‘There might be three of them, Ivy, but they’re only First Level. Knowing one or two Second Level spells doesn’t make you Second Level. They’re not as good as they think they are.’

Apparently, neither was I. I grabbed Winter’s hand and struggled to my feet. ‘You really are that good, though.’

‘Yeah,’ he said simply and without a trace of ego. ‘I really am.’

I considered this. There was something to be said for Order training after all. I pursed my lips. ‘Thanks,’ I muttered.

‘No problem.’ Winter hesitated. ‘Thanks for getting these three to confess.’

I felt suddenly abashed. ‘I guess we make a pretty good team.’ I flicked a look at Weathers. ‘You could have been part of that!’ I called. ‘There will be no Wilde Wintry Weathers now!’

Winter rolled his eyes. ‘Next time, don’t burst in through the door like that. At least not without discussing it with me first. You repeatedly prove that you have no regard for your own safety. You could have been seriously hurt.’

‘I was seriously hurt! I’m going to require several weeks of convalescence. I almost died! Again! What took you so long anyway?’

‘I was hiding in a cupboard and the vacuum cleaner got in my way.’ He inclined his head towards mine. ‘Don’t tell anyone.’

I smirked. ‘My lips are sealed. Honest. I wouldn’t tell anyone that the big bad Adeptus Exemptus Raphael Winter almost got his partner killed and missed a fight because a household appliance got in his way.’

‘Ivy…’

I grinned. ‘What?’

Chapter Twenty-Five

I got out of the car feeling more knackered than I’d ever felt in my life. Even my bones were weary. It had been a long time since I’d returned home when the sun was shining. All the same, there was an odd buzz of euphoria running through my veins. We’d solved the crimes, Winter and me. I was starting to see why he liked his work so much. Only starting, mind; I wasn’t a total convert. But if the Order brought in a three-day working week, I might be persuaded…

Winter climbed out from the other side of the car and we shared a glance of satisfaction. With his normally pristine clothes messed up, and with his top button undone and his tie askew, he looked rather adorable. I glanced down, taking in the state I was in. Well, at least one of us looked good.

‘Out of curiosity,’ he murmured, ‘what did you wish for? With the eyelash?’

‘A lie-in tomorrow,’ I chirped.

‘You’re kidding me.’

‘Nope.’

Winter sighed dramatically but I swear I spotted the ghost of a smile on his lips. As if to cover it, he knelt down and started tying his shoelace. From the other side of the road, there was the sound of a car door closing and a familiar voice.

‘Ivy! I’m so glad I caught you!’ Iqbal darted across, his face split into a wide grin.

I gave him a quick hug. ‘Hey! Good to see you. What are doing here?’