Page 39 of Bewitched By the Djinn (The Bewitching Hour #8)
“I know. But I want to.” I exhale, letting the tension go with it. “This place, it held me together when I was young, then I held it together when my parents were gone. But now I can let go, breathe deeper somewhere else.”
He squeezes my fingers. “Wherever you breathe, I’ll be there.”
“God, you’re cheesy.”
“For you? Tragically.”
We both laugh, and I lean my head on his shoulder. For a few seconds, the house wraps around us in peaceful silence, the kind that comes after a storm.
A few minutes later, I’ve shoved all I can into a couple bags, Bennet slings one of the heavier ones over his shoulder like it’s nothing, and I loop my arms through the handles of the last one. My room is both too full and too empty.
I’ve packed most of the things I want to bring. I can always come back later. I will come back later. This isn’t goodbye, it’s only see you later, and yet moving to another dimension sure does have a ring of finality to it.
We head downstairs, and right as we set our bags by the door, someone knocks.
I glance over at Bennet. Who could that be?
He opens the door, and Richard waltzes in. “Anyone order a ridiculously handsome witch with impeccable timing?” He’s wearing a velvet blazer that sparkles like it’s been dipped in sequins.
“You total dick .” The fury hits so fast I’m moving before the last word exits my mouth.
Bennet’s arm is across my middle, holding me back.
“You knew. You got them into Aetheria—my parents—and you didn’t think maybe, I don’t know, leaving a backup plan might be smart?
Or maybe telling their children so we wouldn’t spend years thinking they were dead?
Wondering if they abandoned us? Watching Jackie waste away with no answers?
” My voice climbs. “We didn’t even get a note! ”
Richard blinks, expression schooled into something halfway between regret and theatrical pity. “I would like to remind you how useful my hex bags were, if you’re considering who to include in your wedding party.”
Is he for real right now? “Yeah, I know. The stupid hex bags were good. They warded off the dark magic. Great job. But that doesn’t erase the fact that you still acted like a complete sociopath.”
He waves a hand, unbothered. “Well, sure. And they also helped bring the right person in.”
I blink. “Wait. What?”
He inspects his nails. “I may have added a little something. Nothing too invasive! Just a wee enchantment to amplify connections, open paths, light little sparks if the timing was right.”
My mouth pops open. “You meddled.”
“Darling, I’m a witch. Meddling is in the job description.
Besides, it was nothing that dramatic. I was a mere facilitator.
You’re the one who fell in love. I just made sure the path was lit.
” Richard grins. “How else would you have found your soulmate who lived in another realm? How else was he going to show up at your door to teach Jackie how to access powers no one has seen this side of the veil in centuries? How else were you going to be there to let him in? Your parents had to leave, he had to come here, and you had to go there. It’s all very circular, you see.
” He tips his head, enigmatic. “Even fate needs a nudge sometimes.”
My mind is exploding. Is he suggesting all of this had to happen for me and Bennet to meet? My parents had to go to Aetheria and join their band of misfits to be in the right place at the right time? But why? “Why do you even care so much?”
He offers a sly smile. “Let’s just say your line and mine have crossed paths before. Once or twice. Or even many times.” His eyes gleam, a flicker of something ancient beneath the glamour. “You could call it ancestral interest.”
My brain short-circuits for a second. “You’re what, like my great-great-grand-djinn?”
He winks. “Oh, please, I’m far too young-looking for that.”
The light bulb goes off in Bennet’s head—which means it’s lighting up in mine too. “That’s why you said you’re welcome, before,” he says. “When we first met.”
And that’s also why he kept stealing my hairbrush when he stayed with us. He was using my hair in the hex bags for his... love spell?
“If you ever need a place to stay in Aetheria, our door is always open,” Bennet adds. “And I would be honored to have you in my wedding party.”
Richard tsks. “You kids. You’re going to make me feel things.” He reaches into his coat pocket. “Speaking of sentimentality.” He pulls out a delicate gold ring, dangling from a familiar chain.
Bennet freezes. His gaze drops to the ring, and for a moment, he doesn’t move.
“I believe this belongs to you. Even the swamp witches know when it’s time to return what matters.”
Bennet takes it, fingers curling around the chain like it might disappear. “Thank you.”
Richard waves a hand in front of his face. “Don’t make me cry. It’ll ruin my eyeliner.” His sigh is cinema-worthy. “Well. I’m off, children.” He sashays to the front door.
As soon as Richard disappears, Bennet grabs my hand and pulls me into him.
His mouth captures mine in a kiss that’s become familiar, but never ordinary. It burns through me like wildfire, deeper than our first kiss, richer than all the ones that followed. Like he’s trying to memorize the shape of this moment, and I am too.
When we finally break apart, breathless and buzzing, he catches my left hand and lifts it between us, inspecting it like it’s an interesting puzzle.
“What are you doing?”
“Measuring your ring finger, to see if I’ll need to have my mother’s ring resized.”
My breath catches. My chest aches with joy, and grief. I found my parents, but his are still gone.
He brushes a kiss over my ring finger. “She left it for me. With the hope that I’d find something real. A love as true as her and my father’s. I would say I succeeded.”
I press my forehead to his. “You’re going to make me cry before we even wish everyone farewell.”
“Then let’s say goodbye fast,” he whispers against my lips.
“Mom?” I call out. “Everyone—we’re leaving.”
They emerge from the kitchen. Jackie’s wearing one of my old sweatshirts. Kevin trails her, hands shoved in his pockets. Mimi’s behind them, eyes already glassy. Mom has her arm looped through Dad’s.
“So,” I blink back the emotions threatening to leak out of my eyes, “this is it.”
Jackie sighs. “It’s so cray you’re about to step into a magical portal and leave reality behind for like, ever.”
Bennet raises an eyebrow. “We’re coming back. And you can come visit us too.”
“I know. But who’s going to grill me with fifty questions about my daily caloric intake and chores and homework and sleep patterns?”
I smile and pull Jackie into a hug, then Kevin joins, awkward and tangled. “You’ve got each other. And Mom and Dad. You don’t need me hovering anymore.”
Jackie’s voice is muffled in my shoulder. “Doesn’t mean I don’t want you hovering.”
I give them both a squeeze before I pull away and turn to Mimi.
She opens her arms. “Look at you. Wandering off with a djinn prince. I always knew you’d be the exciting one despite the past few years ignoring my advice.”
I laugh.
Mom is next, cupping my face like she used to when I was little. “I’m so proud of how you held everything together.”
My throat tightens. “I didn’t always do a great job.”
“You did what no one else could,” she says simply. “Now go. Build something for yourself.”
Dad pulls me into a crushing hug. “I’ll fix the house. So when you visit, there will be hot water and no flickering lights.”
I blink hard. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Wait!” Kevin runs into the kitchen, then returns with a paper grocery bag, passing it to Bennet.
Bennet peers inside the top. “What is this?”
Jackie puts a hand on her hip. “Just some stuff we put together that you will definitely need in Aetheria. Hot sauce, peanut butter cups, sour gummies, bleach, penicillin, oh, and toilet paper.”
Bennet chuckles. “This is the weirdest care package I’ve ever received.”
I take his hand. “Welcome to the family.”
There’s laughter, a second round of hugs from everyone for Bennet and myself, and a few more quiet promises.
I glance at each of them one more time, heart full, chest tight, soul steady. “See you soon.”
And then Bennet and I head through the door side by side, leaving one home behind to return to another.