Page 51 of Secrets of the Eternal Flame

She glanced down at her watch. ‘I need to get going. I’ve got a doctor’s appointment – you know, for the baby?’ she said. ‘I take it you can show yourselves out?’

She cast one last glance my way, at which point her features hardened even further. A moment later, she picked up her handbag and strode out of the house.

Chapter Thirty-Two

The slamming of the door resounded and, for the first time since setting foot in her sister’s house, Nour sat down. Although ‘collapsed’ would have been a better description. The minute she landed on a chair, she dropped her head into her hands.

Guilt rolled through me. My suspicions had been warranted and valid, but I had caused an even bigger rift between Nour and her family. ‘I’m so sorry,’ I said.

Nour looked up with a wry smile. ‘It’s okay. It’s really not your fault. Things have always been difficult between us.’

Before I could apologise further, we were interrupted by a hammering on the door. ‘Bea! Nour! What’s happened?’ Maddie’s panicked voice called from outside.

I went to answer it, letting Nour stay where she was.

‘I saw Farah storm out and I headed right back,’ Maddie said. ‘She looked steamed.’

‘Yeah, that’s putting it mildly.’ I let herand Eva into the house.

‘What happened?’ Mads followed me back into the living room, where Nour’s head was once again buried in her hands. Maddie hastened to her and threw an arm around her.

‘Farah didn’t have the cup,’ I said. ‘But Nourisgoing to be an auntie.’

‘Oh boy,’ Maddie said, her eye widening in understanding. ‘That’swhat made her powers grow.’

‘Yeah. Apparently so.’

Maddie winced. ‘Sorry, Nour. This confrontation is going to make things even more difficult for you, isn’t it?’

Nour sighed. ‘No more than usual.’ She offered us a watery smile. ‘I should have thought to ask the question. She and Ash have been together for years and she’s always wanted to have a family. She’s in her early thirties … she had mentioned in the family chat that she had a few food aversions, but I thought she was being picky.’ A single tear trickled down her cheek and she brushed it away. ‘That stuff she said, about me going against the coven’s code—’

‘You don’t have to explain yourself to us,’ I said firmly.

‘Yes, I do,’ she said. ‘And I want to.’

Maddie and I exchanged a look, then sat down on either side of her. We waited until she was ready to speak.

‘The thing about being a light witch is that you want things to be brighter, you know? You’re always looking for ways to amplify the power of the light because that’s how you amplify your own power.’ She sniffed. ‘I was about sixteen – it was way before I dated Ezra – and I was focused solely on my magic.

‘One of the ways to make something look brighter is to put something dark next to it, like artists do. Something that’s a mid-tone can look much darker if it’s next to white, or a whole heap lighter if it’s next to a deep colour. I was working on ways to make the light brighter. I didn’t realise that by doing that I was playing with dark magic; I swear to God I didn’t. By the time I realised... Well, you heard.’

She glanced away. ‘Mum had to work overtime for months to pay for the cleansing my soul needed afterward. I swear I didn’t know what I was doing and since then I’ve avoided any type of shadow spells, I promise.’ She looked between us both, entreating us to understand.

As Maddie’s’ eyes met mine, she gave the tiniest of smiles. She would tell Nour her own story, too.

‘You’re not the only one who has dabbled inadvertently,’ she admitted. She sniffed. ‘They really should make it clearer what magic is dark and what isn’t. When the Flame disappeared, I needed something else to fuel my magic. I honestly didn’t realise I wasn’t using myown magic but the life force of things around me.’ She met Nour’s eyes. ‘That’s why I’ve been working with Ernie. He’s trying to cleanse me.’

Nour’s eyes closed. When she opened them, she drew Maddie into a hug. ‘Thank you so much for telling me that. I know how hard that confession must be.’

‘You feel so stupid,’ Maddie mumbled. ‘How could I not have realised?’

Nour nodded.

I stood up. ‘I’m going to leave you guys to talk it all through,’ I said awkwardly, wanting to give them time alone to share their experiences. ‘But if you need me then call me, day or night. Always.’ I looked between them. ‘Both of you. The White Wine Coven forever.’

Nour gave a little laugh. ‘I thought you might kick me out,’ she sniffed.

‘Are you kidding?’ I snorted. ‘I have an evil sorceress grandmother and I pushed Kaz into a coma. If anyone should be leaving, it’s me.’

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