous,’ Morena said, before Annie had quite figured out the right words to reply.

‘I do love when things are tied up with a bow, probably a ghastly pink one in this particular circumstance,’ she said, turning to Annie.

‘I’ll draw up the paperwork once I return to Hecate House. ’

Morena rose to return to the rest of the coven, stumbling from the swing as she landed her feet safely back down with an incredulous glare. Annie was fairly certain she heard her mutter the words ‘idiot’ and ‘foolish furniture’ under her breath towards Hal.

Hal took Morena’s place on the swing and kicked off gently from the floor with his boots, sending it into motion.

Annie looked out onto the meadow, November gilding the long grass.

Maeve sprawled out next to her and Hal leaned back with his eyes closed and his hat pulled low, a deep sigh as he stretched out an arm to touch the tips of Annie’s fingers, just for the sake of feeling her nearby.

She had so much to say to them, to paint the picture of why this moment meant so much to her.

But it wasn’t the time to tell them how it felt.

It was the time to let this moment be, to feel it trickle by like the stream that surrounded them and adjust to this beautiful, calm quiet being her real, authentic life – at least for now.

How lucky she was to have found such sweetness.

‘What would you like to do tonight, once everybody’s gone?’ Annie asked Maeve, absent-mindedly smoothing her hair and being careful to mind the cuts on her face. ‘It’s going to feel a little quiet when it’s just the four of us again.’

‘Anything that doesn’t involve saving wicchekind would be ideal,’ Hal grumbled.

‘Maybe we could watch a video? And do face masks? And bake?’ Maeve asked Annie hopefully, settling against her with closed eyes. It was precisely the evening that Annie had planned for them when she had headed to meet Maeve for the very first time.

Annie smiled. ‘We can do that.’