to help him walk. Timothy’s new IX Mark shined bright on his arm.
And then I spotted a head of fiery red hair and my heart did this strange flip in my chest. She was behind everyone else, clinging to Myrtle beside her. The gold lines spreading over her shoulder and arm were beautiful, and her face was bright with eyes that twinkled, but I saw the dark blue glyph on her chest that meant sadness.
I wished I could make her sadness disappear, but I had not the answer for her. Myrtle should have died two centuries ago but this island kept her thriving. This reunion should have been impossible, yet there they were, walking in perfect unison and holding on to each other like they were the oxygen to breathe.
Just then Saraphina looked up and spotted me. Her whole face lit up. “Riah.”
I sighed. “Saraphina.”
And then she zoomed through the air, flying straight for me. I stepped forward and caught her, then dragged her to my chest, or the part of it that wasn’t being hogged by Olli. She smelled like ocean salt and flowers. The tension in my bones settled.
She cupped my face and pouted, her wings fluttering behind her “I’m sorry I left. You were resting and—”
“I know.”
“All right, everyone,” Myrtle said softly. “Get these two home to Katherine. No detours.”
Saraphina kissed my lips quickly, then jumped down and kissed Olli’s forehead before she spun and charged for her mother, tackling her in a big hug.
I glanced away to give them privacy. This was not a forever goodbye, but their reunion was short lived and I knew that hurt. Instead my focus turned to Savannah, who didn’t seem to mind being mostly held up by Kessler. “How are you?”
She gave me a wild grin. “I’m alive, man, and that’s literally all that matters.”
“Ditto, kid. Ditto.” Kenneth’s voice sounded like he swallowed gravel, but he had not spoken in months so I was not too surprised. “And for an old guy like me, that’s something.”
I scoffed. “Baby.”
His pale blue eyes snapped to me and he grinned. “Until you get wrinkles, gray hair, and arthritis, I’m still older.”
Timothy chuckled and adjusted his hold on Kenneth. “I bet crazy pants over there has something to fix all of that.”
Tegan pressed her hand to her chest. “Thank you. That’s so sweet to say.”
“Babe?” Tennessee rolled his eyes. “Please?”
She winked and snapped her fingers. Bright light flashed as that white box of hers materialized in front of us. The Coven did not hesitate, they went right for it. Cooper playfully smacked my shoulder and then hurried over to Tennessee.
I walked to it, then stopped and turned. Myrtle had her daughter’s face in between her hands as she whispered something. Both of them had tears in their eyes.
“I wish they didn’t have to be separated so soon,” Tegan whispered beside me.
I glanced to her and arched one eyebrow. “So fix it.”
She frowned. “Fix it? How?”
“I don’t have a clue, but if anyone can figure it out it’s you.”
She narrowed her pale eyes on me. “Challenge accepted, Rapunzel.”
“Rapunzel?” I frowned.
“Babe.”
I looked toward the sound of Tennessee’s voice and found him, Timothy, and Kenneth waiting for us. Tennessee smirked and shook his head. Timothy snorted. Kenneth chuckled.
“Yeah.” She grinned and tugged on my hair. “Flower gleam and glow, bro.”
Tennessee cursed. “Babe, I doubt he’s seen the movie Tangled.”
“I have not.”
Tegan threw her hands in the air. “Okay, I’m installing a TV in your room and that’s your homework.”
“Homework?” We all jumped at the sound of Saraphina’s voice. Her face was flushed and her eyes red and puffy. She pushed her hair out of her face. “What’s our homework?”
“Tegan has taken to calling me Rapunzel.” I reached out and pulled her into my body. “Though I have not yet seen the film.”
“That’s gonna change pronto because…” she gestured to my hair. “So let’s go home?”
Saraphina turned to her mother and held her hand out. “Mother—”
“You know where to find me at any given moment, my dear,” she said softly. “And I have a phone now so we can talk whenever you want. For now, focus on your friends.”
Saraphina leaned over and gave her one last hug. “I will see you soon.”
“I look forward to it.” Myrtle squeezed her back and then pulled away. “Now go. Your friends need you.”
With that, she turned and walked away. I held Saraphina tighter.
Tennessee cleared his throat. “All right, you heard my grandmother.”
“I call her Gran,” Kenneth said in that rough voice