‘Thiten has always preferred her own company. She didn’t share her secrets easily, but she did with you. She refuses to speak about it, but I think she’s angry with you for trusting Merlin, angry at you for dying, even. We’ve tried to comfort her but she refuses to talk about her feelings. If anything, she’s become more withdrawn.’

Thiten scowls out to sea, rain dripping from her hair and down her face. I feel sorry for her. I know what it’s like to lose someone you care about.

Morgan adds quietly, ‘What she’s yet to learn is that vulnerability is not a weakness but a strength.’

I huff, unsure I agree, and Morgan eyes me curiously.

‘There is more than one type of courage. There’s the kind that requires you to put on armour and charge into battle, and another that asks you to stand naked. Emotional honesty is the greatest gift you can give to a person, for when you’re vulnerable with another it allows them to do the same. It gives them permission to be who they truly are.’ She touches the locket around my neck, her finger tracing the winged design. ‘The caterpillar becomes a butterfly not through struggle, but surrender.’

I nod and look away. Being emotionally vulnerable has never come easy to me and I have a feeling we’re going to need the kind of courage that requires kick-ass armour if we’re going to defeat Merlin and rescue my mum.

Morgan beats her wings and launches into the sky, her voice loud. ‘My dearest sisters, we have been trapped in this world for centuries, barely surviving, a shadow of our former selves – but now we are nine and it is time to go home.’ She nods at me approvingly and continues. ‘Merlin has a legion of demons at his command, but we have each other. We will fight until our very last breath. We will rescue Ivy’s mother and we will reclaim what is rightfully ours – Avalon.’

I smile, surprised and pleased that she used my name. I know I’ll always be Moronoe to them, but it feels like a gesture of acceptance. The witches get to their feet and my nerves rise as I stand with them. They cackle loudly as they fly upwards, the sound a rallying war cry, and I clench my fists. I don’t know what’s about to happen, but I’m ready to fight.

The wind has dropped for once and as we enter the lantern room the only sounds are the rain and the crash of waves. The silence is like a held breath, too quiet. Spreading along the walkway, we take one another’s hands and form a circle around the optic. Mazoe stands to my right, smiling as always, and on the other side is Thiten. She holds my hand firmly, but refuses to meet my gaze.