“But the hewcrows –” I started.
“We’ll fight them back,” he stated firmly.
“And if she sends something else?” I asked.
“We’ll beat it,” he declared.
I kept staring but said no more.
“Cora, we will win.”
“They almost beat us with the first wave,” I reminded him.
“We will win,” he repeated.
“You can’t know that,” I told him.
“I do,” he replied.
“How?” I asked.
His hands lifted to frame my face and his head dipped so he was all I could see. “Because, after these last weeks, I know I will allow nothing to keep you from me. I will not go down fighting. I will stay standing until I taste victory.”
I pressed into his strong body, my hand lifting to curl around his neck and I whispered, “Tor.”
“Now, I must know, are you certain you choose my world?”
“You would stay here with me?” I asked.
Without hesitation, he replied, “Absolutely.”
I smiled into his face, feeling the weird sensation of my heart singing just as it broke.
“Then that’s good enough for me,” I whispered, his hands grew tight, his face asked his question and I turned my head to Clarabelle who was standing outside the trailer next to Noc. Tor’s hands dropped but his arms circled me again right before I called, “Send us back, please.”
She nodded. Noc looked at his feet. Tor’s arms grew tighter.
Then he let me go and moved us closer to Salem but I pulled slightly away, looked at his beautiful face and whispered, “One second.”
Then I ran to Noc, threw myself in his arms and gave him a big hug. He immediately hugged me back.
“Cora,” he whispered in my ear.
“Thanks, Noc,” I whispered over his shoulder.
“Can’t say it was fun, babe, but I can say it was an experience.”
I smiled into the darkness.
Then I said softly, “Sorry about your truck.”
“Shit happens,” he replied and I held on tighter.
I hesitated only a moment before I whispered, “I was right, you are perfect.”
I felt his face move to my neck.
“Be happy, baby,” he said on a squeeze of his arms and I nodded.
Then the tears filled my eyes.
“You’ll tell them?” I asked on a broken breath.
Another squeeze then, “Absolutely,” then another squeeze and a whispered, “Go to your man, Cora babe.”
I nodded my head, held on tight for another second and then let him go. Not looking back, I ran to Tor. The instant I got within arm’s reach, he caught me up and planted me on Salem, swinging up behind me before my bottom even settled.
Tor’s arm curled around me, he pulled my back tight to his front and I lifted my fingers to my cheeks to brush away the wetness.
“Do your magic, witch,” Tor demanded, I looked at Noc and Clarabelle and fresh tears came to my eyes.
Clarabelle lifted both hands to the sky.
I held my breath.
Then I shouted, “Noc! When Phoebe gets here, look her over. She’s my best friend, she makes great dirty martinis, she’s a little crazy and she really likes shoes but, trust me, no joke, she’s loyal, she’s funny and she’s awesome!”
Tor’s arm tightened around me as I watched Noc grin at me and shake his head.
“Seriously!” I yelled.
The air turned pink.
“Shut up and go home, babe,” Noc shouted back.
“You be happy too, Noc,” I yelled in return.
His face split into a smile and I heard his deep chuckle.
Clarabelle’s hands started to glow and I looked at her.
“Thanks, Clarabelle!” I yelled.
“My love, be quiet and let the witch concentrate,” Tor growled in my ear.
“We have to say thanks, Tor, she’s –”
His arm squeezed the air out of me.
“Quiet,” he grunted and his arm released.
“Bossy,” I snapped when I had air in my lungs.
The pink mist started at Salem’s hooves and moved up.
I pressed back further into Tor’s strong body and tried to control my escalating breathing.
“We’ll be fine,” he whispered in my ear.
The headlights bumping down Clarabelle’s muddy lane lit us from our other side. I turned my head and saw my Dad’s Volvo followed by Phoebe’s Mazda.
Jeez, Dad drove the Volvo. It was a wonder they made it out of the city.
That thought made my throat burn and my nostrils sting. The pink mist had covered most of Salem and was at our waists when I lifted my hand to my mouth, touched it to my lips, curled back my fingers and blew my kiss.
Salem had disappeared and the pink mist was to our chests when the cars stopped, three doors opened and three beloved bodies urgently folded out.
“I love you!” I yelled, raising my hand high to wave over the advancing mist. “Always!” I yelled before my throat closed and the mist masked them from view.
“Always!” I heard Phoebe yell.
“Always, my funny girl!” Mom shouted.
“Always, sweetheart!” Dad bellowed.
The sob tore out of my throat and I closed my eyes. Tor buried his face in my neck as his arms squeezed tight and Salem threw back his head and snorted.
One tear slid down my cheek and I opened my eyes.
The soft light from colorful lanterns all around and coming up from the city illuminated Tor’s courtyard where Salem was standing. I saw the ships bobbing at sea, their lanterns slanting long reflections across the glassy water. I heard the gentle water of Tor’s big, beautiful, circular fountain tinkling. Above us, billions of stars blinked brightly, a glittering curtain of night sky.
Tor’s mouth moved to my ear.
“We’re home, my love.”
“Home,” I whispered.
Salem stamped a hoof.
I sucked in breath.
Then I twisted in my man’s arms, threw mine around his wide shoulders and held on tight as I stuffed my face in his neck and burst into tears.
One of Tor’s arms held me close while his other hand slid up my back to play with the ends of my hair and he did this for a long time as I cried.
