I saw an arched stone bridge standing a few yards away and drew in a short breath. “We’re back in the wyldwood,” I said, stunned. “At the edge of the Iron Realm. But…how?” I looked at Ash and Puck. “We were in the Briars, the Dreaming Pool. The oracle was just about to tell us how to save Ethan.”
Ash let out a long sigh and sheathed his blade. “The Wishing Tree,” he said, and I frowned in confusion. “There’s always a cost for using it,” he went on. “Something unexpected and unexplained that happens at the worst possible moment. This was the price that it took.”
“Mmm, not a bad price if you ask me,” came Grimalkin’s voice from the top of the bridge railing. The cat perched on a post like he’d been there all morning, licking a paw. “Usually the cost is much more entertaining. But then, I was the one who voiced the wish, after all. There was very little room for error.”
“So that’s it?” I asked. “The oracle gets away, we don’t know where she is and I still don’t know anything about Ethan or my son. Or how to save them.” I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache pound behind my eyes. “Why did we come here?” I whispered, feeling the dark unknown loom up before me. “It seems kind of pointless now. I’m going to be a paranoid wreck from now on.”
“That is the danger of too much knowledge, human,” Grimalkin said quietly. “Knowing the future is far too great a burden for most of your kind. However, once you do possess a bit of that knowledge, the question becomes, what do you do with it?”
“Nothing today,” Ash said, drawing me against him. Surprised, I glanced up, and he gave me a weary smile. “Right now, I think we should go home. We can deal with whatever this brings, tomorrow.”
I nodded and sagged against him. “Yeah, you’re right. Glitch is probably having a minor breakdown about now. We should head back.” I pulled away and looked at Puck, watching us with a small smirk and his hands behind his head. “What about you, Puck? I’ve missed you. Are you going to be sticking around?”
“Well, I was thinking of heading up to the Alps and tracking down this yeti tribe that’s been seen around the area.” Puck grinned and shrugged, putting his hands in his pockets. “But, with all the excitement cropping up, I think I might hang around. For a little while, anyway.” He sniffed and made a face. “Wonder if Titania has cooled down any? I’ll have to visit Arcadia and see what’s been going on in my absence. I’m sure they’ll be thrilled to have me back.”
Smiling, I walked up to him, and he opened his arms. “Don’t be a stranger, Puck,” I whispered in his ear, pulling him into a hug. “It’s not the same without you.”
“Oh, I know,” he replied cheerfully. “I don’t see how anyone survives without me, it must be terribly dull.” He pulled back and kissed my cheek. “I’ll be around, princess. If you ever need me, just send a note. Or a gremlin. Or whatever.” Stepping back, he raised a hand to Ash, who nodded solemnly. “Catch ya later, ice-boy. Maybe next time I see you, you’ll be changing diapers and reading bedtime stories.” He snickered and shook his head. “Ah, who would’ve thought you’d be the one tied down with a family, prince? How the mighty have fallen.”
I smacked his arm, but Ash only shook his head. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” he said calmly. “Maybe you should try it, Goodfellow.”
Puck laughed and backed away. “Me? Robin Goodfellow, a family man? Ha, not likely, ice-boy. I mean, think of what that would do to my reputation.” Glamour shimmered around him, and he gave us a wink. “Later, lovebirds. Gimme a heads-up when the kid arrives. ‘Uncle Puck’ will be waiting.”
With a cascade of glamour and black feathers, Puck transformed into a huge raven. Beating powerful wings, he rose above us with a mocking caw, swooped into the branches of the wyldwood and was lost from view.
I didn’t have to turn around to know Grimalkin had vanished, as well. The railing was empty, both Grim and Puck were gone, but I wasn’t sad. We would see them again, both of them. We had forever to catch up.
Ash held out a hand, and I stepped into him with a sigh, feeling his arms wrap around me. I closed my eyes, and he kissed the top of my head.
“Let’s go home,” he whispered.
EPILOGUE
I stood on the balcony of my room, letting the cool night breeze toss my hair, gazing down at Mag Tuiredh, far below. Beau sat beside me, tall German shepherd ears pricked to the wind, wary and alert. It was near midnight, and most of Mag Tuiredh was still. Peaceful. I wished I could find some of that tranquility.
Soft footsteps came onto the balcony, and a moment later Ash slipped his arms around me from behind. I reached back and buried a hand in his silky hair, and he nuzzled my neck, making me sigh. Beau gave me a sideways glance, huffed and padded back to the room, leaving us alone on the balcony.
“What are you thinking about?” my knight murmured against my skin.
“Oh, you know.” I tilted my head as his lips trailed down my shoulder. “Oracles and prophecies and futures and such. Ash, can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
I turned to face him, taking his hands, and he waited patiently as I struggled with the question, wondering if I should really bring this up. But he did say I could ask him, and I didn’t want us to hide anything from each other. “I…I know we haven’t talked much about your quest at the End of the World,” I began. “But…did you…see anything, when you lived that future life with me? Did you see anything about our son…destroying the courts?”