‘Hang on,’ Lily interrupted. ‘You knew something was going on with us, something potentially awful, and you still made time to wrap the food?’

‘You should know by now never to get between my brother and his stomach,’ Grace replied, glancing between Lily and Jem, clearly attempting to figure out their dynamic.

They all laughed amongst themselves. It felt like years but also just a matter of days since they last saw each other. So much had happened, so much had changed.

Once they’d all eaten their fill, there was still enough to take home to the lighthouse and share with the children. The sun was just creeping over the treeline and they knew they had to start moving if they were going to make it back before nightfall, and they were all keen to return to the coast – Jem and Grace especially. They had saltwater in their veins. Too long away from it was never healthy.

The food had brought about in Alice an almost miraculous recovery. She was able to stand and walk unaided, although Grace made it clear that if she struggled, she could lean on her shoulder. Lily wondered whether they ought to have a spell or something to make her feel stronger but didn’t dare ask; she didn’t know what they had been through at the hands of Hecate Winter and she didn’t want to pry while the wounds were still fresh. There was plenty of time to hear their story when they were ready to tell it.

They all helped pack up the bags and started walking, buoyed by comforting thoughts of warm beds, an open fire in the grate, the companionship of their left-behind friends, and the sound of crashing waves around them.

Chapter Forty-Five

The world shone a brilliant orange, and Lily felt like they’d been walking for days. The sun was setting, slowly disappearing over the unseen horizon and it was hard to believe that it was only yesterday that they had been suffering at the hands of Hecate Winter.

Thoughts of Hecate’s disappearance kept rearing their ugly heads whenever Lily allowed herself to feel joy or relief at having Alice back. Everything felt like it should be perfect but something niggling at the edge of her consciousness told her that this wasn’t the end. She had unlocked a power inside her that she didn’t know existed until yesterday and she was going to have to learn to control it. A band of dangerous and even potentially murderous witches was still stalking the land and it was only a matter of time before they had to face them again.

She would have to adjust to a new life, figure out where she wanted to be and who she wanted to be with. After all this, could she really go back to making up potions in her uncle’s apothecary? Could she disappear into a life of obscurity, of normalcy, now she knew what else was out there?

Lily looked around at the faces of her companions. She was terrified, confused, and conflicted but she had never felt safer than she did now, amongst this tiny band of misfits. Ahead, Alice lightly brushed Grace’s arm and whispered something softly into her ear. She then hung back and let Grace wander ahead, Alice herself falling in step with Lily. Instinctively, the two girls joined hands, as they had done so many times over the years of their friendship.