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His ot me, Ivy Wilde I’m yours’

I sainst him ‘I know’

‘When I lived here,’ the old lady interrupted, ‘I always had flowers on this sill’ She frowned at Brutus ‘Not a cat Filthy creatures’

Brutus opened a slitted eye in her direction Wait a hallucinatory minute; could he see her too?

‘And e chairs faced in the other direction’ The old wo’

Brutus went back to sleep I wrinkled ry fa I wanted was to worry hi He’d have the doctor round here in an instant Or worse, he’d demand that I went back into hospital just to be sure that I wasn’t dying It was lovely having someone so concerned abouttoo

Princess Parave hilance He shot to his feet A heartbeat later, there was a knock on the door Winter all but ran for it

I sank down again, hearing a soft murmur of voices Eve appeared, a hesitant sht? Is there anything I can get you?’

I groaned Death by solicitous concern ‘I’m fine,’ I told her ‘Really’ Then I paused ‘Actually if you could get ummy bears from the corner shop, that’d be lovely’

‘Gummy bears’ Eve nodded ‘No problem’

‘And ar crisps A es’

‘Sure’

‘A faood measure ‘And—’

Winter rolled his eyes ‘How about a cup of tea for you both instead?’ he said, heading for the kitchen I grinned This esome

Eve sat down, raising an eyebrow in er’

‘I have – although he’s driving me a little crazy,’ I confided ‘He won’t take two minutes to sit back and rest I don’t think unemployment suits him’

‘Have you spoken to him about the Order?’

I sighed ‘I’ve tried It’s like talking to a brick wall He doesn’t want anything to do with them But…’ My voice trailed away

‘Without the Order, he doesn’t knohat to do with himself’

I nodded Eve understood The Hallowed Order of Magical Enlightenht not be my cup of tea but it hat had sustained Winter for many years Now that he’d abandoned them because of what had happened topart of the Order et they existed

‘He’s missed,’ Eve said quietly ‘Not just in Arcane Branch either’

I could well believe it Winter’s dedication to all things bureaucratic and witchy was the stuff of legend It didn’t matter how many times I told him that what had happened up in Scotland had been entirely voluntary onthe e necro into When I broached the subject with hied it He was even

As if bored by us, Princess Parma Periwinkle let out a delicate yawn and wandered towards Brutus, giving the old lady a wide berth in the process I watched her bat in idle boredo down from the sill, and considered

‘Actually, Eve,’ I said, ‘could you dofor junk food Could you fetch Harold and bring hi him’

She looked dubious I could well understand it – when Brutus, Harold and Princess got together, feline shenanigans always ensued This was ih