Epilogue
Two months later
‘I’m sorry, Mr Lefton, but we’re all booked up for the next few weeks.’
The smile Nyssa shot the estate agent was perhaps a little too smug, but with the bustling noise of her café filling the air, Nyssa couldn’t help but think it was deserved. ‘If you want to make a booking for next month, we can try and fit you.’
Mr Lefton cleared his throat, cheeks flushed as he looked over the tables filled with a mixture of Nyssa’s regular patrons and visiting magical folk.
It hadn’t taken long for word of Nyssa’s battle with Morven to spread further than Nighthaven (in fact, Alaric’s sister had taken it upon herself to make sure as many people within the magical community as possible knew), and in the month since Nyssa had been back at work, Teas and Tales had received more visitors than ever.
Witches who wished to thank Nyssa personally for putting Morven Delamorte down for good; elves and druids who had heard of Elowen and Alaric’s involvement and come to praise them.
Liora had also gained her own fanbase of young, aspiring bards who would travel to their small little town just to hear the ‘Lark of Nighthaven’ play.
They’d all been offered various opportunities to leave Nighthaven since that night, too.
A more progressive elven clan had reached out to Elowen, Liora had been offered a spot at one of London’s biggest magical night clubs, the leader of Alaric’s old druidic order had practically begged him to return to lead alongside him, and Nyssa had received weekly letters from her old coven trying to re-recruit her as head mage.
And yet they’d all chosen to remain here.
Mr Lefton cleared his throat once more, the corners of his moustache twitching. ‘… I’d be very grateful if you could try to fit us in today. My niece is visiting from Edinburgh, you see, and she won’t be here for long …’
‘Hmmm.’ Nyssa dragged the word out. Made a point of looking over the calendar on the counter for longer than was necessary. ‘I suppose I could move some things around and fit you in later this afternoon for one session. Especially if it’s for Amarys.’
‘It would be much appreciated, Ms Hawthorne. Truly, and I … I wish to apologize for my earlier judgement of this establishment.’ The colour of Mr Lefton’s cheeks was now a ruddy, unattractive red, but he did look genuinely sorry as he added, ‘You have created something quite special here.’
Nyssa’s heart clenched as she looked around her café, her gaze automatically finding her friends among the crowds.
Liora was laughing with a customer as she walked them through one of their newest games, while Elowen brewed a fresh pot of their most popular tea blend and Alaric, Torin and Gwen served customers with wide, genuine smiles.
‘Thank you, Mr Lefton, but I couldn’t have done it alone.’
She wasn’t just talking about the café. Everything she’d accomplished since arriving in Nighthaven – overcoming her need for the coven’s approval, finding where she belonged, defeating Morven – was because she’d had her friends at her side.
They were an integral part of her life now, and Nyssa couldn’t imagine days not spent in the café or evenings listening to Liora’s music or playing her newly enchanted board games at Alaric’s home.
She couldn’t imagine not waking up in Elowen’s arms, or taking walks through the forest after the elf had come up with a new theory to try to summon her grandmother’s magic once more.
It was a quiet life. One Nyssa had never imagined for herself. But now that it was hers, she was going to hold on to it with everything she had.
Morven’s threat still hung over her, a heavy mist that crept in when she least expected it.
But when it did, Nyssa would reach for Elowen’s hand, or listen to her friends’ laughter, and the mist would fade away.
Because if Morven’s allies did decide to come for them, there was no doubt in Nyssa’s mind that they’d be able to face it.
Together.