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‘No you won’t. We’ve got that. Go home and look after yourself.’

‘And if you do need help, promise to let us know?’ Rayenne pleaded.

‘I will. And thank you.’

He headed back to the main store, trying to ignore the fact that the usually cheerful squeak of the floorboards now sounded more like nails on a chalkboard, and grabbed his gear, then headed home.

Aiden put the laundry in the machine and picked up his phone for Mia’s check-in call. ‘Hello, Amelia, dahling… it’s your cousin’s neighbour’s sister’s dogwalker here. I just wanted to double check something about sweet little poochie-woochie Pumpkin Snuggles.’

He heard Mia smother a laugh with a cough and cover the phone. A few seconds later she was back. ‘Pumpkin Snuggles? Really? What’s wrong with him – did he decide to play with Grandmama’s crocodile?’

‘Actually it was Grandpapa’s alligator.’ Aiden chuckled. ‘I take it you can talk.’

‘Yes, Phillip insisted I take your call. He’s gone to the bar.’

‘Sounds like you’re having a good time?’

‘Yes, I am, thank you. He’s really nice.’

‘Triple D material?’

‘Maybe.’

Aiden thought he could hear the smile in her voice.

‘So you don’t need an update call on Pumpkin Snuggles in an hour?’

‘No, but I appreciate it.’

‘Message me when you’re back home? Just to let me know you’ve got back OK?’

‘It’ll probably be quite late.’

‘I don’t care. I’m not going to bed until I know you’re home and safe.’

‘Thanks, Aiden.’

‘Night… Amina.’

‘Nope. Not my name either. Night, Aiden.’

He hung up, chuckling, mentally crossed another name of the list and went back to the laundry. It was a shame that, so far, he hadn’t found a spell to help with it. Or anything else really that worked outside of Hudsbury.

He tugged off the shirt he’d been wearing and added it to the machine before switching it on. He scratched at his shoulder again as he headed upstairs. It had been annoying him for a while. He twisted and contorted himself to peer in the mirror. There, on his shoulder, amongst the twisting greens and blues, a new, darker swirl had appeared creeping over his skin. He gritted his teeth, trying not to panic as he saw it grow another tendril. He looked closer – squinting and trying to work out what the forming shape might be. It didn’t feel like anything bad or threatening, and Rayenne and Ophelia had told him to trust his instincts. Whatever it was, Katie was right – it was definitely cool.

‘Look at you, yawning still.’ Katie handed Mia a steaming mug. ‘You dirty, rotten stop-out!’

‘Oh, thank you.’ Mia took a big swig of her coffee. ‘You’re an angel.’

‘I’m really not.’ Katie grinned wickedly. ‘I want all the details – especially the sordid ones!’

‘Sorry, no sordid details to share.’

‘Bad date then?’

‘No.’ Mia sighed. ‘It was lovely. We talked for hours, about everything and nothing – you know how it can be sometimes when you just click with someone.’

‘Yeah, I do. The conversation flows, but if someone else asked, you wouldn’t be able to tell them half of what you talked about.’