Epilogue

4.30 p.m.: 7 december

Baba Yaga's, Old Town Square, Prague

Outside, flakes of snow swirled in front of the astronomical clock, making the picturesque medieval city even more like something out of a snow globe. They'd checked the forecast with Aunt Lucille before they began the trip to return Leon's car and then flew over to Prague to take some time to enjoy being tourists and visit the Christmas markets together. Next it would be a quick stop-off in Berlin to see Ilina.

Kay had finished her last day with the IT company she'd worked at since uni just before they'd left for the holiday. She'd given her notice when her boss had tried to demand she pay for all the missing marketing materials that were in her lost luggage. Becca may have been able to tell her that the suitcase had ended up in Italy, but Kay physically getting her hands on it had still been an issue, and totally not her fault. She wasn't prepared to put up with working in a job she didn't care about with an unreasonable boss anymore.

While she'd worked her notice, her dad had helped her get a foot on the ladder of a career she wanted and after Christmas she'd be starting work in the heritage department of the Witches Council. She'd worried that Harry would be concerned about her working for the Council, given their tense relationship with the Ashworths, but he'd supported her. He trusted her to keep his family's confidences, but also to challenge him if she could understand more about the Council's perspective.

Kay was already helping Harry, Elenor, and Becca as they continued to piece together the make-up of the magic woven through Biddicote and Ashworth Hall, too. For her own selfish part, she wanted to make sure Harry wouldn't wind up exhausted too, and see if there was some way the spells could be reworked so that it didn't all fall upon the Ashworth heir.

Adrian's health was improving little by little, as the burden of the anchor being alleviated gave his body a chance to heal, but they still weren't sure of the origin of his illness. He was well enough for them to plan a family Christmas at the Hall though. All the Ashworths and Hendrixes together celebrating, as well as Sandy's parents.

So, as much as the idea of spending a week trapped in a hotel room, snuggled in bed with Harry was appealing, they had to get back for that, and understandably Harry still wasn't comfortable being away from his dad for too long. Kay had her fingers crossed that the weather would keep being kind. And since she was ninety-nine-point-nine per cent sure that she didn't have any weather affinities now, crossing fingers was about all she could manage.

‘Tell me,' Madam Hedvika began, winding thread onto a spool rapidly, her eyes staying trained on Kay across the craft table the whole time. ‘Did you work out what the blockage was and attempt to channel your magic into your corn husk doll again?'

‘Yes and no.' Kay put her tea to the side and leaned down to pull her corn husk doll out from her handbag.

Kay caught the wrinkle of Madam Hedvika's nose, even though when she glanced up the older witch was quick to smooth out her expression into something neutral again. Admittedly, though the doll hadn't befallen any more accidents – magical or otherwise – it looked a tad battered. She had been on an epic journey, all the while stuffed in Kay's tote as she'd crossed Europe through a hurricane, so it was to be expected.

‘I have a confession,' she said as she attempted to smooth the large piece of husk which was still just about pinned in place like a skirt around the doll. ‘I'm afraid I didn't exactly follow your instructions. I didn't clamp down on my magic. I tried to, but I only lasted a couple of days.'

And after the wedding, she'd started to use her magic again. Slowly but purposefully – including her gift. Practising to see if she could suppress it or focus it at will. She'd still worn her glasses all day at work, to stop herself from being distracted and from invading the privacy of the people around her, but with her family and Harry, she was figuring it out and stretching her muscles with her everyday magic too. She was a little like a toddler learning to walk. Sometimes she used too much energy, sometimes not enough, but she had people to help her, who weren't judging her.

And she was enjoying it. For the first time as an adult, she could see a glimpse of her potential as a witch and knew she would get there one day.

‘I see,' Madam Hedvika replied, poker-faced. ‘Shall we try to project the image of you, using your magic, onto the doll again then?'

‘Yes. I'm ready.'

Madam Hedvika raised one finger, got up from her chair, went into her kitchen and came back with a small fire extinguisher. Kay would have been insulted but … fair play.

Once Madam Hedvika was settled again, Kay unpinned the husk at the bottom of the doll, stood it up before her on the table and accessed her magic as she thought of herself using it. Instead of dipping into a well like she had before, she felt it come awake all throughout her body, centred in her abdomen where the relationship bonds she could see with her gift came from. She pictured herself with Harry and his mum and dad, using her gift to bring comfort to the man she loved.

Her chest grew warm and when she blinked, she saw the doll was glowing. Golden light flowing out from her centre. It was beautiful, the light suffused by the corn husk. She glanced up at Madam Hedvika who was smiling at her.

‘You were always meant to ignore my advice, Kay. Your magic is yours. It is you and you are it and you needed to embrace it wholly again. It was not for me or anyone else to tell you when or how you should wield it. You needed to take ownership of it again, and I'm so pleased to see you have.'

Kay thanked the older witch and finished her tea as the glow from the doll eased away. When she left, she found Harry in the shop downstairs, standing by a rack of incense sticks, occasionally picking up the little bundles tied with ribbon and giving them a sniff, eyebrows rising as though the scent surprised him, freckles dancing across his forehead.

He looked over before she reached him, like he sensed her there, and she never grew tired of seeing the way his blue eyes lit up.

‘How did it go?' he asked, sliding an arm around her waist, and pressing a kiss to her temple, just above her glasses.

She stayed close but leaned back a little to show him the doll, nestled in her bag again. ‘Well. She glowed this time.'

He looked down at the misshapen, lumpy creation, with its scorch marks from the fire and smiled. ‘Of course she did. No Cinderella transformation, though?'

‘No. Sadly, not.' She closed her bag and hooked the strap back over her shoulder, so she could wrap both arms around him, inside his open coat-of-many-pockets.

‘That's not sad. Perfect is boring and she has character. She's been through things and still she's capable of glowing. That's so much better.'

‘I think so, too,' Kay said, studying his lopsided smile and meaning it with every human fibre and magical thread in her being.

She didn't want perfect. She wanted them .

2 years until the Next Wedding

0 miles from Where They Were Supposed To Be