Chapter Four
Raven’s house was arguably my favourite place in Maple Falls.
Made out of dark-brown bricks, the double-fronted home looked like a giant, decadent chocolate cake.
The two front gardens were fresh with bright emerald-green grass, bordered by blooming baby-pink tulips.
The stone walk led to steps up to the house, and by the porch there was a tall street lamp that looked like it was plucked out of another time.
I knocked on the door, and moments later it swung open.
I was greeted by Mrs Hawthorne, who was wearing a red-lipped smile, an ankle-grazing sundress with billowy sleeves and patterned with red roses, and a wide-brimmed hat. She had gardening gloves on, and she smelled amazing. She always smelled amazing.
‘Maya, darling,’ Mrs Hawthrone said, jovially. ‘Come in, come in. It’s too cold to be standing in the doorway like that.’
As I stepped in, I was enveloped by warmth, so much so that I shucked off my cardigan and draped it over my arm.
Moments later, footsteps thundered, and I saw Chief Inspector Hawthorne – clad in his uniform – coming down the winding staircase.
He looked like Orion, but older, with salt-and-pepper hair, and years of training that showed in his broad shoulders.
His eyes were all Raven’s though. I used to find it strange, having a father in the house.
Mine had passed away when I was a baby. It’d always just been me, Rani and my mother.
Raven’s dad had been the closest thing to a father figure I’d ever had.
‘Maya,’ Chief Inspector Hawthorne boomed. ‘It’s been too long since you were last here.’
I nodded sagely, a smile twitching at the corner of my mouth. ‘Less than twenty-four hours.’
He grinned and slung an arm around my shoulders to give me a little squeeze. ‘Like I said, too long, kiddo.’
‘I should just move in,’ I replied.
‘You should,’ Mrs Hawthorne said, as her husband came around to press a kiss on her forehead. ‘When Raven’s gone, this house will just be too quiet.’
My heart squeezed painfully. Though I’m sure the Hawthornes would let me come over whenever I wanted, the truth was, once Raven left, I didn’t have a reason to be here any more.
‘Speaking of Raven,’ Mrs Hawthorne said, ‘she’s still asleep. But you know the way, so I’ll let you get her up.’
I nodded once, before making my way to Raven’s bedroom – up the stairs and past Orion’s bedroom.
I didn’t knock as I entered, I just stepped in and found her sprawled on her bed.
Her walls were adorned with newspaper clippings of her father’s cases and pictures of us, and her side table was littered with coffee cups.
She looked so utterly peaceful. I only felt a little guilty for kicking her bed with all my strength.
She yelped, her control over her dragon form slipping so her horns popped out of the tangled mess that was her hair.
It took her a moment to register my presence, but once she did, the shock was replaced with annoyance.
‘You sleep like the dead,’ I said, as an excuse. ‘This was the only way to wake you.’
‘You will be dead,’ Raven replied, burying her face back into her pillow. ‘Once I muster up the strength to actually do something.’
‘You know who should be threatened with death? Your brother,’ I said, sweetly, and her head popped back up.
‘Orion?’
‘Yeah, Hawthorne,’ I said, irritated just at the sound of his name alone.
‘How could he already be getting under your skin?’ She yawned. ‘He literally arrived yesterday.’
‘Well, he found time to visit my house last night.’
Raven sat fully upright. ‘Why would Orion visit you?’
I considered, briefly, not telling her. But the guilt was eating me alive.
‘You were right; I caused the curse on the town,’ I confessed, keeping my eyes trained on the point above her shoulder.
‘What?’ Raven gasped. She shifted in the bed, patting the space next to her for me to sit. ‘Come here. Tell me everything.’
I crawled on to the bed and told her everything that happened since we’d split up the day before.
‘And then, Orion told me I had to bake for him. But I couldn’t really get him to elaborate further because my mum came outside and he had to go.’ I fiddled with the blanket before groaning. ‘I can’t believe I actually cursed the town.’
‘Technically, you didn’t curse the town.
Just a few people.’ I levelled her with an unimpressed look.
‘You know you didn’t do this intentionally, right?
No one will hold it against you.’ Raven’s tone was matter of fact, not a shadow of doubt present.
I loved her for it – for the way she could see what was bothering me and trying to fix it.
But I couldn’t agree. ‘Just because I didn’t intend to curse the town, doesn’t mean it didn’t cause a mess,’ I replied, my throat tight with the urge to cry.
Raven bumped her shoulder with mine. ‘So, how are you going to tell your mum about this?’
