Page 26 of Boundless Magic

“Am I dreaming?” she asked.

“If you are, we are,” Autumn said. She materialized a blanket and, with a wave of her hand, spread it beneath a large oak tree. After making herself comfortable, she held out her hand and conjured apple slices for Jolyon to eat. “Here you go, my sweet boy. This should take care of those hunger pangs.”

Soon enough, he was happily munching away, alternating between bites and trying to shove the other half of the slice in Autumn’s mouth. Playfully, she pretended to gobble his fingers. His giggles were music to her soul, and she prayed to the Goddess his time here hadn’t scarred him. But that was a problem for another day.

“Uncle Alastair? Do you have Jolly’s anklet?”

He knelt beside her and wordlessly handed her the finely crafted jewelry with the ability to temper Jolyon’s formidable power. Autumn spared a moment to study the clasp, and after verifying it wasn’t faulty, she grasped her son’s wildly kicking leg.

“Steady now, munch. Mama’s trying to put your pretty anklet back on.”

Again, he kicked, and his heel connected with her forearm.

“The boy acts like he doesn’t want you to put it on him,” LJ said. “Could it be it bothers him?”

At a loss as to why it might, she faced Alastair. “Uncle Al?”

“Your guess is as good as mine, child. I’d say there was a reason either he or his sister tore it off, but until he’s able to vocalize it or we find Chloe, we won’t know for sure.”

“May I?”

Spring held out her hand, and Autumn placed it in her palm. They all remained silent as she studied the piece. Autumn couldn’t help but notice Angelica’s fascination with Preston, nor it seemed, could LJ.

“Unbelievable, isn’t it?” he said.

“Yes.” With a small laugh, she shook her head. “To see him again after all this time, well, I can’t seem to wrap my head around it. An alternate reality, you said?”

“Yep.” Within a few minutes, she’d been brought up to speed on the day’s events, and Autumn was talked out.

Her mother joined her on the blanket and pressed her back to the trunk. Using her arms to indicate Autumn should give her Jolly, she smiled when he dove into her embrace, and she accepted his sloppy kisses on her cheek like the indulgent grandmother she was.

“Thanks, Mama.”

“You’re welcome, darling girl.” Taking one of Jolly’s proffered apples, she rubbed her cheek against his downy head. “Why don’t you take your father and go find Keaton and Chloe while I stay here with Jolly? Perhaps we’ll get him down for a much-needed nap.”

“If I’ve never told you this, you’re the best.” With a quick group hug that included her mother and son, Autumn rose. “Any idea which direction my husband went?”

“We thought he was coming to find you, but we reached you first,” Alastair said with a frown. “I didn’t see him on the journey here. Anyone else?”

They all shook their heads, giving Autumn cause for concern. What the hell had happened to her husband?

18

Autumn followed her instincts and headed for the Carlyle property. Reason suggested Chloe would look for the familiar, and Autumn only prayed she’d discover a kind soul to look out for her. How terrifying must it be for a young teen to find herself lost in an alternate dimension, misplace her toddler brother, and not be able to get help when she needed it?

Annoyed at the adults who should’ve known better, Autumn trudged through the woods. Grunts and what sounded like fists crunching bone hurried her steps, and she broke through a cove of trees to see her husband fighting another man.

“Mommy!”

Chloe’s frantic shout brought her head around, and Autumn ran to scoop her into a tight embrace. Overcome, she blinked back the tears trying to crowd her eyes. “Oh, Chloe! I was so worried about you.”

“I’m sorry,” her daughter sobbed. “I’m so sorry, Mommy.”

“None of that, kid.” Drawing back, Autumn smoothed Chloe’s tangled hair. “Your dad and I are just glad you’re safe.”

“But I lost Jolly, and?—”

“We found Jolly, and he’s fine. Promise.”

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