by Brey Willows
Maggie’s heart stuttered at the information. “Thank you, Vila. That’s incredibly useful.”
The demon left quietly, and Maggie leaned against Kody. That was information she wasn’t prepared for, but she’d have to do something with it.
Maggie turned to her little group. “Let’s get out of here. The air here feels like it could infect you.”
Brenda pointed. “Did you want to do something about the body?”
Maggie hadn’t even considered it.
Kody nodded thoughtfully. “We’ll have them burn it. That’s the best way to make sure a sorcerer is dead. I’ll ask someone to do it on our way out. I’m sure they’ll be glad to.”
They made their way down the stairs and out the main hall. Maggie tilted her head to the sun and let the breeze coming off the water blow away the heaviness of the moment.
Brenda leaned against her leg, also looking out at the water. “Where to now?”
Maggie looked down at her, and then at Kody. “Can we go to your place? Are you ready?”
Kody looked surprised, and then she smiled. “I’m ready, and that’s a perfect place to go.”
They were able to get a beautiful carriage instead of a plain horse and cart, and Maggie closed her eyes once she was inside. Kody said it would take about six hours to get to the Celtic sector and then to the shepherd’s hut. Maggie was starving, and she was exhausted, so at least she’d have time to sleep. She heard Kody give the horses their command and knew they’d be back where they belonged soon. The fact that she truly belonged somewhere made her eyes water. She was going home.
Chapter Twenty-eight
The four of them made quick work of removing the dust sheets from the furniture in Kody’s living room. Shamus and Brenda left to get food from the local pub, and Kody took Maggie upstairs. She opened doors to various bedrooms.
“This one was ours. Mine.” Kody sighed.
Although Maggie could feel Kody’s tension, there wasn’t much left in the room that made it personal. There weren’t any photos or paintings, no clothing left behind. Maggie led Kody out and closed the door behind them. “There are a lot of rooms in this house. Why don’t we choose another one, and when the day comes, you can do something with that room if you want to.”
Kody rested her forehead against Maggie’s, her arms wrapped tightly around Maggie’s waist. “I never knew I could feel this way again.”
Maggie shivered at the wonderful intensity of the words. “I never knew I could feel this way at all.”
Kody turned and led them down another hall and then opened a door at the end. There was a huge window overlooking a lake behind the house, and a big four-poster bed opposite it that allowed for a perfect view. Maggie loved it. “This is gorgeous. Why didn’t you choose this room?” She went to the bed and ran her hand over one of the posts.
“It’s at the back, so it takes longer to get to.” Kody shrugged. “That’s a dumb reason. I don’t know why. I used it as a guest room occasionally if someone came over. I’ve hardly been in it.”
Maggie smiled, feeling like her heart could burst. “Can we use it?”
Kody looked around the room like she was seeing it for the first time. Her laugh was open and full when she pulled Maggie into her arms and spun her around. “Anything you want. We can go to the market and pick up bedding and such when we have a chance. I’m afraid most everything left here will be covered in dust and spiders.”
They heard Brenda call from downstairs, and Maggie couldn’t get downstairs fast enough. The smell of food made her moan, and she gladly dug in as Brenda and Shamus set boxes of food on the counter.
“The pub was all abuzz with what’s going on. The news has already spread that it was Koschei behind it all, and that the spinner and shepherd cut his story for good.” Brenda piled what looked like mashed potatoes into a bowl. “And everyone offered to help. We were celebrities!” She grinned widely and the others laughed. She looked at Kody. “Old Mrs. Hubbard offered to have a couple of her kids come over to clean the house for you tomorrow. I said it was okay.”
Kody nodded. “Great. Thanks, Brenda.”
They ate for a little while in silence, which gave Maggie time to think. The biggest issue had been dealt with, but there were a million dominoes to clean up now that the primary one had fallen. She’d just gotten up to get some water when a knock sounded at the front door. She looked at Kody, who held up her hand for Maggie to wait. She returned with her sword in hand and stood to the side of the door before motioning Maggie to open it.
