Page 28 of Secrets of the Eternal Flame

I slid into the dark leather booth. ‘No! No shagging! Just a kiss – a few kisses.’ In the sea, in the sun, in the most amazing moment I’d remember for the rest of my life.

‘Was it romantic?’ Nour asked, resting her chin on the palm of her hand.

‘Absurdly,’ I admitted. ‘We were at the beach, Eva was swimming, and we went paddling in the sea together. He was so sweet with Eva – I totally get why there are single-dad romance novels – and that just melts me. He asked me out on a date.’

‘When?’ Maddie demanded, eyes wide. No doubt she was already plotting my date-night outfit. She had a glass of white wine ready for me, and she slid it across the wooden table to me.

I took a grateful sip of the crisp white wine before replying. ‘Well, now actually – but of course I turned him down. Witches before itches.’

Nour burst into laughter. ‘That’s not a phrase!’

‘Well, it should be because he’s definitely an itch I want to scratch.’

‘If you’re scratching it, you probably need to check for sexual diseases,’ Maddie said sagely, and we all burst into peals of laughter. This time together was so what we all needed.

She went on, ‘I’m pleased for the guy because it’s been torture watching him mope for the last few weeks. It’s clear as day that he’s dying to rip your clothes off.’ Her eyes widened. ‘Did he? Didyou? Was there mutual ripping? Did it go that far?’

‘We were on the beach in the middle of the day, Maddie! No, it didnotgo that far,’ I said. Although that didn’t mean I hadn’t wanted it to. ‘And then, when she came out of the water Eva shook herself dry all over his suit.’ I snorted with laughter.

‘She was telling him not tomess with you,’ Nour said, and even in the dim light I could see that she approved of Eva’s actions.

‘I think you’re right. But apart from that, they get on like a house on fire. He’s even looking after her tonight. Anyway, enough about me. Nour, spill the goss about you and Ezra!’

Maddie leaned forward. ‘Tell us you’re back together.’

A small private smile turned up the corners of Nour’s lips. ‘It’s not official yet, but yes, we are.’

Maddie threw her arms around her. ‘I knew it!’

But at that moment Nour’s phone buzzed and as she opened the message, she frowned. I made sure my barriers were up so that I couldn’t inadvertently invade her privacy, then I did what any normal friend would do and asked, ‘Is everything alright?’

Nour’s eyes remained fixed on her phone. ‘Honestly? I’m not sure. My sister has sent me this video.’ She turned the phone around to face us and pressed play.

There were similarities between Nour and the woman in the video – dark skin, dark hair, stunning – but Nour’s sister was far taller than her and had more angular features. Although it was hard to see her face clearly, given that she was engulfed by a sphere of fire. She was grinning, so it didn’t seem she was in any immediate danger.

‘Your sister’sa fire witch?’ Maddie asked in surprise.

‘A powerful one, by the look of things,’ I added.

‘That’s the thing,’ Nour said, frown deepening. ‘I mean, she’s got a little fire witch in her, but she’s always been the weakest in our family. She can make flames – we never need a lighter when she’s around. That’s how she got the nickname Zippo. So she’s a fire witch, but she’s never been capable of high-level magic like this. And she’s spent the last couple of years focusing on potions and developing that strand of her magic. I thought she’d pretty much stopped working with her fire.’

‘Maybe she’s been studying, learning new techniques,’ Maddie suggested. ‘Like Ernie is meant to be showing me.’

‘Meantto be showing you?’ I homed in on her word choice.

‘I chickened out of going today.’ Maddie grimaced. ‘I still can’t quite get the image of him – you know…’

‘You mean because you’d seen him buck-naked and bouncing up and down on your nana?’ Nour said, grinning wickedly.

‘Oh God, don’t.’ Maddie covered her face.

‘All joking aside, Mads, when are you going back?’ I asked. ‘You need Ernie’s help. You’ve got that ink from Hallowburn Hollow, but it won’t lastforever.’

‘Soon – as soon as I can face him again. It’s bad enough seeing Nana at work.’ Her expression was sombre. ‘Don’t worry, I’m not going to resort to other measures.’

As close as we were growing to Nour, I was fairly sure that Maddie hadn’t told her about the dark magic and I could see she didn’t want to continue this conversation. I changed the subject. ‘Hey,’ I said in a low voice. ‘You remember that vampire from the Nightshades?’

‘The sexy one? Lestat?’ Maddie asked.

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