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She didn’t really know what to think to that. His reply made no sense, but she didn’t think he was lying. Then again, she hadn’t thought he was lying to her before. ‘I guess I should call Katie. Ask her to head home and break us out.’ She pulled out her phone and scowled at it. ‘Wonderful. No signal. You?’

‘Nope. Nothing.’

They turned around at a low whistle that got louder and louder. Mia eyed the kitchen suspiciously. Surely that had been shut up a few moments ago, instead of brightly lit up with the kettle happily singing to itself.

‘Are you sure?’ Aiden murmured, before turning back to her. ‘Seems the kettle is boiled and I’m allowed back in the kitchen. Do you want a drink?’

‘Don’t you think we should be trying harder to get out of here?’

‘I’m pretty sure it’d be pointless.’ Aiden shrugged.

‘How are you so calm? This isn’t normal.’

‘No, it’s not.’ He sighed and went to turn off the kettle. ‘But it is Hudsbury. And normal is a bit… subjective here.’

‘I guess.’ Mia leaned against the bookcase, suddenly feeling incredibly tired. ‘Is that offer of tea still going?’

‘Always. Vanilla rooibos? Something a bit sweet and comforting?’

‘Sounds lovely.’

Aiden threw the tea in a pot, and grabbed the tray quickly.

It felt so awkward, sitting opposite her where they’d laughed and flirted so often in the past – and not knowing what to say. Everything either seemed to be too trite, or too much, and he couldn’t quite work out the middle ground.

‘How’s your mum’s hand?’

‘Much better thanks.’

‘Good.’ She fiddled with the cuff of her cardigan. ‘The store looks really good.’

‘Yeah.’

Oh for sunspots’ sake! Mist trotted up to them, ignoring Aiden’s warning glare, and rubbed against Mia’s legs.

‘Hi, Mist.’ Mia bent down to pet her, but she skipped away, almost knocking the teapot flying. ‘Be careful! You’ll get burnt!’ Mia scooped her up onto her lap, where Mist immediately started purring.

Aiden supposed he should be grateful for the distraction. Even if she wasn’t telling him what was going on, Mist seemed to be helping Mia to relax. And anything was better than awkward silence.

He poured Mia’s tea first, handed it to her and watched her take a sip. She looked at him in surprise, but smiled and sipped again while he poured his own cup. He nearly choked on the first mouthful as mallow, sage, mint and liquorice danced across his tongue. One of Ophelia’s truth teas. And from the tingle of power making his nose itch, he guessed it had come from the top shelf: her strongest, black-lidded blends.

You didn’t seem to be dealing with the situation, so I did. Mist sounded smug as she turned to grin at him, then jumped down and stalked across the shop. Talk.

He didn’t have any choice – not really, as the tea took hold – but he didn’t try to fight the words either as they tumbled off his tongue. ‘Mia, I’m so sorry.’

‘Aiden, I really need to apologise.’

They stared at each other – surprised – for a few seconds before the mood broke and they both started laughing.

Around them, Aiden felt the store relax as the world righted itself again and magic breathed a sigh of relief. They were talking again. So long as they kept talking, everything would be OK.

‘You know I’m usually a fan of ladies first…’

‘I do.’ Her small smile made him feel better than he had done in ages. ‘And I’m taking full advantage of your good manners. Aiden, I’m so sorry. If I really were a princess like you call me, it’d be the bratty, oversensitive type whinging over a single pea under twenty mattresses!’

‘Mia, you really don’t have anything to apologise for…’

‘But I do. I was so busy focussing on the fact that you hadn’t told me something and getting my feelings hurt that I missed the fact that someone I care about was in hell. I was so busy focussing on how I felt betrayed that I didn’t stop to think about how you’re feeling. And I’m sorry for that.’