It was a stark reminder that they hadn’t reached their happily ever after yet. Maggie opened the door cautiously and found an old woman waiting. She was tall, her once-red hair streaked through with silver. When she saw Maggie, tears began to flow down her cheeks. “I knew you could do it,” she said.
Maggie looked at Kody, unsure who this was or what to say. Kody moved away from the wall and stopped, clearly startled.
Maggie looked from Kody to the old woman. “What is it?”
Kody reached out to the woman and drew her inside almost reverently. “Maggie McShay, meet Gwendoline Dubshlaine. Your grandmother.” Kody got down on one knee and kissed her hand.
She pulled her hand back and smacked Kody in the back of the head. “Get up, you gorgeous buffoon. You’ve never knelt to me and you never will.” She turned to Maggie and opened her arms. “You’re even more beautiful than your parents.”
Maggie returned her hug, but her mind was in chaos. She felt Kody’s hand on the base of her back, grounding her, and she took a deep breath.
“Come in, please.” Maggie motioned to the living room, where Brenda and Shamus both stood, and then knelt when they saw who was with her.
“Silly children. Get up.” Maggie’s grandmother hugged both of them in turn. “It’s me who should be kneeling to all of you. You looked after my granddaughter and brought her back here when the time came. I can’t ever tell you how grateful I am.”
Maggie couldn’t think of a single thing to say. Fortunately, she didn’t have to. Her grandmother seemed happy to talk, and her deep Irish accent was much like Kody’s when they’d been here awhile. Maggie liked it and hoped it would rub off on her too, someday.
“When I heard what you’d done I knew I could come out of hiding. I’ve been living in Orkney with the cliff dwellers, who took me in after your parents…” Her eyes grew moist again, and she shook her head. “I was just waiting for you to come back, and when I heard rumors things had started to change, that the spinner was back, I couldn’t wait to see you again. But I couldn’t risk coming to you before. I’ve been trying to keep spinning in small, unnoticeable ways wherever I could, and I couldn’t risk getting caught before you’d done what you needed to do.” She took Maggie’s hands in hers again and held her at arm’s length. “I tried to imagine what you’d look like, but I never pictured just how beautiful you are.”
Still, Maggie couldn’t think of anything to say. She stared at her grandmother, completely at a loss.
Her grandmother faltered when Maggie didn’t say anything, and she looked at Kody.
Kody wrapped her arm around Maggie’s waist. “I think she’s a little overwhelmed, Gwen. She’s a thinker, like her da.”
Gwen’s worried expression eased. “Oh, I understand. Your father had to puzzle things out before he really knew how he felt about them or what to do next.” She tilted her head. “You don’t mind me coming, do you?”
That was all it took. A question she had to answer. Maggie shook her head and let the tears fall. “No. God, no. I…I just can’t believe I’ve got family.”
“Hey!” Brenda said from where she was curled up on the couch.
Maggie smiled at her. “Blood family. I’m lucky to have chosen family too.”
Brenda nodded sharply, looking appeased.
They settled Gwen on the couch, offered her food, and the conversation was nonstop for hours. Kody told Gwen all about how Maggie had learned how to use her
powers so quickly, and that Mal had been wonderful. Gwen said she’d go to Mal’s place herself and thank her personally.
Maggie learned about her parents, what they were like, where they’d been born. Her grandmother was the only blood family left, but there were a few more spinners who had gone into hiding the way her grandmother had. That meant Maggie and Kody didn’t have to fix everything alone, and that lifted the burden on Maggie’s shoulders exponentially.
“I’ve sent word to the few spinners I know who are left. I suggest we meet them soon and begin planning the cleanup,” Gwen said, looking fondly at Maggie.
“I have something I have to take care of in the other world first.” Maggie hadn’t known she was going to say it, but when the words came out, she knew they were true.
Kody ran her hand through her hair. “The captain.”
