Their return to the townhouse was uneventful—whoever had been following them hadn’t reappeared, but the city still felt uneasy. Vesper kept her head down, trying not to gawk or make eye contact with anyone they passed.

  Her mind still churned as she followed Rafe inside. The decision to undertake the Concordat’s trials had made her sick with nervousness—and it’d only grown now she had more time to think about it. They’d seemed to have dodged a bullet where the Fold was concerned, but now she was headed right into a nuclear firestorm.

  She watched as Rafe moved through the living room, pushing aside furniture and retrieving an assortment of curious objects from hidden nooks and crannies.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, her brow furrowing.

  Rafe glanced up. “We need to start your training immediately.”

  Vesper’s stomach dropped. “Now? But I thought⁠—”

  “There’s no time to waste,” he cut in. “The Concordat won’t go easy on you.”

  He gestured to the cleared space, now resembling what she supposed was a makeshift training area. Crystals, herbs, and peculiar contraptions littered the floor. Vesper’s gaze lingered on a silver mirror that seemed to ripple like water.

  “I know, but all this stuff is a little intimidating. What is it for?”

  “They’re magical artefacts. Come, sit.”

  Vesper set her bag on an armchair and lowered herself onto a cushion, crossing her legs awkwardly. Rafe settled across from her, his stare slightly unnerving. She’d forgotten to ask what would happen to him if she failed.

  “Close your eyes,” he instructed. “Try to feel the surrounding energy. It’s like a subtle vibration, a hum just beneath the surface of reality. Still your breathing and clear your mind.”

  Vesper took a deep breath and shut her eyes. At first, all she felt was the pounding of her own heart and her lingering anxiety. But as she focused, something shifted. A faint tingling sensation danced across her skin, as if the air itself had come alive.

  “The key to a mage’s magic is not in external objects, but within themselves,” Rafe murmured. “It’s linked to who you are. Your emotions, your mind, your beliefs. The more you know yourself, the more power you can wield.”

  “But the artefacts⁠—”

  “Are a crutch. A mage can use them to add to their power, but they will never replace what comes from within.”

  Within… Knowing herself. She had a bad feeling about this.

  Vesper opened her eyes, shivering at the tingling dancing across her skin. “My skin tickles,” she murmured. “Is that the energy you mean?”

  Rafe nodded encouragingly.

  She looked down at the rippling mirror and understanding dawned. “It’s coming from the objects.”

  “Good. You’re starting to sense the magical energy around you. Now, we need to delve deeper.” He paused, considering his words carefully. “Beatrice told you that the Concordat’s trials are…unique. They’re tailored to each individual’s experiences and past. To prepare properly, I need to understand more about you. It’ll give us a clue as to what you might face.”

  Vesper tensed, her shoulders hunching slightly. “What do you mean?”

  Rafe’s voice remained gentle. “Your history, your memories. They shape who you are as a person and, by extension, as a mage. Can you tell me about your childhood?”

  A familiar unease settled in Vesper’s stomach. She’d always hated this question, dreaded it during introductions or casual conversations. But now, it seemed unavoidable.

  “I…I can’t,” she admitted. “There are gaps. Huge ones.”

  Rafe leaned forward, his brow furrowing. “What do you mean?”

  Vesper took a deep breath, steeling herself. “I don’t remember my parents. Or anything before I was about seven or eight. It’s all just…blank. Sometimes I think I might know something, but I don’t know.” She shrugged. Maybe he’d sympathise.

  As she spoke, a faint flicker of light danced across her fingertips. Vesper gasped, staring at her hands in shock.

  Rafe’s eyes widened. “Don’t stop. Keep talking, and focus on that feeling.”

  Vesper nodded, her words coming faster now. “My earliest memories are of the care system. Foster homes, mostly. I bounced around a lot, never staying in one place for too long. It was… It sucked.”

  The flickering intensified, casting soft, opalescent light across the room. Vesper felt a warmth spreading through her chest, a curious mix of sadness and something else—power, perhaps?