‘I’m not.’ I could see the caution in her face and jumped in before she could. ‘I can’t, Raven, OK? If I tell her, she’ll have to report me to the Coven, and you know what that means.’
Raven sighed, a heavy sound, and then added, ‘Hence why you need Orion’s help.’
I nodded miserably. ‘I’m going to have to do whatever he asks to keep him on side. I don’t even know what bake for me means – what if it’s some sick power play?’
Raven paused, clearly remembering all the ways her brother had driven us insane over the years. ‘It could be.’
‘Annoying, sadistic and out to ruin my life.’ I ticked off all the things I hated about Orion Hawthorne.
‘Wow, I think my horns are burning.’
Our attention snapped to the doorway, where we found the man in question leaning against the frame.
He was wearing washed-out blue jeans and a white tee layered with a mint-green sweater; his dark hair was all perfectly mussed, and two black horns peeked out from the strands.
He looked so utterly put together – my annoyance at him went from simmering to full-blown.
‘You.’ My best friend pointed accusingly at her brother. ‘Why are you trying to get Maya to bake for you in exchange for your help breaking the curse? Is this some sick game?’
Orion snorted, arms folding over his chest. ‘Yes, because this is my idea of fun.’
Raven narrowed her gaze. ‘Orion.’
It hit me, that for the first time in a while, the three of us were together again. Orion had left our trio long ago and when he and I had … well … that was to say Raven had been away that summer. Something in my chest ached with the nostalgia, something that I quickly snuffed out.
‘Fine,’ he sighed, and then flicked his eyes to mine. ‘Look, Reverie, I don’t want you to bake for me. I want you to bake for the Treasure Trove.’
‘And what exactly is the Treasure Trove?’ I asked, confused.
‘It used to be a laundromat – you remember Washeteria don’t you?
’ Orion said, tipping his head to one side.
‘Well, my friend inherited it. After her parents died. Her parents’ dream was to open a bakery, but they never got the chance.
So, my friend did it. Except she can’t bake to save her life, and she needs help. Your help.’
‘You have friends?’ I asked, unable to stop the remark from slipping out.
Orion’s smile turned razor-sharp. ‘Melodie is someone I consider a great friend.’
I felt my jaw tense, and my traitorous heart clenched.
‘Melodie’s nice,’ Raven chimed in, unknowingly making my teeth clench further. ‘And I’d heard about her opening the Treasure Trove. Didn’t realize it was failing.’
Orion broke his gaze from mine, and his mouth twisted sympathetically. ‘Yeah, it’s been pretty bad. Melodie’s not great at asking for help either, and she can’t afford to hire anyone right now. I can’t imagine a kitchen witch agreeing to help without any pay.’
‘So, you’re going to blackmail one into helping,’ I cut in sharply, but Orion didn’t look the least bit repentant. ‘Smart thinking, except for the fact that I already have a job. When exactly do you expect me to help with the Treasure Trove?’
‘You’ll have to take a break from the Wishing Well,’ Orion said slowly, like it was obvious.
I gawked at him. ‘You want me to leave my job – where I’m trying to get an apprenticeship – to come work at the Treasure Trove?’
‘Just tell your boss that you’re taking some time to focus on your spellcasting – which is technically the truth. And don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone it’s you who’s helping in the back. Ivy will never know that you’re working at another bakery.’
‘Maya could get into major trouble for quitting the Wishing Well – even temporarily – to work at the Treasure Trove.’ Raven voiced my worries perfectly.
‘She could also get in trouble if someone finds out she cast the curse,’ Orion reminded us. ‘What’s worse, having your magic bound or losing your potential apprenticeship? I’d point out that having your licence suspended would probably lose you your apprenticeship anyway.’
I hated how he was always right. ‘And you actually know how to break the curse?’ I asked, resigned to my fate.
‘I spent all night thinking about it,’ Orion pushed off the door frame to come stand at the foot of Raven’s bed. ‘The spell you accidentally cast is a love spell, yes, but it wasn’t what you intended, was it?’
Raven and I shared a glance. I took a breath before deciding to tell Orion the truth.
‘No, it wasn’t my intention. I was trying to cast –’ the words stuck in my throat, but I forced them out – ‘a soulmate spell.’
Orion blinked. Once. Twice. And then a frown caused his mouth to curl. ‘Why are you looking for your soulmate?’
‘That – that doesn’t matter,’ I said, my cheeks going hot.
