“No. I had a memory of jumping into a car with her after I caged you in what looked like a diner…?” Ellie had gone from don’t-tell-her to blurting everything out. It was less of a carefully thought-out plan and more of a secrets-are-the-problem mindset. “It’s not a dream. Those things happened. I left you, and I went with her. And you came after me.”
“Yes.” Prospero stopped and stared at her. “You were upset.”
“And you won’t tell me why—”
“Can’t,” Prospero corrected. “I can’t tell you.”
“Fine. Youcan’tanswer my questions.” Ellie paused, looking toward the edge of the town. The streets were half-empty, a visual reminder of the dilemma before them. Witches were afraid, possibly of the escaped witches who had shot Lord Scylla, possibly of nonmagical intruders.
Ellie wasn’t sure she could blame them.
“Are you angry over what you’ve recalled?” Prospero glanced her way, and Ellie noticed that her jaw was clenched tightly. Her voice might not waver, but the anxiety was obviously still there.
“I was angry in one of the memories, heartbroken, too,” Ellie admitted. “Youhurt my heart, Prospero. I know it was you.”
Prospero nodded. “I made mistakes. I am sorry.”
“So this whole ‘leaving a trail so I can evade my punishment for whatever I did’ is a… what? Grand gesture? Apology?” Ellie kept her voicepitched low as they resumed walking. No one more than a hand’s width away could hear her. Even though the streets were empty, she wasn’t willing to risk being overheard.
“Amends.”
“Nothing is simple with you, is it?” Ellie muttered. She’d been weighing the situation. Thus far she had figured out that she had broken a major rule, but Prospero hadn’t known. Maggie had gone with Ellie to the nonmagical world, and Prospero had pursued them. After being returned to Crenshaw, the memory of their escapade was erased—by Prospero, with Dan’s help.
“If you only knew…” Prospero laughed. “You’re not exactly meek, love.”
“Fair.”
“That’s not a complaint.” Prospero ascended the steps to the house. “Just to be clear.”
“So I figured out most of it, but I don’t know why I was upset with you.” Ellie waited while Prospero let them into their house.
Inside, Prospero shut and locked the door. “I lied to you, omitting telling you things I knew.”
Ellie gaped at her. “That’s it?”
“They werelargethings,” Prospero added as she hung up her overcoat, looking fixedly at the coat hooks rather than at Ellie. “You reacted poorly, doubted my sincerity, questioned my feelings toward you.”
“I don’t doubt your feeling now.” Ellie put a hand on Prospero’s side.
“Truly?” Prospero was motionless.
“You are rather obviously in love with me,” Ellie said.
Prospero looked back at her.
“I know you lied,” Ellie continued. “But Ialsoknow you left a trail for me to figure it out because you want truth between us… and you refused me because you were afraid of my reaction when I remembered.”
Prospero turned the rest of the way back to face her. “You remember most of it. The majority of the worst parts.”
“Do you suppose that’s enough to move on?” Ellie asked hopefully. When Prospero didn’t reply after several moments, Ellie felt her shoulders sag. “Go bathe. I’ll fix tea.”
“Wine?” Prospero asked quietly. “I don’t have the answers you want, love. I feel like there are still big gaps in between us, but if I could hold you and… be near you to rest, I would very much like that. And maybe other things?”
Ellie’s smile felt wide enough to be awkward. “That sounds perfect.”
Prospero left, and Ellie gave a little spin in the foyer. She wasn’t frightfully giddy by nature, but this felt like something to celebrate. Massive progress of the romantic sort. The world was still under attack, and dangerous witches had still declared war on Crenshaw. Ellie still had some holes in her recollection. The rift was better but notfixed.Things were far from perfect.
But she admits that she wants me in her arms.
