Page 42 of Wicked Love
“Please.”
Then I shut up. I wanted to go on, to keep telling her why giving me another shot was the best idea, but I didn’t say a word.
This was Mel’s decision. It couldn’t be anything else.
Her lips twisted, and she looked away. “Fine. Come in,” Mel said, and disappeared from the doorway.
A wide grin spread across my face as I raced up the small porch to the door. I had a chance.
That was all I needed.
Epilogue
Melasina
Six Months Later
Ismiled, listening to my mom and Jasper talk. We’d had dinner out in the courtyard. It was dark, but the light strings overhead gave us enough light. There were also candles flickering on the table. My mom laughed at something Jasper said.
“Not bad,” I murmured toward where Zelda’s reliquary sat on its stand.
I’d gotten her a stand that fit the box, and we moved the stand around the house. She liked to be where we were, to be in the middle of what was going on. I counted her as a friend, one that meant a great deal. Along with my mom and Jasper.
I wished my dad could be here, but my parents were not able to mend their fences as Jasper and I had. I knew Mom was having lunch with him occasionally but other than that, I wasn’t aware of their having much of a relationship. It made me sad, but I understood. There were some bridges that took longer to cross.
“Maybe he’s not a magic stealer,” Zelda said grudgingly.
While I’d forgiven Jasper, and given him a chance, Zelda held onto grudges longer than I did. She didn’t trust him, even after my magic came back.
It had taken a few days after the meeting at Magnolia House for my ability to do any sort of magic to return. I’d been in bed and my alarm went off. I reached out, and I was too far away to hit the snooze button.
“Snooze,” I said.
The alarm went off.
I sat up.
The next hour was spent casting magic all over the house. After an hour and at least fifty spells, I was pretty sure my magic was back.
Thank Goddess.
“I don’t think that’s what he stole,” I said to Zelda.
I heard the wheezing sound that was her laugh.
Jasper turned to look at me. “What’s so funny?”
“Girl talk, boy. Girl talk,” Zelda said.
That made Mom and me laugh.
Jasper’s face turned serious. “I’m glad we’re all here,” he said. “I wanted to talk with you, Mel.”
“Why don’t we go inside, Z?” Mom said, getting up and reaching for the reliquary stand.
Jasper held out a hand. “No, I’d really like you to stay.”
Mom sat back into her seat slowly.