Maggie nodded. “And the dream seller. They have to be stopped. I’ll deal with the others as and when, but those two have to be dealt with now.”
Gwen sat forward. “I understand, and I agree. If it’s okay with you, I’ll tell the others to meet in a fortnight at the Flying Horse.”
Maggie nodded, plans forming in her head. “Great. Is there a way to spread the word that the law against humans not mingling with fairy creatures has been revoked? That people can move around however they want to again?” She stopped, struck by a thought. “Do I have the power to say that?”
Gwen looked at her proudly. “Damned right you do. You’re the spinner who saved us all. That means you’re the one calling the shots, and everyone else will follow.”
Kody yawned. “I think it’s time for some sleep. Did you want to stay here, Gwen?”
She shook her head and pulled on her coat. “Nay, darlin’. I’m staying at the inn down the road. But I’ll come back in the morning, if that’s okay?”
Maggie hugged her tightly, afraid to let go now that she’d found her. “Please come back.”
Gwen held her face in her hands. “You won’t be able to get rid of this old goat now, lovey.”
She left, and Maggie leaned against the door. When Kody’s arms came around her she leaned into her. “What a night.” She turned in Kody’s arms. “Bed?”
Kody took her hand. “Perfect.”
Maggie saw Brenda and Shamus curled up at opposite ends of the couch, asleep. She wasn’t going to wake them and tell them to find a real bed when everything was pretty much still unusable. She followed Kody to their bedroom and sighed happily as she flopped onto the soft, bare mattress. Kody lay down next to her and pulled her into her arms.
“You okay?”
Maggie thought about it before answering. “I don’t know if okay is the right word. Stunned. Overwhelmed. Surprised. Ecstatic.” She paused. “And maybe a little sad at all the years we’ve lost.”
Kody kissed the top of her head. “Understandable. Sure you want to go back to New York to deal with this right away?”
Maggie nodded, listening to the sound of Kody’s steady heartbeat. “I know we have to. I can feel it.”
“Okay. Just making sure.”
Maggie closed her eyes and let the feel of Kody’s arms around her, and the way she was stroking her back, lull her to sleep. There was nowhere she felt safer than right where she was.
* * *
“I want to start with the dream seller. The little rat got away the first time, but I know what I’m doing now and he won’t get away again. We’ll find out how he gets in touch with the captain, and then we bring them both back here.” Maggie dragged the key along the counter as though drawing the plan she had in her head.
Shamus stopped lapping at his milk for a moment. “Remember not to kill anyone in New York. You’re a spinner here, and it’s expected. There you’d just be a murderer, and we wouldn’t be able to help you.”
Maggie grinned. “Thanks for the reminder. I’ll be sure to not behead anyone there with my magical paintbrush.”
Kody shrugged. “You’ll do what you have to do. Are you two staying here for this one? Or are you coming with?” she asked Brenda and Shamus.
“Hey, I don’t know about Shamus, but I’m in this ride to the end. Plus, I want to grab a few things from my apartment.” Brenda plucked at the hem of her shirt. “I hate not having more options with me. New York has way better shopping.”
Shamus shook out his fur and set his glass on the table. “I, too, will finish this with you.”
As usual, he was a cat of few words, but Maggie knew he was worried about her. She could tell. Kind of. “Let’s gather our things and get going.” She groaned. “Do we have to walk? I need to figure out a way to get a car over here. Or buy a flying carpet or broom or something.”
Gwen laughed. “Horses are the most convenient. I’ll see about getting some delivered while you’re gone. Is there anything else you’d like me to do, other than gather the spinners?”
Maggie couldn’t think of anything and looked at Kody, who shook her head.
“I don’t think so. Brenda has some of Mrs. Hubbard’s kids coming over to clean today or tomorrow. If you wouldn’t mind staying here and giving them some direction, that would be great.” Kody looked around the house as though analyzing. “Maybe we can bring back some house stuff from New York, too.”