  “I always wondered about my parents,” she continued, her voice trembling slightly. “Who they were, why they left me. But there were never any answers. Just more questions.”

  Vesper took a shaky breath, her hands trembling as she watched the light dance across her fingertips. The memories she’d kept locked away for so long now bubbled to the surface, each one bringing with it a surge of that strange, tingling energy.

  “I was always the odd one out,” she murmured. “Never quite fitting in anywhere. The first home I remember clearly was in Manchester. An older couple, the Wilsons. They were nice enough, but…”

  As she spoke, the silver mirror on the floor began to vibrate, its surface rippling more intensely. Rafe nodded, his gaze darting between Vesper and the surrounding objects.

  “I was there for about eight months before they decided they couldn’t handle me,” Vesper continued. “Then it was off to London. A string of homes, each one blurring into the next. Some were okay, others…” She shuddered, pushing away darker memories.

  The vibrations spread, causing a nearby crystal to emit a faint hum. Vesper’s eyes widened in alarm, but Rafe held up a calming hand.

  “You’re doing well,” he said. “Try to breathe deeply. In through your nose, out through your mouth.”

  Vesper nodded, focusing on her breath as she continued. “The longest I stayed anywhere was with the Pratts in Croydon. Almost two years. I thought maybe…” She swallowed hard. “But then they had a baby of their own, and suddenly there wasn’t room for me anymore.”

  The magical energy swelled, causing several objects to rattle against the floorboards. Vesper felt it building within her, a pressure that threatened to overwhelm her.

  “Easy now,” Rafe murmured. “Keep breathing. Try to imagine the energy as a river flowing through you, not a dam about to burst.”

  Vesper closed her eyes, picturing the energy as a gentle stream. It helped, but only slightly. The memories kept coming, each one bringing with it a fresh wave of emotion and power.

  “After that, I was bounced around even more,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Never staying anywhere for more than a few months. Always the outsider, always temporary. I was too old. Too much trouble. Too expensive to keep.” She took a shaky breath, her hands trembling. “But the worst part wasn’t the moving or the rejection. It was the not knowing. The huge, gaping hole where my past should be.”

  As she spoke, the magical energy around her intensified. The air seemed to crackle with invisible electricity, making the hairs on her arms stand on end.

  “I’ve spent my whole life trying to piece together who I am,” Vesper continued, her words tumbling out faster now. “Every time I saw a couple that looked like they could be my parents, I’d stare, wondering if maybe… But there was never anything. No recognition, no sudden flood of memories.”

  The energy building within her surged, and Vesper gasped as a burst of light erupted from her body. For a brief moment, the entire room was bathed in a soft, opalescent glow. Books rattled on their shelves, and the various magical artefacts scattered around them hummed with sympathetic energy.

  Rafe’s eyes widened. “Vesper…”

  But she barely heard him. As the light faded, she found herself staring at Rafe in amazement. The faint, shimmering aura was back, pulsing around him like heat rising from sun-baked asphalt. It flickered and danced, revealing hints of deep purple and flashes of gold.

  “I can see…” she started, but as quickly as it’d appeared, the aura vanished. Vesper blinked, wondering if she’d imagined it.

  “What did you see?”

  She shook her head, trying to clear it. “For a second, it was there again…something around you. An aura. But it’s gone now.” The room settled, and she felt a curious calm wash over her.

  “Was that it?” she asked. “Was that my magic?”

  “Yes, it was your magic.” He smiled, one side of his mouth tilting upwards more than the other. “See? You can access it on your own. Luckily for me.”

  “That was…intense,” she murmured, flexing her fingers. “Is it always like that?”

  Rafe shook his head. “Not always. But strong emotions often fuel magical outbursts, especially in beginners. Knowledge opens the way.” He paused, his expression softening. “Tell me about your work. You’re a librarian, right?”

  Vesper nodded, grateful for the change of subject. As she spoke about her career, she felt the magical energy around her shift, becoming less chaotic as she revealed more about a happier, calmer time in her life.

