I playfully pounce over Magnus a few times, savouring the residual energy pulsating through my veins, before finally returning to the packhouse.
Bounding upstairs, we shift back into our human forms. I slip into a comfortable nightgown while Magnus dons a pair of shorts. A peculiar tapping sound interrupts the quiet night, drawing our attention to the window. I exchange a curious glance with Magnus, who looks out to investigate. To our surprise, Reaper gracefully enters the room, flying over Magnus's shoulder and landing on the ground before sauntering toward my bed. With a swift movement, he takes position on the rail at the foot of our bed.
I crawl under the covers, and still hesitant, Magnus follows suit, keeping a vigilant eye on our unexpected visitor. Resting my head on Magnus’s chest, I feel the warmth of his arms enveloping me, creating a blanket of comfort.
Ten minutes pass, and I notice Magnus is still completely awake when I open my eyes.
'Is everything all right?' I ask, sensing tension in the air.
‘You don’t think your pet will stare at me all night like that, do you? He's creeping me out,’ Magnus confesses, his eyes fixed on Reaper.
I glance down at the foot of our bed, and Reaper is eerily staring Magnus down, creating an odd tableau.
‘Reaper, seriously?’ I address him, perplexed by his behaviour.
Reaper caws in response and turns around, presenting his back to us.
‘That’s better, now everyone go to sleep, and my mate's eyes better still be in their sockets in the morning, Reaper, or else I’ll make you the brightest, most colourful birdhouse full of rainbows and glitter and force you to sleep in it,’ I warn him, a playful threat in my tone.
‘You truly are wicked, Master,’ Reaper replies through mind-link, expressing both annoyance and amusement as he caws angrily before nuzzling his beak beneath his wing, signalling his surrender to sleep.
In a valiant attempt to shield himself from the avian alarm clock, Magnus places a pillow over his face and ears. However, my response is less subtle. With a swift motion, I grab my pillow and fling it at Reaper. The pillow connects with him, knocking him off the foot of our bed. The caw abruptly shifts to a squawk, and Reaper tumbles to the ground with a light thud. A single feather drifts in the air, descending to the floor.
'Good morning to you too, Master,' Reaper snaps coldly via the mind-link, irritation apparent in his tone.
'You're a Raven, not a Rooster, Reaper!' I playfully scold.
Magnus can't help but chuckle, though he quickly stifles his laughter as Reaper shoots him a death glare. I seize Magnus' pillow and toss it at Reaper, narrowly missing him by an inch.
'And stop staring at Magnus that way. It’s disturbing,' I admonish him.
'Fine, I'm hungry for grubs anyway,' Reaper retorts curtly before taking flight and soaring out the window.
I roll onto Magnus, and we share a few kisses and snuggles, relishing the intimacy before facing the day. The playful sounds of Fern, Ela, Ria, and Lilac giggling reach our ears as they make their way downstairs. Opening my door, I witness Lilac sliding down the railing backward, her cat accompanying her, running down the steps. Ela disappears, shouting, 'Skedaddle Dash,' with a cheerful exclamation, and Ria gracefully descends with her snake draped over her shoulders like a scarf. Fern, full of energy, leaps over the balustrade, skipping half the steps. Magnus and I follow suit, descending the stairs and joining them in the dining room.
'Lifto Levitatious,' Ela utters in a sing-song voice, and we watch the sugar dish drift toward her. With a teaspoon of sugar, she sprinkles it on top of her cereal and flicks her wand, returning the bowl to its original location on the table.
'Good morning,' I greet everyone at the table.
'Good morning, Luna,' they respond in unison.
'I hope you all had a good night's sleep,’ Magnus inquires with genuine concern.
'Yes, Alpha Magnus, we did. Thank you,' Ria assures him.
May strolls into the dining area, stifling a yawn as she takes a seat. Sabre, her familiar, circles the room a few times before settling on a window ledge, surveying the scene with curious eyes.
'Do you have any plans for today?' I ask, directing my question to the witches, curious about their endeavours for the day.
'We were thinking about touring the town centre to meet more people,' Fern responds enthusiastically.
'That sounds like a great idea,' I reply, genuinely pleased with their plan. The prospect of the witches exploring Shadow Crest and interacting with its residents will help ease any tensions in the community once they realise how friendly and sweet they are.
Suddenly, a chameleon lizard with small wings scampers across the table, capturing our attention. It lands on Fern's hand, climbing up her arm and changing colours to seamlessly blend with her attire.
'I can’t see it, your lizard,' I comment with a smile, intrigued by the creature's ability to camouflage.
Fern beams, 'Pretty cool, huh? He’s so handy for eavesdropping when we're on secret missions. He can change to any colour and be multiple colours simultaneously, allowing him to camouflage into anything.'
'That’s amazing,' I reply, genuinely impressed by the ingenuity of Fern's magical companion.
Ela's toad makes a sudden appearance, hurriedly leaping across the table. Ria's snake promptly follows, creating a whimsical chase scene amid the plates, cutlery, and bowls.
'Martin!' Ria exclaims, addressing her snake. 'What have I told you about chasing Todd?' she scolds, and the snake halts, slithering upright. There's a distinct sense of an eye roll from the serpent as it obediently returns to Ria.
On the brighter side, Lilac’s cat appears more composed as it casually sits beside Sabre, gazing out the window with apparent nonchalance.
The witches continue to cast their spells, enchanting the dining table with their magical powers. Fern stirs her tea with one hand while tapping her wand on the teacup, uttering, 'Inferno Flamo.' Steam rises from her cup, and her tea is magically reheated. Ela effortlessly makes her cereal float toward her, and Lilac summons the sugar pot to hover gracefully across the table before her. Meanwhile, Ria enjoys her cereal, observing her sisters with a hint of amusement.
With the dining table a complete mess as though a grand ruin once stood and has now crumpled, the witches stand, smile, and curtsy, taking their leave.
‘Have fun touring the town centre,’ I shout behind them.
‘We will, Luna,’ they all reply in unison.
We hear them ‘Skedaddle Dash' into town as they close the front door behind them.