Maggie stood and stretched, and liked the way Kody’s gaze traveled over her body. That was definitely another reason to finish the big stuff. She was ready to explore what was between them. She caught her grandmother looking at her, and when she winked, Maggie felt the heat rise to her face. Apparently, she didn’t have any kind of poker face. She’d have to work on that. “Okay. Well, let’s grab our stuff and go.”
Shamus went to the door. “I’ll go to the pub and borrow their carriage.”
Maggie went to the stairs and had a thought. She turned toward her grandmother, but couldn’t figure out what to call her. She hesitated and skipped it, using eye contact instead. “Would you mind coming up? I’d like to show you something.”
Gwen seemed to understand and followed Maggie upstairs without question. In their room, Maggie opened her bag and pulled out the marbles. “We took these from the dream seller. They hold the bits of power from the people who crossed over into New York. He took them as payment to give to Koschei. Now I’ve got them, and I’m not sure what to do with them.” She handed her grandmother the jar.
Gwen looked at it closely. “That’s dark old magic. Do you have the cutter it was done with?”
Maggie pulled that out of the pouch and handed it over.
“Good. I’ll take them both and dispose of them so they can’t be used ever again.”
“Can the pieces be given back to their owners? Like, stitched back in, or something?” Maggie hated the idea of destroying pieces of people, even if they’d given them away in the first place.
“Sadly, no. Once you carve off and give away a piece of yourself, you can never get it back. But you learn how to live without it.” She put her hand over Maggie’s heart. “It’s a lot like love.”
Maggie put her hand over her grandmother’s. “I don’t know what to call you.”
“In our culture it’s often gran, or granny. Though I hate granny. It sounds old. Nan is common too.” She tilted her head and smiled. “Or you can just call me Gwen. Whatever works, Maggie. Just so you know I’m here, and I love you.”
“Thank you,” Maggie whispered, overcome with how it felt to be understood and cared for that way.
“You ready, Mags?” Kody called from downstairs. “Cart’s here.”
Gwen pulled Maggie into a fierce hug. “Be careful, and come back to me. We’ve lost enough time.”
Maggie hugged her back and then loped downstairs, pushing away the desire to stay right where she was and never take a risk that meant losing someone she loved ever again. That wasn’t an option.
The cart ride back to the cottage took a while, and Maggie spent it working out a plan. Once they were back in the cottage, which hadn’t been disturbed, she took a moment t
o look at the book. She caressed the outside of it but didn’t open it. She didn’t need to be told what to do. She felt it, and she wouldn’t let someone else dictate her actions right now.
“Maggie?” Brenda asked. “Everything okay?”
Maggie turned away from the book. “Everything is great. Here’s my plan, and tell me if you don’t agree.” She picked up a pen and tapped it on the counter as she worked out her thoughts. “The dream seller will have heard about what happened in our world. That means he’ll think we’re there, which means he’s safe here. He won’t be expecting us, which is what we want. We’ll head to his office, where Kody and I met him before, but this time I’ll catch him. When I do, we’ll find out how he contacts the captain, and then we’ll go after the captain. I’ll put them both in a spinner’s net, and we’ll take them home.”
Kody picked up her sword and slid it down her back before she put on her jacket, covering all but the short hilt that poked out the top. “Sounds good to me. We’ll have to work fast, though. Villains are going to scatter into the wind if they know there’s the possibility of a spinner coming for them.”
“Then let’s go.” Brenda picked up Maggie’s backpack, the one she carried Blech in. “Why don’t I carry him, so your hands are free? And that way if you get attacked he’s not on your chest when it happens.”
“Thinking happy thoughts, are we?” Maggie grinned. “Sounds good, thanks.”
They headed toward the dream seller’s dance club. It felt like it had been months since the last time they’d been there, not weeks. Maggie’s life was nothing like the drab, beige, benign life she’d been dragging herself through before all this started. It got her thinking about where she’d begun this journey, which brought up another issue she needed to deal with. When they got on the subway, Brenda took a seat with the backpack on her lap. Kody and Maggie stood by the door, holding on.
