Epilogue

Hundreds of years later, magick flourished.

The line between who was fae and who was human blurred more every day. In the decades after crossing the barrier and closing it for good, a new line of magick users were born.

They were all female and all with strong powers connected to the land, aligning with an element, or something else altogether.

Earth, fire, water, air.

And … the other.

No one was sure what to make of it yet.

But magick was strong, and harmony and peace endured. It was fashionable to have a magickal daughter, so mixing between fae and humans was encouraged.

The blood and death of the past was left behind. After a while, even the massive dragon (rumored to have once been a prince!) wasn't as shocking. He was gentle, slept a lot, and loved to roll around on the ground with the kids. The elders said he was old and didn't get around as easily as he used to. He was sad a lot since the death of his mate and last remaining child. Dragons lived a long time.

The children didn't believe he used to be a real prince. That was ridiculous!

But the girls with fire magick, in particular, liked him.

As the kingdoms separated, the children being born with magick diminished. People grew spiteful and angry that they couldn't have their very own daughter with magick. They started alienating the ones with magick and casting them out, calling them witches.

The witches banded together, vowing to take care of each other. Separation grew again between those who could, and those who couldn't.

That was why the little girl cried. She missed her father, but he'd thrown them out after she'd accidentally grown a tree through their living room floor. After slapping her, her mother had gathered her up and left to live with these women instead because supposedly they were their kind.

And the other little girls in this new family—coven, they said—were mean to her.

All because she was new! And she'd done nothing! All she wanted to do was play with the other girls, but one girl, Victa, didn't like her and always left her out.

It hurt.

Gathering all the pain to her chest, pressure built until she thought it might consume her. Remembering her mother's words, she focused on a dead stump a few feet away, and released the pressure.

BOOM!

The stump exploded, sending bits of bark and wood flying everywhere. The little girl sighed in relief as the pressure eased, allowing her to breathe normally again.

Mother warned that this would happen as she got older—the magick would be harder to control. She had to learn to control herself and her emotions so that it didn't get the best of her.

"Crazy Cally! Crazy Cally exploding trees because she can't control her magick!"

Cally shot up as Victa emerged from the trees with two other girls, pointing and laughing at the remains of her stump. They went on their way, throwing in remarks about the little girl's hair and dress.

Something in the little girl broke and changed. She wouldn't get upset anymore; she'd do something.

"When I'm a grown-up witch, I'll turn anyone I don't like into an ugly dragon like Ellis!"

Cally grinned to herself.

Yes, this plan was perfect.