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  “Amanda just killed the leader of the dark coven to get Lupin back,” Mom said. “What the heck?”

  “She’s a hero!” Lupin cried out. “Baby, come untie me. We’ve got celebrating to do.”

  “What do I do here?” I asked whoever would listen. “She’s supposed to be our prisoner.”

  Glinda and my mom shrugged.

  “I guess we can let her go. I mean, she killed the right witch.”

  “Ugh.”

  “Lupin?” Ginger stood up from her spot on the floor. “You’re in love with Amanda?” she asked. Her eyes glistened with tears.

  “Sorry. It was fun while it lasted,” he said and gave her a wink.

  Ginger looked absolutely devastated. Her shoulders started to shake, and she released a mournful sob that broke my heart.

  I used a touch of magic to let Joe down and was about to embrace Ginger when a voice that was as smooth as silk and sounded like it could melt butter said, “Hey, sweet Ginger. Don’t you cry one more tear for that loser. A woman like you deserves so much more.”

  We all turned around, and where Grim had been standing was a handsome, older man with silver hair and a broad smile.

  “Grim?” I asked.

  “The one and only,” he said and took another step toward Ginger.

  “You’re a shifter too?” I asked.

  “Sure. I’m a lot of things,” he said and took Ginger’s hands. “A shifter smitten by the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. You are everything I thought you’d be and more. If it’s okay with Zoe, I’d like to show you how a real man can treat a lady like you.”

  “My new familiar wants to date my old familiar,” I said and threw my hands up. “Sure, why not.”

  “Really?” Ginger squealed with delight.

  “I had no idea that my new Elder familiar was a silver fox, but hey, if he’s into you, I say go for it.”

  “Raccoon,” Grim corrected with a smile.

  All I could do was laugh. Nothing about that day had turned out the way I planned.

  I was about ready to say we should leave when Chastity appeared. She was surrounded by bright white light.

  “Now that you’re here to carry on our heritage, I can go,” she said. “I’m going to take the rest of those left behind with me, the ones that will go, anyway.”

  The light flashed brighter than anything I’d ever seen, but it did not hurt my eyes. It dissipated, and she was gone. The asylum felt a little emptier.

  We all filed outside and the sun shone as birds sang. The farm fields were black and fertile, and all of the buildings looked like they’d reversed in age by decades. With the dark coven gone, Blackwell Rock was a magical place.

  Joe took my hand as we left through the ornate iron gates, but it wasn’t forever.

  Epilogue

  Five Years Later

  As I walked through the gates of what was once Blackwell Rock Asylum, I thought of the sadness that had once permeated the grounds. Thanks to my family and friends, it had become something so much more.

  The Magnolia Institute for the Paranormal Arts had been Joe’s and my baby since right after the wedding. Witches of all ages from all over came to study with us, and the little town of Destiny Cove had grown into a small city in response.

  Now, our family was going to grow into something more. The doctor had confirmed what I’d suspected for weeks. My hand covered my belly and I smiled.

  I couldn’t wait to tell Joe he was to be a father and tell Mom she was going to be a grandmother. Ginger would probably be more excited than anyone, though I imagined that she and Grim would be having their own little ones soon too.

  A chuckle escaped my lips as I tried to imagine whether their children would be little guinea pig shifters or racoon shifters.

  “What’s so funny?” Joe asked as I walked into our cabin.

  “Oh, nothing. I just thought of something silly,” I said. “But you’d better sit down, my love. I’ve got some big news.”

  “Oh, yeah?” he asked and pulled me into his embrace. “Is it happy news?”

  “It’s the best, Joe. You and my mother are going to be so pleased.”

  “Well, spill it,” he said with a smile.

  “I’m pregnant, Joe. You’re going to be a dad. I’m going to be a mom.”

  He was silent for a moment. I felt a stab of apprehension. “Are you happy?” I asked. “I thought you wanted this. I thought you’d be happy.”

  “Oh, Zoe. Of course I’m happy. I’m so happy. I just had to catch my breath,” he said and pulled me in even tighter. “I love you. It’s perfect. Everything is perfect.”

  “I love you too.”

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  © Sara Bourgeois 2019

  This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons alive or dead is a coincidence.