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‘Do you remember how Beth at the dress shop said it was a special order and not anything they’d ever tried before? Well, it turns out they’re having some difficulties… Something about a delay in materials being available and the gossamer and star satin being incompatible with the spells needed to maintain the dewdrop solidity. They can’t do it and keep the sparkle. Well, not without turning me into a popsicle.’

‘Hexdamn it!’ Katie stole a curse from her other half. ‘Those toad-licking, cauldron-rusting, moon-screwed broom-asses!’

‘It’s OK,’ Mia reassured her. ‘It was a lovely design…’

‘It would have been beautiful. Perfect.’

‘It was lovely,’ she repeated. ‘But it was just a dress. And if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. I’m not going to cry over a few spells that won’t work together.’

‘Gossamer, dewdrops and stars?’ Aiden asked, his eyes wide as he stroked back a strand of Mia’s hair from her face.

‘We talked about it.’ She nodded. ‘But apparently it’s not going to work, so we’ll have to come up with something else. It’ll be fine. And maybe it’s a good opportunity to look at something a bit more… me.’

‘Whatever it is, you’ll look gorgeous,’ he told her earnestly. ‘You could turn up in jeans and T-shirt and still look amazing.’

‘I love you.’ She leaned in and kissed him.

‘Good thing too, as you told me I’m marrying you.’ He chuckled against her lips.

‘You did ask me back,’ she reminded him.

‘One of the smartest things I ever did.’

‘As sweet as all this is, could we drop the canoodling and focus on the problem? Or problems – with a great big plural S!’ Katie shook her head. ‘Why aren’t you freaking out about this? It’s your wedding. It’s supposed to be the happiest day of your life…’

‘So long as I end the day as Mrs Mia Griffiths, it will be.’

‘Really?’ Aiden’s eyes sparkled with surprised joy that flickered through her, carried by his magic, as he looked down at her. ‘You’re taking my name?’

‘Is that a problem?’

‘No. Of course not! But we hadn’t talked about it, and you’re so independent I didn’t want to presume…’

‘Yes.’ She hushed him with a soft kiss. ‘I’d like to take your name. Are you OK with that?’

‘So much better than OK.’ His hand tightened on her wrist, sending heat and magic flushing through her, dragging her attention away from Katie and wedding worries. ‘I can’t wait to marry you.’ The promise in his eyes heated her more, making her tingle.

‘You might have to,’ Katie interrupted. ‘So, you might as well stop making googly eyes at each other – as happy as I am for you. Because if we don’t get this sorted, you won’t be getting married.’

‘Sorry, Miss.’

‘Don’t make me use my teacher voice on you, Aiden!’

‘The horrors.’ He rolled his eyes before turning back to Mia. ‘You are handling this exceptionally well,’ he added softly. ‘Are you sure you’re OK?’

Mia met his eyes, once again wondering if she should think about learning how to resonate his magic when she wanted to, instead of just in response to his touch. It would make moments like this easier if she could flare magic through him as deliberately and sweetly as he did her.

‘I really am. Because I’m with you. Besides, this is Hudsbury. Things always work out here as they’re supposed to – or haven’t you noticed that? Even when I didn’t know that it was magic, I still knew and trusted that things work out for the best. And, Aiden? There’s nothing more right than you and me together. So of course it will work out.’

* * *

Lunar landed in the window, knocking the remaining Ostara decorations sideways.

Must you do that? Mist complained. I was sunbathing. She sighed – a half-purr. Tell me.

Lunar ruffled her feathers. The wedding plans are not going well.

We knew that would be the case. Mist stretched, snagging her claws in her blanket and kneading it back to the perfect shape for her comfort.