Page 47 of Secrets of the Eternal Flame

I groaned. ‘Next to none, but I might have a lead on the cup. You said it can heal and that the magic-amplifying only happens every few centuries. I know the chances of it aligning with the stars and all that are thin—’

‘It’s not for another sixty-seven years,’ he confirmed. ‘I checked.’

My shoulders sagged with relief. Whoever had the cup couldn’t use it immediately. A vampire or another creature with a long lifespan could afford to kill time, but it also meant we had sixty-seven years to find it. Surely I could do that.

‘That’s great. Hypothetically, what if a normal healthy witch was to drink from it? Could it have some effect on them?’ I gnawed on my bottom lip. ‘For example, make their powers stronger but not by the magnitude of all of the stars?’

‘Most things are possible, I suppose,’ Ernie said after a few moments.

That wasn’t the answer I had wanted. ‘Okay, let’s not talk possible butprobable.Do you think it’s likely the cup could have that effect? Or do you think it’s more likely to have no effect unless you’re unwell?’

The pause extended so long that I wasn’t even sure Ernie was still on the line and I checked my screen to make sure he hadn’t hung up. ‘Ernie?’ I prompted.

The sound of rustling met my ears. ‘Sorry,’ he mumbled. ‘I’m thinking through what I know about the cup. Give me a minute – I’m going to check some books.’

I sat on my bed and waited. Even if they weren’t my favourite activity, stakeouts had taught me patience. After a few minutes, Ernie stopped turning pages and made a musing noise. ‘Anything?’ I asked.

‘Bits and pieces,’ he admitted. ‘But nothing concrete. I don’t think it would make any difference if you were drinking your daily cup of tea from it, but if you use an elixir with the ability to draw out the magic from the cup, then yes, I believe it could have some effect, though nowhere near the amplification levels that make it legendary.’

An elixir … that felt like something a fire witch who’d been focusing on potions would be able to do. Was Nour’s sister the thief? It was beginning to look distinctly possible and definitely worth questioning her about.

‘Thank you, Ernie. I appreciate your time,’ I said as I prepared to hang up.

‘Beatrix?’ Ernie’s voice stopped me.

‘Yes? What’s up?’

‘You’ll stay safe, won’t you? Don’t take any unnecessary risks.’ His voice sounded shaky and I realised that he cared about me. ‘I’ll try,’ I said around the sudden lump in my throat. ‘Thanks.’ I ended the call before I did something impulsive like talk about my feelings.

For a moment I wondered what my parents would have thought about Ernie Jacobson. I knew the answer instantly: if my father had met him, he would have let Ernie into his life. I sighed. I would do the same.

I leaned down to stroke Eva and that settled me. ‘Come on, girl,’ I said. ‘I’m going to want you beside me while I talk to Nour.’

I knew Nour wasn’t particularly close to her sisters but that didn’t mean she’d take kindly to me accusing one of them of being a thief. I needed to lay out the facts and let her draw the logical inference, the same way I had done, then I’d ask her to arrange a conversation between me and Farah. I didn’t need to go in guns blazing.

I walked back downstairs. ‘Hey, Nour,’ I said, surprised to find both her and Maddie sitting on the floor in the living room. We’d had the sofa professionally cleaned so there was no need to avoid it in favour of the rug.

They both turned, their faces pale and their eyes wide with shock. Did they already know what I suspected? ‘What is it?’ I asked. ‘What’s wrong?’

Maddie opened her mouth as if she was about to speak, but no words came out.

‘It happened again, Bea,’ Nour said, her voice hushed with wonder. ‘The Flame ... it flickered. And this time, I saw it too.’

Chapter Thirty

The Eternal Flame had stuttered into life for a second time – and once again without me being there. I felt absurdly hurt though I tried to hide it with some questions. ‘What did it look like?’

‘It was pink and purple,’ Nour said.

‘It was purply-pink,’ Maddie exclaimed at the same time.

The descriptions alone confirmed what I already knew. They were telling me the truth.

‘I’m not drunk this time,’ Maddie said, standing up. ‘It really was there.’ Her tone entreated me to believe her.

I shot her a tight smile. ‘It’s okay, I believe you.’ I had last time and this confirmed it. My eyes remained on the now-empty hearth. Why the hell would it choose times when I wasn’t here to appear? Was that the whole point – that it didn’t want me in the house? That it didn’t want me to be the Guardian? My stomach clenched.

The negative thoughts tore inside me like serrated blades. I’d spent a decade running from my birthright, but now that I’d decided to embrace it,itwas running fromme. It was a bitter pill to swallow. A part of me feared that it knew I wasn’t worthy and that’s why it was showing itself to Maddie and not me. She’d been the one who had remained steadfast and true, and insidious doubt whispered that the Flame wantedherto be the Guardian.

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