Epilogue
One month later
I know what you’re thinking: hasn’t this witch learned her lesson yet?
I stood before the oven, watching as twelve cookies baked; the scent of cinnamon and promises filling the air. I was giddy with excitement, barely feeling any hints of lingering exhaustion.
‘Tell me,’ Raven asked, her voice only sounding slightly far away given she was on a call with me while I was in the Treasure Trove’s kitchen. ‘Are you allowed to do this?’
I leaned back against the counter with my arms folded over my chest and a grin pulling at my mouth. ‘Well, I own half of the Treasure Trove now, so, yes, I’m allowed to use my kitchen whenever I want.’
‘Ooh, someone’s smug,’ Sofia teased, but I could hear the pleasure in her voice. Sofia had been the most excited when I told her about co-owning the bakery, mostly because I wanted her advice on what flowers should fill the shop.
‘I’m going to call Melodie and report you for using the kitchen for your own nefarious plans,’ Raven added, taking a long slurp of her coffee.
‘Melodie will tell you to stop calling her at 12 a.m. and get back to studying for the MAC exam,’ I shot back, glancing at the frame newly added to the wall that showed Melodie and I holding up our signed contract of my co-ownership.
Melodie had come to me with the plan only a few weeks ago, while I was finishing up my shift at the Wishing Well Bakery.
Would I like to co-own the Treasure Trove with her and help her build the bakery into something even bigger?
I had stared at her, dumbfounded, for so long that Ivy actually came out of the kitchen to see what the hold-up was.
Melodie had brazenly shared her request with Ivy, who I thought might have been miffed at the idea of me working at another bakery again.
But Ivy had all but pushed me to consider it, saying she wasn’t going to make the same mistake of underestimating me twice.
I’d taken some time to think about it – talking it through with everyone important to me. Rani, Raven, Sofia, Mum and Orion. Even Granny Fable at one point.
Days later, I confidently approached Melodie and Ivy with a plan: I still wanted to be Ivy’s apprentice when the year ended, because I had more kitchen magic to learn, but part of my learning would involve mapping out some new, exciting recipes for the Treasure Trove.
That way, I’d get to live out both dreams. After that, my days were filled with school, shifts at the Wishing Well, baking at the Treasure Trove and a whole other whirlwind of activities that made this month fly by.
That was part of the reason why I was so looking forward to the weekend trip I was about to embark on. I needed a break.
‘Also,’ I continued, suddenly offended. ‘My plan isn’t nefarious. Even my mother knows about where I am right now, so it can’t be that bad.’
‘Your mother feels guilty for how she’s been treating you,’ Raven argued, blunt as ever. ‘You could ask her for the moon, and she’d give it.’
I snorted, shaking my head. ‘Tell that to the lecture I got yesterday about the importance of knowing defensive spells, even if I was going to be a kitchen witch. It came with diagrams, guys.’
‘I think it’s sweet,’ Sofia cut in. ‘She’s worried about you going on your first weekend getaway with your soulmate tomorrow.’
When Sofia said the word soulmate, I felt the silver bracelet I now wore around my wrist begin to glow brightly; I glanced down at it, feeling that tug of delight in my stomach at the sight of it. At the reminder of what it meant.
‘Your mum shouldn’t be worried,’ Raven said. ‘But my brother should be. I mean, my best friend is going to poison him.’
‘I’m not poisoning him,’ I insisted, loudly. ‘I’m just going to make our weekend a little interesting with some enchanted cookies. What’s the harm in that?’
Raven snorted. ‘This is a bad idea.’
The timer trilled, telling me it was time to take my cookies out. I slid the metal tray out of the oven and to the wire rack to cool.
‘You always think my ideas are bad,’ I remarked, staring at the twelve perfectly baked cookies. ‘And anyway, it’s way too late now.’
The next morning, the sky was the perfect shade of blue; the clouds looked like streaks of meringue, and Orion Hawthorne was waiting for me by the clock tower on Main Street.
No one was up yet, which was a conscious choice on our part; the whole town felt invested in our relationship.
