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They worked until the shelves were full and her arms ached pleasantly.

Priya called her name from The Weighted Anchor doorway and told her to come in and have one last slices of cake before it was gone.

She sat on the couch leaning back against Dan as the evening wound down around them. There was still so much to talk about, but neither of them felt like they needed to rush.

The squirrels had finally gone home, and Buffalo and Amrita had left with Maida and Arthur. The Hell’s Belles had offered to give Priya a lift home. Will and Zani had excused themselves and gone back to the dirigible. Time travel, they explained, was even more exhausting than regular travel. Will had to eat more to gain back the calories burned and they both needed to rest.

It was just the two of them, Fortune, and Granny Luna left now.

“I’m so lucky,” Dan murmured. His eyes were sliding shut.

“Poor lamb,” Granny tutted. “He’s exhausted.” She pulled a feather duster from her satchel. “Now don’t you worry one bit, dearie. I’ll have this place spic and span and sorted for you in a flash!”

“You don’t have to…” Dan was drifting off now.

“I know, but I want to, love,” Granny interrupted. She winked at Tempest, who was beginning to feel a bit drowsy herself. “That’s what we do for the people we love. We take care of each other.” She began to work her fairy magic, marching dishes into the dishwasher and conducting crumbs out the door. The crystal cups flew back into the cabinets.

“Thank you. I love you too, Granny.” Dan sighed. He pulled Tempest closer. “Don’t go just yet, Tempest. I want you to stay. Will you stay with me for a little while?”

Fortune settled back into her nest in the trophy cup.

Tempest could tell from Dan’s breathing that he had fallen asleep. She did not wake him. She was tired too, and there was nowhere else she’d rather be right now.

She was pretty sure of what she would see if she opened the atlas right now. A tavern, with a nest on its sign, and a small puff of smoke coming from the chimney as the fire faded in the fireplace. Outside the sun would be rising, but it would still be dark enough to appreciate the warm glow from the brass lanterns in the windows.

Tempest closed her eyes and relaxed into Dandelion’s embrace. It was so wonderful it felt almost like a dream.

He was even wearing a morning jacket.

THE END

EPILOGUE

THE BELLES’ BINDERY

Asha, Nell and Zara rolled up to Fowler’s on a Tuesday afternoon. They parked their bikes in the alley and walked on foot around to the front door.

“Please let me do the talking, just this once?” Nell begged. “I don’t see why you get to call all the shots. We had all those meetings with them before they changed the name of the store, and you barely let us speak.”

“I am not calling all the shots,” Asha argued. “And I didn’t make the rules. I’m just the one who sets the wheels in motion. You know the deal. You dish out the justice and Zara makes everything look good. Trust me, I would be thrilled if it was my job to sit around coloring.”

“Hey!” Zara pouted. “Don’t knock adult coloring books till you’ve tried them. And I really think you should try them, Nell. You’ve got a lot of anger.” Zara reached into her bag and produced a coloring book full of swear words surrounded by flowers, which she tried to hand to Nell.

“No thanks,” Nell rolled her eyes. “I, for one, still believe the sword is mightier than the pen.”

“I’ll tell you what,” Asha said to Nell as she pulled open the door to Fowler’s. “I’ll tell them the bad news about pulling our investment unless they change their business model. But then you can take it away. It makes more sense for you to explain to them what we had in mind.”

“That’s a deal!” Nell grinned.

“I just want to make sure the books look pretty when they’re done,” Zara said dreamily. “I’m thinking marbled end papers, hand painted edges, foiled bindings. I brought some samples.” She patted her bag.

“The works, sis.” Asha patted her shoulder. “Your wish is their command.”

Fowler’s was the kind of bookstore that prided itself on carrying only the latest and greatest books to grace the Ordinary charts. The shelves gleamed. The inventory was intentionally sparse and curated. A small placard near the door read We DO NOT buy used books.

Clement was at the front counter when they walked in. Archie and Barnabus wafted out from somewhere in the back, like a bad smell. The three looked shocked to see them, and just a little bit worried.

“Ladies,” Clement said, his tone obsequious. “We would have cleaned up if we’d known our investors were coming today. We weren’t expecting you.”