“Craig?”She started forward, but Ellie caught her wrist.
“Look around first.”
Maggie did, taking in trees, a little garden, and even an old-fashioned clothesline. “No one.”
“I’m going in,” Ellie whispered.
Maggie took off in a run to Craig. She wasn’t sure if he’d remember her, likely he wouldn’t. He might even hit her again, but she had to get him to safety. Her was her baby, her heart, and leaving him in a heap on the ground wasn’t an option.
If he’s alive…
Maggie dismissed the thought as soon as it came. He was. She could feel his heartbeat, like a second drum in her chest.
“Craig?” she whispered as she dropped to her knees at his side.
She shook him. Nothing happened.
Louder now. “Craig.”
She shoved him, rolling him halfway over. No response.
Sondre’s voice came from behind her: “He won’t wake until Prospero wants him to.”
Maggie looked up. “I’m not going back without him.”
Sondre sighed, his hand dropping to her shoulder. “It’s not your choice. You are a witch and—”
“I’ll die before I leave him. I’ll escape and—”
“You won’t, Maggie.” Sondre crouched down. “Prospero can alter your mind, make you forget. It’s what she does.”
Tears poured down Maggie’s face. Then she grabbed her son’s wrists and tugged so he was draped over her back. It wasn’t perfect, but she wasn’t about to just sit here and wait for them to steal her son. She started toward the car. “Tell Ellie I’m sorry.”
Sondre pulled Craig away from her. “I can’t let you go. Not this time. They know I helped you the first time.”
“Give me my son.” She pulled out the gun in her waistband. It wasn’t her first choice, but magic or not, none of them were likely to survive a clip being emptied into them. Steadily, she aimed it at Sondre. “I like you. I really do, but no one separates me from my kid.”
Sondre took a breath and lowered Craig to the ground gently. “The chief witch said we needed to do whatever it took to bring you back. What if what it took was bringing him, too?”
Maggie flicked the safety back on. “I’m listening.”
“Prospero is going to change your memories,” Sondre blurted out. “And I had a choice between being badgered and… marrying you.”
Maggie felt like her heart had lodged in her lungs somehow. She managed to say, “Marriage to me is yourpunishment?”
“Not you. Marriage. Keeping a woman happy. Focusing on you, not my plans…” Sondre took her hand. “I like you well enough, Maggie Lynch.”
“You’re not awful either, man-witch.”
“So either shoot me or agree to marry me,” Sondre whispered, voice rough. “I can’t take away your choice, not and… have you in my bed.”
Maggie squeezed his hand. “It’s not a real punishment to me. If you could guarantee my son was with me, I’d agree to marry you on my own.”
Sondre looked at her, pondering things he didn’t share. “I can suggest it, but we have orders.”
“Fill me in later?” she asked. “Tell me what I forget. Promise.”
“I’ll do my best.” Sondre stepped back. “I need you to come inside without a fight, without objecting to what I say or what she says. I know you want to help Ellie, but this is the only way to bring Craig to Crenshaw. And Maggie?” He waited until she looked at him. “He cannot leave the castle until we clear up the problem with the sickness. Neither of you can. If I’m going to be a… father”—he choked on the word—“he needs to obey me. Both of you do.”
