in a busy, thriving community, that there are miles and miles of nobody.”
“And Riverbend?”
“Small and segregated, as you said. I tell you, when you see those miles and miles of nobody, it shows how ridiculous it is to live barely a stone’s throw from other people and behave as if they’re not there.”
“Bigotry comes in all levels. It’s never right or smart or productive. You talked to Lucy’s grandmother?”
“The formidable Mrs. Aldi. A very tough nut to crack.”
“Did you?”
“I’d say some cracks opened. She does love Lucy—or Lucia, as she calls her. DUs attacked when Lucy was just a baby, so Mrs. Aldi’s prejudice has its roots there. And Lucy’s mother came into power. A witch.”
As if she just needed to touch, Lana reached out, ran her hand along Fallon’s arm. “Like too many in the beginning, the change drove her mad. She tried to burn down the house, with the baby in it.”
“Oh my God.”
“Mrs. Aldi saved Lucy, and to save her, killed her own child.”
“To have to make a choice like that … It’s no wonder she’s bitter.”
“It’s a terrible burden, Fallon, a terrible price to pay. I had more sympathy for her when she broke enough to tell me. In any case, after we talked, and after she read Lucy’s letter, she gave me one for Lucy in return. She isn’t giving her blessing, but she’s giving her acceptance. That’s the gateway.”
She’s so beautiful, Fallon thought. She’d seen it all her life, knew it went beyond the physical, but in that moment, over soup in the kitchen, it simply struck her hard.
She leaned her head toward Lana’s shoulder.
“She saw something in you. She had to see it.”
“I don’t know about that, but she heard me. Finally.”
“And on the other side of the river?”
“Not as stubborn,” Lana told her. “The sentiment there seemed to run from apathy to resentment for their neighbors. I’ll say you were right to send your family. It gave us weight and status we wouldn’t have had otherwise. And Ethan, along with an injured puppy, helped turn the tide on the NM side.”
“How is that?”
“This poor little pup had been mauled by a larger animal. They were going to put him down, and the little girl who loved him begged and begged her father not to kill him. He was suffering, and they didn’t have the means to help the poor little guy. But Ethan intervened, was able to keep the puppy calm, begin to heal him until I got there. The little girl hadn’t named him yet—the little guy was barely weaned. He’s Ethan now,” she said with a laugh.
“A sweet little mutt named for our boy—who showed them in a very real and simple way that magick can be kind and compassionate.
“The upshot is, we have forty-eight willing to fight. And your dad thinks others will come along.”
“That’s really good news.”
“Oh, I have better.” Lana rose to finish off the chocolate. “We found the other communities you earmarked. Add seventy-three more. And best of all?” She tipped her finger in a bowl of cream to whip it. “We found—or they found us—a band of nomads who’d traveled east from Idaho, down through Colorado, into Kansas, picking up more along the way. This way, Fallon. They were coming east to find you, to fight with you. Nearly seven hundred.”
“Seven hundred?” Fallon’s spoon clattered against her bowl. “That’s more than I ever hoped for.”
“There’s more. Mick sent word he’s added three hundred, bands migrating up from the south—again on their way to find you. Every base is adding more. The light, my baby, it spread, even through those miles and miles of nobody. They’re coming to fight for you.”
She felt the lift, the thrill of light spreading. “We’ll take New York. We’ll take it back from the dark. We’ll take it for the light, and for you, Mom. For you and Max.”
She looked over as Duncan came to the door, pulled it open. “Welcome home. Hi, Lana.”
“Hi yourself. Come in and shut the door. We’re about to have some hot chocolate.”
He stomped snow off his boots. “I could go for some, thanks.”
As she got the mugs, Lana studied the way they looked at each other. Love, she thought with an inward sigh, that came with longing and a healthy dose of lust.
“And for the goddess’s sake, kiss the girl.”
“Good idea.” He strode across the kitchen, lifted Fallon off the stool, circled her once. And kissed the girl.