  “I’ve always loved books,” she explained, a small smile tugging at her lips. “There’s something magical about holding a piece of history in your hands, you know? I specialise in rare books and ancient languages.”

  As she continued, Vesper felt the tension in her shoulders ease. The energy that had felt so overwhelming before now hummed gently around her.

  “Selene taught me how to restore damaged manuscripts,” Vesper said, her voice growing softer. “She had this incredible patience, could spend hours hunched over a single page, piecing together fragments…”

  To her amazement, a soft glow began to emanate from her skin, bathing the room in a gentle, warm light. It was nothing like the intense burst from before—this felt natural, an extension of herself.

  “Rafe,” she whispered, staring at her hands in wonder.

  “You’re okay,” he murmured. “You’re channelling your magic naturally now, without even trying. This is very good.”

  Vesper marvelled at the sensation. It felt right, somehow, as if a part of her that had always been missing had finally slotted into place. The energy pulsed in time with her heartbeat, responding to her emotions and thoughts.

  “It’s beautiful,” she breathed, watching the light dance across her fingertips. For the first time since this whirlwind began, she felt a glimmer of excitement. This wasn’t just about danger and trials—it was a part of who she was.

  Vesper laughed and looked up. Her gaze locked with Rafe’s, and she felt a sudden rush of warmth flood through her. The soft glow emanating from her skin seemed to intensify, casting a gentle light over his features. She noticed the flecks of gold in his eyes, the slight curve of his lips as he smiled encouragingly at her. There was something about him that made her feel…safe. Understood.

  For a moment, Vesper forgot about the chaos of the past few days. The fear, the uncertainty, the overwhelming newness of it all faded away. Here, in this quiet room with Rafe, she felt a sense of belonging she’d never experienced before.

  He seemed equally transfixed, his gaze softening as he watched her. The usual tension in his shoulders had eased, and he leaned forward slightly, as if drawn to her.

  Vesper took a deep breath, feeling emboldened by the connection between them. “What about you?” she asked softly. “You know so much about me now. What about your family?”

  The change was instantaneous. Rafe’s body went rigid, his eyes hardening as the warmth drained from his face. He pulled back, breaking their shared gaze, and Vesper felt the loss like a page being ripped out of a book.

  Her heart sank as Rafe turned away, the warmth of their connection evaporating in an instant. She opened her mouth to apologise, but Rafe cut her off before she could speak.

  “We need to focus on your training,” he said, his voice clipped. “The next step is to focus your magic. Try to channel your energy into this crystal.”

  Vesper nodded mutely, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. She stared at the crystal in front of her, willing her magic to cooperate, but her mind kept drifting back to Rafe’s reaction. What had she said wrong? Why had he shut down so completely?

  His lost memories must have something to do with his family. That had to be it, but of course she couldn’t ask, because she’d reveal she’d betrayed his trust and read his journal. She had to trust that he’d tell her in his own time.

  But as she struggled to concentrate, small objects around the room began to twitch and rise. A pen floated past her ear, startling her. A book wobbled off the shelf, hanging suspended in mid-air.

  “Vesper, focus,” Rafe said, his tone softer now. He moved closer, shuffling across the floor so he could place a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Take a deep breath. Remember what we practised earlier? A chaotic mind will only garner chaotic results.”

  She closed her eyes, trying to steady her breathing. But the warmth of Rafe’s hand on her shoulder only intensified her inner turmoil. Her heart fluttered and she began to ache.

  Turmoil? she thought with an internal eye roll. Is that what she was calling it now? Way to avoid the obvious, Vesper.

  The objects in the room began to spin lazily, caught in the whirlwind of her emotions.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” You know what’s wrong with you, idiot.

  Rafe sighed. When she opened her eyes, she found his gaze had softened, the earlier hardness gone.

  “It’s alright,” he said quietly. “Magic is closely tied to our emotions. It’s natural to struggle when you’re feeling unsettled. Even I’m not immune to it and I’ve been practising my entire life.”

