He dragged her into his arms, squeezing until she almost passed out. He relented, and held her by the shoulders as he gazed into her eyes.
“Tonight you became my family, and I am proud to call you my daughter.”
The tears came from somewhere deep within Calli, tears that she had buried the night her own parents had died. Reginald’s words of love and acceptance had unlocked that old path to grief.
“That’s it my dear, dear girl,” Reginald murmured soothingly as he let her cry for a long moment on his shoulder. “Let it out now.” He patted her back, letting her know she was safe. She was accepted. She was loved. She was struck by the marvel of how easy love was… how easy it was to open one’s heart to anyone and how much it was worth the risk of any pain.
No one said anything in the silence of the night. Nature had returned to itself. A fox cried out in the woods, trees murmured secrets to one another, and the wind sighed as the storm above them blew far to the east.
Finally Calli dried her eyes and Reginald helped her and Malcolm stand up. It was time to go. Malcolm pulled her into his embrace, his lips gently touching hers as that ardent fire burned bright between them. He brushed a thumb over her cheek and his lips curved into a grin.
“My little hedge witch.” In those words there was a universe of love and meaning. “You’ve had a hell of a day.”
Calli nodded. “So have you.”
“I won’t argue with you there.” He kissed her again, letting her feel his love through the witch-lock bond, like a burning flame.
“Let’s go home.” She reached down to pick-up Persephone. She looked to Lady Batsford. “You’re welcome to stay too, and the rest of the Council if they wish. I’m sure Mr. Wellesley could cast an extension spell on my house for a few hours.”
“We appreciate the offer, Miss Wynter, but you should be with your family tonight.” The Council witch gave her a welcoming smile. “You should come to Boston this Christmas. I wish to speak with you about your future with the Council. Lady Bentley is ready to retire next year. We could use a witch with your strength and wisdom on the Council. Malcolm pointed out that the witching world might be ready for a change.”
Lady Batsford made her farewells to Malcolm, Calli, and his father. Then she pulled out a small handheld mirror. One by one, the others approached her, touched the mirror, and vanished. Lastly, Lady Batsford, garbed in her green gown and a tall black hat, touched the mirror herself and disappeared. The tiny mirror hovered in the air a moment before dropping to the ground.
Malcolm walked over to retrieve the mirror with a chuckle.
“What is that?” Calli asked.
“A tiny traveling mirror. Lady Batsford came prepared. She must have known they’d be replacing the wards and would need this to leave. Hitchhiking isn’t exactly their style.” He slipped the mirror into the inside pocket of his coat and bent beside Hades, ruffling the dog’s ears.
“I thought I’d lost you, old buddy.” He rasped as he buried his face in the dog’s neck. He wiped away tears when he lifted his head to gaze at his familiar. “Where have you been all this time?”
The dog gazed at him, and Malcolm saw the answer within his mind.
Hades had returned immediately to Whimsy Woods behind Calli’s home. Persephone had sensed his presence and come to see him every day, keeping him company.
“Ahh… So that’s it? You couldn’t bear to leave them, eh?” He understood that all too well.
“What did he say?” Calli asked as she kissed the top of Persephone’s head.
“Hades has been staying in the woods behind your house, and Sephie has been visiting him.”
“That’s why you kept running off?” Calli remarked to her own familiar. Her kitten purred loudly.
“We had better get back before your mother gets the entire town looking for us,” Reginald said gently, breaking the silence.
“Does anyone have a phone?” Malcolm said. “We should call her.”
Reginald and Calli both looked at Malcolm as though he was crazy. Neither of them used cell phones if they could help it, and he’d left his with his mother.
“Wait, let me try something. I saw my grandmother do this a few times.” Calli’s eyes brightened as she stepped forward to the nearest pair of trees. She spoke to them.
“Take me home… to the place I belong…”
There between the two oak trees a portal shimmered and glowed as the distant woods changed to a view of Calli’s backyard, with her house just off to the side.
It took Malcolm a moment to understand. “It’s Celestine’s archway!”
Calli grinned at him. “Follow me.” His adorable, brave little hedge witch marched through the two trees passing into the backyard on the other side. She turned to look at him over her shoulder. “Unless you want to walk home.”
