They headed inside. Maia hesitated, looking at the compact in her hand. Now it was no longer inhabited by a Shade, it was just an ordinary silver and pink compact with a shiny lid and a broken mirror. So much had happened since Auntie Mabel had found it at Granny Anne’s. It was so strange to think that Granny Anne had probably been a Star Friend, too – strange but comforting. I wonder what’s going to happen to us all next? she thought.
The surface of the case started to shimmer. Maia caught her breath as she saw an image appear in it. It was a picture of herself, Lottie, Sita and Ionie at the cake sale. She was seeing the future! There were lots of people around their stall, the money pot was filling up with coins, and Clio and Beth were helping them, their argument apparently forgotten. That was good. The image changed. Maia saw herself talking to Lottie, Sita and Ionie in the clearing, their faces anxious. The images flashed by – a cave with a circle of candles, a girl holding her ankle and crying, a dark corridor with something moving in the shadows, a burning shed and then Maia herself with magic surging strongly through her, her hands raised. The images went faster and faster.
Maia. Bracken’s voice broke into her thoughts.
She blinked and the pictures vanished. She took a shaky breath and slipped the compact into her pocket.
Bracken jumped into her arms. “What just happened?” he said softly.
“I think I saw into the future,” she told him.
“What did you see?” he asked.
“Lots of things.” She hugged him, thinking back over the images. “There’s so much we’re going to do.”
Bracken nuzzled her neck. “I know. This is just the beginning, Maia. Someone must have put the Shade in that mirror. We need to find out who it is and stop them before they do anything else. We also have to figure out how to work with Ionie and Sorrel.”
“I’m so glad I’ve got you,” Maia said, kissing his head.
“You have,” he replied, snuggling closer into her arms. “For always. Whatever’s waiting.”
Maia felt a warm glow tingle through her. As long as she had Bracken, nothing else mattered.
Just then, Lottie popped her head out of the French windows. “Are you two going to stay out there all night?”
“We’re coming!” said Maia as the fox jumped down from her arms. With Bracken trotting at her heels, she headed inside to join her friends.
About the Author
Linda Chapman is the best-selling author of over 200 books. The biggest compliment Linda can have is for a child to tell her they became a reader after reading one of her books. Linda lives in a cottage with a tower in Leicestershire with her husband, three children, three dogs and three ponies. When she’s not writing, Linda likes to ride, read and visit schools and libraries to talk to people about writing.
www.lindachapmanauthor.co.uk
About the Illustrator
Lucy Fleming has been an avid doodler and bookworm since early childhood. Drawing always seemed like so much fun but she never dreamed it could be a full-time job! She lives and works in a small town in England with her partner and a little black cat. When not at her desk she likes nothing more than to be outdoors in the sunshine with a hot cup of tea.
www.lucyflemingillustrations.com
Copyright
STRIPES PUBLISHING
An imprint of the Little Tiger Group
1 Coda Studios, 189 Munster Road,
London SW6 6AW
Text copyright © Linda Chapman, 2017
Illustrations copyright © Lucy Fleming, 2017
First published as an ebook by Stripes Publishing in 2017
eISBN: 978-1-84715-858-1
The right of Linda Chapman and Lucy Fleming to be identified as the author and illustrator of this work respectively has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
All rights reserved.
Apart from any use permitted under UK copyright law, this publication may only be reproduced, stored, or transmitted, in any forms, or by any means, with prior permission in writing of the publishers or, in the case of reprographic production, in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
www.littletiger.co.uk
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