  Vesper nodded, grateful for his understanding. “How old are you?”

  “Thirty-three.”

  “I’m twenty-eight,” she blurted.

  As Rafe studied her, the floating objects gently lowered back to their places, and the crystal in front of her began to glow faintly.

  Vesper gasped, then started to laugh. “It’s glowing!”

  “Magic finds a way,” Rafe murmured. “You’re going to pass the trials.”

  “Don’t let me get ahead of myself,” she countered. “This is my first attempt.” She’d accessed her magic, yes, but it felt wild and unpredictable. And then there was Rafe…

  “And we didn’t end up in the Fold.” His eyes sparkled. “It’s a miracle.”

  As Rafe reached for the crystal, their fingers brushed. A jolt of electricity shot through her, and she jerked back, nearly dropping the stone. Their eyes met, and Vesper felt her breath catch in her throat. The intensity in Rafe’s gaze mirrored her own conflicted emotions.

  For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Vesper was acutely aware of Rafe’s presence, the warmth radiating from his body, the faint scent of sandalwood that clung to him. Her skin tingled where they’d touched, and she fought the urge to reach out again.

  Rafe cleared his throat, breaking the spell. “We should, uh, finish up here,” he mumbled, turning away to stash the crystal back onto the bookshelf. “You might want to grab that mirror and discharge some of your remaining magic.”

  “What?”

  “Static electricity,” he told her. “That’s what your science calls it.”

  “Oh.” Vesper reached for the mirror, trying to ignore the heat rising in her cheeks. This was ridiculous. She barely knew Rafe, and they were in the middle of a potentially life-threatening situation. Whatever this attraction was, it was purely physical—a byproduct of high-stress circumstances and close proximity.

  She stole another glance at Rafe, watching as he meticulously arranged books on a nearby shelf. His brow was furrowed in concentration, and Vesper found herself admiring the strong line of his jaw, the way his shirt stretched across his shoulders…

  No, she scolded herself. Focus on the trials. That’s what matters now.

  Vesper grabbed the mirror and a shock of painful electricity stabbed through her hands. “Ow!” she exclaimed, dropping the artefact. “Thanks for the warning.”

  Chapter 4

  Vesper stared up at Thornhallow Manor, its Victorian facade looming against the afternoon sky. Yesterday, the building’s grandeur had overwhelmed her. Today, knowing what lurked behind those walls, her stomach churned with a different kind of anxiety.

  Her fingers worried the buttons on her blazer as memories of last night’s fractured sleep invaded her thoughts. The shadow creature from the Fold had haunted her dreams, its form more twisted and wrong than she remembered. Its limbs had stretched like pulled taffy, reaching for her with razor-edged claws.

  She shivered despite the warm morning air. The worst part hadn’t been the creature itself, but what came after. She’d tumbled through a gap between worlds, falling past fragments of London—both the one she knew and its magical mirror. Streets had folded in on themselves, buildings had melted into impossible shapes, and she’d plummeted through it all, screaming without sound.

  “Ready?” Rafe asked, his boots crunching on the gravel path.

  Vesper nodded, though her fingers itched for the comfort of the grimoire. The book had hummed with energy all morning, as if sensing her impending departure. Leaving it behind had felt wrong, like abandoning a friend, no matter how complicated that friend was.

  “Your wards will keep it safe now?”

  “They’re back at full strength and nothing gets in or out without my permission.” Rafe paused at the manor’s entrance. “I saw Beatrice looking at your bag yesterday.”

  Vesper had noticed too, which was why she suggested leaving it behind despite the danger. After desperately wanting to get rid of the book last week, she’d sure formed an attachment to the thing.

  “Since someone is hellbent on taking it, best not add to the list,” she said.

  Rafe grunted. “When a grimoire chooses you like that, it’s best to keep other people’s hands off, regardless.”

  The grand doors swung open at their approach. Inside, the entrance hall’s marble floors gleamed beneath floating orbs of light that sparked into life, seeming to guide them towards a hall to their left.