Page 71 of Loving Amari

A tear escapes, pink with my magic.

Aya smiles.

“I can cry in limbo.”

A key suddenly appears in her palm. The top of it has a spider and a web intricately carved into the metal. The key itself looks magical, glowing faintly with pink and white light that pulses like a heartbeat.

“What is this?” I stare at it, afraid to hope.

“Your key to home.”

I look up at Aya in shock. “What?”

“You wanted to go home. Go. It seems you understand where you belong is limbo, but you are not bound here. If you know you can maintain balance of limbo and your family in the living, who are we to stop you from having both?”

I choke up and my hands start to shake. “I don’t understand.”

“You won’t have that traditional love. You will be gone from him sometimes for days to maintain your throne, but you still get the love you crave. Go home, Carla.”

I reach for the key with a shaky hand, my fingers trembling as they hover over it.

I look up at Aya. “I thought it would be years, at least, before I was able to hold him again.”

Aya shrugs. “Well, you passed Mother Fate’s test. She sent you a vision of Alexis’s future, and instead of getting the vengeance yourself, you’ve decided to wait out her fate. You aren’t using your powers for personal gain.”

“That’s not entirely true. I did bargain for her soul.”

“Spoken like a true witch.” Aya grins. “That’s different. You’re bound out of the living realm, but you can still use your magic to harm others. You don’t.”

I start to take the key, but I pause. “I know this doesn’t come without consequence. What is it?”

Aya laughs. “It’s time to build an official Blackwood coven. Three sisters and one son.”

“Where the hell am I going to get a son from? I don’t have...” I furrow my brow. “Aaron?”

Aya shrugs. “There are three male Blackwoods. You’ll know when the time is right.”

I grab the key. “I have to form a coven with Angie and Anora. That sounds fantastic.” Sarcasm drips from every word.

“And this coven will rule over Wintermoon, creating a safe haven that makes the land untouchable.”

“Great. Wonderful. Anything else?”

“I’ll be going. I don’t miss limbo at all.” Aya turns to leave, then pauses. “Tell Hazel I said hi and that I’m okay.”

I nod to her.

Aya turns away, disappearing into the void like she was never there.

I look down at the key and finally feel free.

I look up at the endless darkness above. “Thank you, Mother Fate.”

The key disappears in my hands, absorbed into my very being. I can feel it now, part of me, the ability to come and go as I please.

I smile and open a portal to the forest of Medina Shadow. When I step through, I can actually feel the grass this time. Feel the cool air against my skin. It’s real. I’m home.

I close the portal to limbo behind me and start walking into the forest. The trees are familiar, welcoming. I can hear the sounds of night creatures, the rustle of wind through branches. Everything is so alive.