Page 24 of Boundless Magic

She nodded, but the tragic eyes she turned on him told a different story.

“Want to talk about it as we go find your mom and Jolly?”

“Mom’s here?”

“She is.” He grinned and tweaked a lock of her lank hair. “You didn’t think she’d leave you to your own devices, do you?”

“I thought she’d be mad about, er, Jolly.”

“What do you mean?”

Her gaze dropped to the dirt, and she gave a one-shouldered shrug so similar to Autumn’s, he had to chuckle. She’d definitely picked up on his wife’s mannerisms since Autumn came to live with them. But he wasn’t surprised. She’d been Chloe’s hero from the moment she sacrificed herself in the Otherworld so Chloe and Derrick could return home unscathed.

“Chloe?”

“I didn’t think it would be bad to let him conjure a dog. He was scared, and I thought it might protect us when you and Mom weren’t around.”

Keaton had to check his immediate irritation at her accusatory tone. It felt unfounded. Wasn’t she the one who always begged for more responsibility, insisting she was capable of caring for Jolly? “But I was only in the barn, midge.”

“People can break in. Bad people who hate witches,” she argued.

Understanding dawned.

A few years back, she’d believed she was safe in the park until she was approached by one of the Thornes’ greatest enemies. The man had tried to abduct her that day, and if it weren’t for Chloe’s friend Derrick and fast action on the Thornes’ part, the guy would’ve succeeded. Although nothing like that had happened in the intervening years, she still worried it might.

“So, how about, when we get home, we adopt a dog?” he suggested with an indulgent smile.

Her eyes flew wide in her incredulity. “You mean it?”

“As long as it’s okay with your mom, I don’t see why not.”

“Oh, Daddy!” She flung herself at him, wrapping her skinny arms around his neck, and although she was choking the shit out of him with her gratitude, he didn’t mind. “Thank you! Thank you!”

Just as dark spots danced behind his lids, he knew it was time to end their embrace. He’d be no use to anyone if he passed out from lack of air. Detangling himself, he swept her up and tossed her onto his back.

“Hang on, midge. We need to find the others.”

He turned in time to see Gothica watching them with a bemused expression.

“You’re not going to put us in a bubble again, are you?” he asked.

Her brows slammed together until she realized he was teasing. Wonder lit her face, and her gaze darted between him and Chloe.

“You’re so different from the one here,” she said softly, almost sweetly.

“Yeah, well, I’d like to have words with that dickhead before I leave.” Keaton turned his head slightly to address his daughter. “Never repeat what I said. You shouldn’t call people names.”

“Even if theyarea dickhead?” Gothica quipped, showing Keaton she had a sense of humor to match Spring’s.

“She’s allowed to think it, but not say it. Not until she’s an adult, anyway.”

Chloe giggled in his ear, but sobered as Gothica approached.

“I’d like to apologize, Chloe,” the woman said. “I believed you were my niece playing an inappropriate prank. If I’d have known you entered the portal and were lost, I would never have turned you away.”

“Really?” Chloe asked, wariness in her voice.

“Really.” Holding out a hand, Gothica smiled. “Will you forgive me?”

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