‘Are we supposed to be following what’s happening?’ Azalea whispered to Luna.
‘I don’t think so,’ Luna whispered back.
‘I’ll explain later,’ Bisma said to them, and they went back to their breakfast.
‘This could be good, actually,’ Xander said. ‘You’ll finally get to study in Whitebridge—perhaps we’ll get the chance to go together, after all.’
‘I can’t go now,’ she said, her voice low. ‘Luna isn’t eighteen for another three years.’
‘I don’t mean now,’ he said, taking a sip of tea. ‘I’m sure the offer stands for whenever you wish to accept it.’
‘What about you?’ she asked. Would he be leaving so soon, just when she had finally gotten him?
He let out a small laugh. ‘I am in no hurry to leave Old Town so long as you are here,’ he said. ‘We can have our adventure in three years the same way we might have it tomorrow.’
She blinked at him stupidly. ‘You’re thinking of having a future with me?’
‘Of course,’ he replied, giving her a funny look. ‘Youaremy future, Bis. What on earth would I do without you?’
‘Oh.’ Her heart glowed. ‘Well, in that case, I suppose we’ll have dinner with your mother tonight.’
‘Splendid! I hope she has the cook make a good roast.’
‘Baji, are you and Xander done talking?’ Nori asked, her voice loud with irritation. ‘Can you pay attention to us now?’
‘Yeah,’ Mei agreed. ‘We have a hundred thousand things to tell you!’
‘Me first!’ Azalea said.
‘Me!’ Deeba shouted with glee. ‘Me, me, me!’
They all laughed.
‘Yes, I’m listening, love,’ Bisma said.
They sat round the table for an hour longer, drinking tea and telling stories and bickering over biscuits. Outside, the wind whistled, rustling the leaves, and the sun shone bright. Surrounded by warmth, Bisma felt so utterly whole—so utterly happy.
She had lost her magic, but she had gained everything else: her home, her family, her future, her love.
For now, that was enough.
EPILOGUE
It was Luna’s birthday, which meant it was time for goodbye.
But before the goodbye came years of love and happiness and, yes, magic, too. About a month after the fires, Bisma felt that familiar pull inside her, and when she went to her garden and stuck her hands into the soil, a little plant sprouted.
It had taken about a month for the Enchanted Forest to recover the trees it had lost, but once it did, it gave Bisma back her magic. She ran to find Xander and found that he had his magic back as well, along with a small mark on his wrist, black ink in the shape of a vine. Bisma had the same mark beside the tattoo that marked her as an Unwanted Girl.
Her magic felt different, she realized; it felt as if she carried a piece of the Enchanted Forest with her wherever she went. She was stronger, more energized. Xander felt the same, and he could freely visit the Forest whenever he wished.
They were permanently tied to the Enchanted Forest.
Theoretically it meant Bisma could be Baji forever—she never had to leave—but that wasn’t what she wanted. Frederick still needed to pay for what he had done, and she wanted to study in Whitebridge. She wanted to see the world, to learn, to grow. All with Xander by her side: teasing, exploring, kissing, talking, laughing, kissing again.
But that would come later. She particularly enjoyed being Baji when, four months later, they were blessed with a new sister. She was a darling six-month-old with curly hair and dark skin.
‘Great!’ Azalea exclaimed upon seeing her. ‘More diapers!’
