Page 30 of Boundless Magic

“Enough,” Autumn snapped. “Tell us where to find the reversal spell your wife used. We need to set this place to rights.”

20

In the end, they didn’t need to, and the person who burst through the veil wasn’t the Goddess at all, but a super-pumped steroid version of Knox Carlyle in Grecian garb.

“Holy sweet baby Jesus! It’s Knox! In a toga!” Autumn exclaimed, unashamedly admiring the man’s impressive bare chest.

Keaton was less than happy about her excitement. “Babe. Seriously?”

“It’s not like I’m partaking in that particular beefcake,” she replied with a laugh. “But just because I’m on a diet, it doesn’t mean I can’t admire what’s in the pastry case.”

Her husband’s eye roll was accompanied by Gothica’s girlish laugh. The delightful sound caught Half-Naked Knox’s notice, and his interested gaze swept the length of Spring’s hideously clad body. It was as if he could see underneath her awful clothing, because his steady-eyed stare grew hot and he strode toward her, looking like he wanted to eatherup.

Autumn stepped in front of him right before he took action. She was afraid he’d scoop Gothica up, toss her over his shoulder, and disappear into the woods for a little slap and tickle.

“Simmer down, big guy,” she told him.

Gothica shoved her aside and stepped forward, wonder on her made-up face as he wrapped a large hand around the woman’s neck, hauled her close, and disappeared before Autumn could blink.

“Well, that didn’t go as planned,” she muttered. “But I can’t say I didn’t see it coming.”

“Does that mean he broke alternate-you’s spell?” Keaton asked, clasping Chloe’s hand and casting one last glance toward the now-blue sky.

“Not our problem to deal with. We need to get back to the others and figure out how to get home.”

“Hopefully, our Spring will have the spell memorized.”

Autumn prayed he was right. Before leaving, she paused before Rachel.

“She’ll be back. Give her time to get her new beau out of her system, and she’ll train you to be a witch.”

Although the girl appeared skeptical, she nodded. Addressing Chloe, she said, “I’m sorry I locked you in the shed and stole your clothes.”

“Why did you do it?” Chloe asked.

Rachel’s dark gaze dropped to her toes, and she gave a half-hearted shrug. “I thought maybe Aunt Spring would believe I was you. Maybe everyone would, if they found out you came through today.”

“What would that have gained you, Rachel?” Keaton asked gently.

“People who care,” the girl whispered, and the sound of her loneliness was hard to hear.

Autumn pinned RK with a narrow-eyed stare. “Do better, asshole.”

But he ignored her in favor of watching Keaton cover Chloe’s shoulders with his large hands and squeeze lightly. Then, RK approached his daughter.

“I’m sorry, Rach. Sorry for being a shit daddy.”

Surprise kept the girl silent.

He stroked trembling fingers down her dark hair and tentatively smiled. “If you can forgive me, maybe we can start fresh and I can do better, like our new friends suggested. Whatcha think?”

Nodding, she reached for his hand, but he bypassed her gesture to hug her.

“I love ya, Rach. I know I never tell you, but I do.”

“What about Mama?”

RK winced. “Yeah, one thing at a time, alright?”

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