For the last month, we hadn’t really been able to do anything alone without someone’s watchful eyes upon us.
And while we loved the townspeople for rooting for us so hard, we craved some time where it could just be the two of us.
‘It’s too early to be awake,’ Orion greeted me as I approached. He was dressed in a new sweater – a pale-lilac colour – his usual leather jacket, boots and, most importantly, he wore his silver soulmate string around his neck, which was gleaming so bright it matched his eyes.
‘Excited for our trip?’ I said, a grin pulling at my mouth at the sight of him.
Orion rolled his eyes and automatically handed me one of the cups he was holding.
I took a sip, enjoying the morning ritual of my hazelnut latte.
Orion and I met up most mornings – he walked me to class, and then went off to help Rowan in the library.
Until his apprenticeship started at Maple Falls High, he was picking up odd jobs around town.
‘You know, I’m only meeting with this other school because you want me to. There’s no way I’m accepting an apprenticeship in another town.’
I swatted him lightly on the arm, and he caught my hand in his, tangling our fingers together.
‘Hey, you know you might actually fall in love with the new town.’
‘I’ve done enough falling in love, don’t you think?’ Orion teased, tugging me closer with our hands still intertwined. I took another sip of coffee before he could bring his face any closer, and I saw the flare of challenge in his eyes.
‘I don’t know,’ I exaggerated, swinging our hands a little. ‘Maybe you need an enchanted cookie to check?’ A giggle slipped out of me, involuntarily.
Orion’s gaze narrowed on me; he bridged the gap between us, coming close enough that my only protection from his inquisitive stance was the coffee cup in my hand.
‘What trouble have you caused?’ he murmured, his gaze glittering with suspicion.
That feeling of being known by him hadn’t faded yet, maybe it never would; I hoped it wouldn’t. Even if it meant he would catch on to my plans before I even got to fulfil them.
‘It’s nothing, Orion,’ I said, toying with my now-empty cup. I said his name just to watch his eyes flare, and because I knew it was his weakness. We had always been Hawthorne and Reverie, but, when we were alone, we were Maya and Orion.
‘You’re a pretty bad liar, Maya,’ he said.
‘All I’m hearing is that I’m pretty,’ I replied, and his laugh made my stomach flip.
Orion only brought his face closer to mine so he could inhale sharply. ‘Cinnamon,’ he murmured, and I was still a little dizzy from how close he was that I didn’t quite realize what he’d clocked.
Deft hands found the strap of my pink backpack, and, with a little tug, he was sliding it off my shoulders.
‘Wait no –’
Orion unzipped the bag and peeked inside; he saw everything I’d packed for our weekend getaway, along with the box of cookies. His gaze lifted from the box to mine, and I gave him a guilty little smile.
‘Now,’ I said, placatingly, my hands raised. ‘Either I could tell you what these are, or you could join me through the portal and we could eat them while we’re staying at that very fancy inn you booked. What are you going to choose?’
Orion looked at me, his eyes caressing every contour of my face. I didn’t mind when he looked at me like I was a map to explore. It thrilled me, made that twist in my stomach feel more like exhilaration than anxiety.
‘What’s one more adventure with you, Maya?’ Orion said, zipping the bag up and slinging it over his shoulder.
‘A privilege,’ I retorted.
He rolled his eyes affectionately and linked our fingers again – tugging me towards the clock tower. When we reached the tower, Orion’s arm was slung over my shoulders, and our hearts were beating in tandem.
‘You ready?’ Orion murmured, his forehead coming to rest briefly against mine before he pushed open the door to the clock tower.
Light filled my vision. The magic we were about to step into was hazy; a gauzy kind of gold that looked like spun sugar. I glanced back at the quiet town behind us. Our home. Even though I was excited to discover a new town, I was already eager to be back home too.
I turned back to Orion and found him watching me with impossibly soft silver eyes; he smelled like a campfire, and it felt like he was mine.
‘I’m ready,’ I replied.
I hooked my finger around Orion’s soulmate string, tugged him even closer, and together we stepped into the portal.