Orion scoffed. ‘Actually, it does matter. To break this curse, you’re going to need to meet the requirements of both spells, meaning you’ll have to find your soulmate and share true love’s kiss under the autumn moon.’
‘What?’ I screeched, lurching forward.
He continued, unperturbed by my outburst. ‘Everyone knows that spells are stronger under moonlight, and the full moon will be brightest during the night of the Fallen Leaves Festival.’
I stared at Orion like he’d spontaneously grown a third horn.
‘You’ll cast the first part of the counterspell, which will reveal your soulmate,’ Orion added, his expression tightening. ‘Then you’ll just have to kiss them.’ He paused, a brief look of pain flashing over his face before smoothing out into disinterest.
‘But – but – but –’ I spluttered, unsure of where to start.
‘Maya,’ Raven cut in, softly. ‘Maybe this is a good thing, you know. This was your original plan, remember. Maybe this could be a chance for you to confess your feelings to him.’
I thought I was going to be sick. There it was: that feeling of wanting to projectile vomit crawling right up my throat. Graphic, I know, but the thought of telling Silas Moon about my feelings was nausea inducing.
‘Well, sounds like you’ve already got this figured out.’ Was it me or was steam wafting from the top of Orion’s head? ‘This would be the perfect time to confess your feelings to whatever poor soul you’re enamoured with.’
And just like that, the familiar urge to transfigure Orion Hawthorne into a toad was back.
‘You don’t even know who we’re talking about,’ I hissed. ‘All I wanted to do was reveal that I had a soulmate, find them, and be with them. I – I –’
‘And what, you thought you’d never have to actually share your feelings with them?’ Orion asked haughtily, and this time, I did chuck a pillow at his face. He caught it deftly and held it against his chest like a shield. ‘You do know how to talk about your feelings, right?’
‘OK, OK,’ Raven put up both her hands between us. ‘Fine, look, Maya. This isn’t ideal but Orion is right.’
I gasped, loudly, falling back against the headboard with the weight of her betrayal.
‘I know, I know. Treasonous,’ Raven teased lightly.
‘But he is the only one who can help you. Plus, this is the perfect opportunity you need to finally tell –’ She side-eyed Orion who rolled his eyes.
‘You know who, about your feelings. Maybe, while Orion is teaching you the proper soulmate spell, you could start, you know, making yourself more visible to him. That way, on the night, this won’t be some big, insane revelation.
Then you two can ride off into the moonlight together, with the town curse-free and your licence point-less. ’
I bit my lip. She was right. So was Orion.
‘And you won’t be alone while you do all of this,’ Raven said, reading my face plain and simple. She reached out and squeezed my arm. ‘We’ll be here to help. Right, Orion?’
I glanced at the dragon shifter, who nodded. ‘As long as Reverie helps me, I’ll help her. With whatever she needs.’
‘You’re right,’ I said, and nodded, not feeling quite confident in the whole thing yet but feeling less like my life was ending. ‘I can fix this whole situation before anyone finds out.’
‘Exactly. Now there’s the witch I know and love,’ Raven said, rubbing her shoulders against mine. ‘So, what’s step one?’
‘Step one,’ Orion interjected, before I could say anything else, ‘is teaching Maya how to cast the counterspell in time for the autumn moon.’
‘And I suppose you’ll be the one teaching her,’ Raven said, and there was steel in her voice now. ‘Do you think you two can actually get along long enough to do so? I’m not going to be able to chaperone you – I’ve got a ton of MAC application work to do.’
Nerves twisted in my stomach at the thought of being alone in close quarters with Orion, but he spoke first, nonchalance coating his every word.
‘We’re all grown here,’ Orion scoffed. ‘I’m pretty sure, for the sake of the town, Reverie’s licence and Melodie’s bakery, we can put aside our differences.’
He didn’t say it, but I heard it.
We’ve done this before.
‘Exactly,’ I said, hoping I didn’t sound as panicked as I felt inside. ‘We can work together.’
Raven looked doubtfully between the two of us. ‘If you say so. Now, I’m going to grab breakfast at Charmed & Toasty.’
‘Reverie and I will be at the library for our first lesson,’ Orion replied, his gaze sliding to me. I could feel my heart thumping harder in my chest. ‘Does that work for you?’
‘I have a shift at the Wishing Well at twelve,’ I told him, trying to keep my tone levelled. ‘Think you can make the introductory class fit into one hour?’
I wouldn’t admit it, but his smile sent butterflies aflutter in my stomach. ‘For you, Reverie, anything’s possible.’