‘Mmm.’ I started to fidget. I needed to change the subject. ‘Do we have any information on who our zombie was?’

Winter muttered something under his breath at the z word. ‘He was a local man who died just over two years ago in a farming accident. I have spoken to his family and there’s no magical connection with them and no reason to believe he was specifically targeted. The Order will keep looking into it but I don’t think we’re going to draw any leads that way.’ He shrugged. ‘All indications suggest his rising was due to chance and perhaps opportunity. There is nothing to suggest he was chosen for a reason.’

For some reason that disturbed me more than if his body had been specifically selected. Lack of clear motive meant that the person behind this could have much grander designs for bringing the dead back to life. Grander designs that I doubted would be warm or fluffy for the rest of us. I tugged at the bodice of my dress, irritated by the scratchy material, and sighed.

‘Do you really have to wear that?’ Winter enquired.

‘It’s not that bad.’

He harrumphed. ‘You look like you’re serving yourself up on a platter.’

Wincing slightly, I smoothed down the skirt. ‘Let’s not talk about humans as food while there are zombies around, shall we?’

‘I told you,’ he began, ‘it’s not zomb—’

‘What gives?’ Moonbeam marched over, interrupting Winter and glaring at me. ‘I’m supposed to be the replacement! All that work I put in and they chose you instead?’ His voice dripped with disdain. ‘You!’

I shrugged. ‘Unless there’s something you’re not telling us, you’re not quite what they’re looking for.’

He rose up, even more piqued than before. ‘I’m exactly what they’re looking for! I can fill any role!’

‘They want a woman, Moonbeam.’

‘I…’ He deflated. ‘Damn it.’

‘Sorry.’ I wasn’t but he looked so dejected that I figured I could say it.

Moonbeam ran a hand through his hair. ‘All that work.’ He sighed and glanced at Winter. ‘You’re the Order witch.’

Winter was staring at Moonbeam in fascination. ‘Yes, I am.’

From behind, I saw Barry desperately try to catch my eye and point to his watch. I played dumb and looked confused.

‘I’m a big fan!’ With an impressive mood change, Belinda’s son switched from looking pathetic to complete enthusiasm. ‘I love the Order! How difficult is it to get in? I can do magic, you know.’

Both Winter and I gazed at him with sudden interest. ‘Can you?’ Winter asked. ‘Have you ever performed any spells?’

‘Like raising the dead and creating an army of zombies?’ I butted in.

Winter jabbed me sharply in the ribs. ‘Ignore Ivy,’ he said with an irritated glance in my direction. ‘We used to work together and she seems to have delusions of grandeur where her magic ability is concerned.’

It was my turn to frown. ‘But you said…’ Winter’s glare intensified and I paused. ‘Yeah, okay. I’m crap at spells,’ I lied.