<blockquote>At midnight in the Night & Day Bakery, the burnt-caramel vanilla scent of warm sugar rose into the air and hovered. Esmé was careful to keep the heat balanced—if the sugar got too warm, not only would the syrup scorch, but the spell inside of it would burn, too. The oven, as if attuned to her very thoughts, held steady. Esmé smiled.</blockquote>
