“Let’s just say you’re not the only one with an interest in Richard’s old apprentices.”

The bell rang as Will strode through the door. His two companions followed him in to flank him, eyes flicking from side to side, gold-hair girl on his left and the Indian boy on his right. Anne caught my attention with a movement of her head and as I glanced at her she held up two fingers and gestured outside the shop to either side. I made a small motion to show I’d understood and kept my eyes on Will.

Will and the other two approached the counter. I’d dropped the phone as soon as they entered and my hand was under the counter, resting on the concealed shelf. They came to a halt ten feet away, staring at me.

There was a long silence. The shop was still filled with the buzz of conversation, but around the counter all was quiet. I could feel the potential for violence but couldn’t see it in the futures . . . yet. “Looking for something?” I said at last.

Will’s gaze slid off me and scanned the others. He dismissed Anne with a glance and studied Variam briefly before settling on Luna. “Who are you?”

“The one who kicked your ass,” Luna said. The handle of her whip was hidden behind her forearm, and the silver mist of her curse coiled around her, quick and eager. She looked casual but I could tell she was ready to spring.

Will’s eyes narrowed, and he looked back at me. “Getting reinforcements?”

“Pretty much,” I said. “Mind if I ask you something?”

Will ignored me and addressed the others. “Why are you helping this piece of shit?”

“None of your business,” Variam said.

“Because we’re his friends,” Luna said. “You have a problem with him, you have a problem with us.”

“Friends?” the gold-hair girl said in a London accent, and laughed.

“Do you know what he did?” the Indian boy said, addressing Luna and Variam.

“Yeah, actually, we do,” Luna said. “He told us.”

“And you’re on his side?” Will said incredulously.

“So you’re Dark mages too?” the Indian boy said.

“It’s not about sides,” Anne said, speaking for the first time in her soft voice. All three of them turned to her, and she met their eyes. “We are his friends. And if you try to kill him we won’t stand aside.”

I felt an odd choking sensation and blinked before shaking it away quickly. But Will and the other two looked off-balance, and in a sudden flash of insight I realised that they hadn’t come in here prepared to confront anyone but me. Friends hadn’t been in the script.

A customer approached, a middle-aged man with a balding head. “Um, excuse me,” he said. “Could I get—?”