Page 33 of Boundless Magic

“Jesus, my heart just melted in my chest,” Autumn quipped. “Okay, enough of the sap. My son needs to get home for his afternoon nap, or we’re all going to be in trouble.” Facing Alastair, she said, “Which reminds me, Uncle, we need to contact Isis to reattach that anklet.”

“Prepare yourselves,” HN Knox said.

The lights went out, and the pitch black was as disturbing the second time as it had been the first.

When their world righted itself, they were in the clearing, alone, and the rip in the fabric of space was sealing itself. Autumn saw the Cerberus puppies bounding toward their mother in the tiny slit of the opening. A second later, the space where she was staring looked like an open field framed by forest.

“I’m not going to believe this wasn’t a dream,” she muttered to herself. Turning to the others, she said, “Okay, head count.”

EPILOGUE

“Chloe’s missing!”

Autumn froze in her tracks to stare at Keaton.

Ten years had passed since their children had accidentally opened a portal to another world, and still, whenever she came home and found her husband in a tizzy because he couldn’t find one of them or the other, she had a heart-stopping moment. But reason usually reasserted itself, and she would remember nothing could be as bad as that day so long ago. Chloe was now a young woman, and the likelihood was that she’d gone off with friends and hadn’t opened an ancient book to conjure a three-headed hellhound.

Autumn’s hands only shook a little when she set her shopping bags on the counter. “Missing how?”

“She should’ve been home a half hour ago. It’sherbirthday party.” Keaton absently kissed her cheek, then went to the kitchen slider to stare out the back door as if seeking Chloe.

Joining him, Autumn looked at the newly gathered crowd on the pool deck.

“They’re early,” she muttered.

Keaton snorted. “No. You’re just late.”

After giving him a grimace and a side-eyed glare because she couldn’t argue when he was one-hundred-percent correct, she let her gaze roam over their guests.

Spring was laughing with her husband, Knox, who held their five-year-old daughter, Megan, on his lap. The girl was petite, with large jade-green eyes, a riot of chestnut curls, and a sweet smile that was mainly reserved for her dad. It had to be hard for a shy child in a clan of loudmouths, but the girl never complained. Other than her unfortunate klutzy tendencies, she reminded Autumn of Spring at that same age. The intelligence in her watchful gaze couldn’t be mistaken for anything but a big brain absorbing everything.

Across from the trio, Summer held Spring’s son, Phillip, who at two was already the pint-sized image of his gorgeous father. With dancing blue eyes and a winning grin, the toddler was already learning to use his charm for evil. He was a particular favorite of the Goddess Serqet, who visited with regular frequency since she’d buried her centuries-old grudge against the couple. In her eyes, the little gremlin could do no wrong. In anybody’s eyes, really. Only Knox was able to keep him in check. But Phillip did have a healthy respect for Alastair when he raised a brow in warning.

Winnie’s triplets were in the pool, and being the terrorists they were, they splashed Olivia and Jolyon, who had their heads bent and were clearly conspiring against the trio of fourteen-year-old boys. Autumn knew this because it was always an all-out water war when the five of them were together in the pool. Yes, it was three against two, but Jolly and Ollie were a formidable duo when they teamed up, and theyalwaysteamed up.

Glancing away, Autumn scanned the deck, taking in the groupings of family and friends. She laughed when she spotted Alastair in a loose flannel button-up over top of his pale-blue tee-shirt. It was a cool spring afternoon, but weather was nothing to witches able to control their body temperatures. Ever since their trip through the portal, he’d dress down for family functions like this.

Moving on, she did a head count. Everyone was there, and everything was set up for the birthday girl, who appeared MIA.

“Have you tried scrying for her? Or have you messaged Damian to see if she’s there?” she asked Keaton.

“You know I only seek the Aether as a last resort. I’d never admit this to anyone else, but that guy scares the shit out of me.”

Autumn held out her hand, earning a look of confusion from Keaton.

Grinning, she wiggled her fingers. “Your man card. Hand it over.”

“Rude.”

“Only a little,” she agreed as she stepped into his arms and curled hers around his neck. “The house is empty?—”

“Except for our other monster, who is standing right behind you.”

Dipping his head, Keaton kissed her. It wasn’t as long or as amorous as Autumn preferred, but it was enough to tide her over until they could find alone time. She released him to welcome their youngest son, William.

Dutifully, he lifted his face so she could give him butterfly kisses with her nose.

“How’s the sweetest little warlock on the planet? Hmm?”

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