Bethan glanced again at her cat, spotting three bowls laid out. Two of them are noticeably bigger than the third. One for water, one for Lupo’s food and the small one for Poe, which Kellan had bent down in front of, filling it up with canned tuna.

‘Does he come here every morning?’

Kellan nodded.

Bethan chuckled with a hand over her mouth.

‘I was wondering why he was getting so fat; he gets two breakfasts.’

He threw her one of his smirks, making her blush. She turned away from him.

Bethan told him about her plans to see Saskia about the Antiphonus. She took a mug of coffee from Kellan’s hand and brought the mug to her lips.

‘That was for me, but sure, you can have it.’ Kellan glared.

On instinct, Bethan spat back into the mug with a swear before she handed it back to him.

‘Mm, delightful.’

He smirked again, and Bethan fought the urge to grab the coffee back and pour it on him to wipe it off his face.

‘We should also look at the catalogue of Dana’s research that Tharin gave us to make sure nothing is missing,’ Kellan said. ‘For instance, Lenovik’s papers.’

Bethan shook her head. ‘I checked that thing seven times, and I was the one who donated it in the first place. Trust me, nothing is missing.’

‘Just like I should have trusted you about the Antiphonus being a useless source.’

Bethan cringed and surrendered. It wasn’t often he was right, so she had let him have the win.

‘Now, if we are going to see Saskia. I want to look my best,’ he drawled. ‘And I can’t look my best on an empty stomach.’

Bethan rolled her eyes.

‘I have no food,’ he announced. ‘You have no food. Invite the other little witches, and let’s go.’

***

Agatha and Circe joined them; Elnora was off with her parents for work. Circe readily accepted the invitation, while Agatha stared at them with doe eyes and a bitten lip. Bethan could tell she was tense just by how the plants moved and danced around her. Almost as if they were shielding her from the fae before her.

Not only that, but she knew Kellan also sensed the uneasiness. He sat stiffened next to her with a straight back, almost like he had put on a mask of a charming prince. Probably something he learned in court.

They opted for the new café on Crow Street; it was no wonder Agatha spoke so highly of it. Succulents and other greenery adorned the space. Vines climbed up nearly every wall, settling into the corners. It looked like what Bethan assumed was inside Agatha’s mind.

They sipped their drinks. Bethan dared to try some of Kellan’s black coffee but wanted to spit it out as soon as the horrid liquid touched her tongue. Kellan shook his head, choking out a laugh.