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‘Try now.’ Mia felt her fingers tingle, but nothing else changed.

‘No.’

‘Well, that answers that question.’ Ophelia released her hand. ‘I think you might be what we call “resonant”. It means that you’re somewhere between being gifted and not. You don’t have magic in your own right in the same way that I or Aiden do, but you do have the ability to reflect and strengthen – to resonate – the magic of others. And it seems you – whether through unconscious choice or some star-fated design – at this point in your life are resonant to Aiden. Because if it was with anyone, you should have been able to see the protection spells on Katie’s jewellery.’

‘Do I… need to do anything or is it something to worry about?’

‘Not at all,’ Ophelia reassured her. ‘Mist and Rayenne can tell you more about it, if you’re interested. It might be that – in the future – you’re able to learn to resonate his gift at will, more deliberately, and even work to strengthen other people’s workings, but that would take a lot of conscious effort. It’s certainly not something to worry about.’

‘If it’s nothing bad, then is it OK if I don’t talk to anyone else just yet? It’s just a lot to take in, and I think I want some time to get my head around it first.’

‘Of course.’ Ophelia patted her knee gently. ‘But let me know if you want me to translate for Mist. Would you rather talk about the Samhain ball instead?’

‘Yes please. It’s funny. I’m so excited about something I’ve been avoiding for all these years. This magic is very strange.’

‘It is.’ Ophelia laughed. ‘But also very clever. The first time you’re welcome – and it knows – so it’s letting you be excited.’

‘When Katie says you’re going to “help” with my dress, do I assume she means with more than just sewing?’

‘Of course, you can’t exactly wear an ordinary dress to your first ever Samhain ball. This is your public coming out into our world, Mia, and – unless you object or are uncomfortable with it – there’s no way I’m letting you wear anything that’s even a bat feather’s breadth less than spectacular.’

‘Are you sure you have time for this? It’s not long until the ball and this is one of your busiest seasons.’

‘You’re family, Mia. For you, I make time.’ Ophelia gave her a quick squeeze. ‘Plus we’re starting with an old dress rather than from scratch. Katie, sweetie, do you want to show her your sketches? And we’ll see which way she wants to go?’

‘Absolutely. I’m so excited for this!’ Katie opened up a sketchpad. ‘But you have to promise me something, OK?’

‘What?’

‘You can’t tell Aiden about any of these. It’s top-secret girl stuff from now until the moment he first sees you!’

‘Don’t you think that’s a bit silly?’

‘No. Not at all. Every good romance movie – from fairy tales to chick-flicks to teenage dramas – has that one perfect scene where he sees her in a new outfit or a spectacular dress and he looks at her like he’s seeing her for the first time all over again. You deserve that magical moment, Mimi. In fact, I insist on it. I’m refusing to help unless you promise!’

‘OK, OK. I promise.’

14

Aiden parked the car – the bike wouldn’t have worked with his costume – and knocked at Mia’s door. He grinned when the window above opened and she peered out, her hair wrapped around some odd bright pink thing sticking out at weird angles.

‘I’m sorry, I’m still getting ready. Catch.’ She dropped keys down to him. ‘Come in and grab yourself a drink or something?’ She stuck her head out again while he was unlocking the door. ‘Looking good, Biker Boy.’

‘Thanks.’ He let himself in, still smiling, and put his box carefully on the kitchen table. ‘Take your time,’ he called up the stairs. ‘Do you want me to bring you up a drink?’

‘No thanks. Stay down there. I’ll only be a few more minutes.’

He heard her footsteps when he was about halfway through his drink, and stood to meet her in the hallway, and was so glad he had. She stopped halfway down the stairs and smiled at him, and he could have sworn the rest of the world dimmed – she was that spectacular.

‘Well, what do you think? Sorry for keeping you waiting.’

‘Completely and totally worth it. You could have kept me sitting here until tomorrow and I’d have still forgiven you if you walked in looking like this.’

‘That is so sweet.’ She smoothed the shiny deep amethyst of her dress over her hips and he gulped, transfixed as the material shimmered and flowed beneath her fingers. The very, very bad part of him couldn’t help but picture what it would look like pooled on the floor of a bedroom in a few hours. As it was, the rich purple made her skin look creamy and soft, and her hair – now released from the weird pink thing – bounced in soft waves around her shoulders.

‘You really do look incredible, Mia. A proper princess.’ He held his hand out to her.

‘Thank you. Do you want to see the best bit?’ She swirled the skirts and he realised they were lighter at the bottom, and decorated with bats picked out in silhouette.