Page 101 of The Hocus Pocus Handbook

“I don’t mind. But perhaps we can speak elsewhere? It’s rather loud in here, and I’m trying to avoid Taragon. Her gaze goes right through me.”

“I know just the place,” Olive says.

Before they take more than one step, Zeph appears next to my sister. “Where are you going, goddess? I’ve had no chance to spend time with you in days. Don’t abandon me in my hour of greatest need!”

Olive rolls her eyes. “You seem to be misunderstanding something. I don’t exist to entertain you, and I’m only interested in Tempest right now.”

She swans off with Tempest in tow, leaving Zeph more flustered than I’ve ever seen.

“That was tough to watch,” I say, smirking.

“She is utterly magnificent.” They’re not remotely put off by that rejection, it seems. Their mercurial gaze returns to me with obvious reluctance. “Do I need to apologize? Rosa said I do, but I tend to think the ends justify the means.”

“I still think you’re an asshole, but it worked out for me.” Right now, I can’t muster any rancor, though I was plenty furious when their treachery was first revealed.

“Our people respect chicanery,” they say loftily, “and a truly convoluted scheme, successfully executed. And they adore a dramatic reveal. It all landed perfectly.”

“Don’t be insufferable,” I say.

Kerboros threads through the crowd, hunting for me with a singular intensity. I love being the focus of his devotion. He eyes Zeph, then says, “Go away.”

To my amusement, the commensurate schemer complies, but before we can escape, my dad darts toward us, drinks in hand. “I need to give my blessing…and I’d love for us to provide some entertainment, if you’re game, my gem.”

Entertainment… I recall the final spell in the handbook. Time for a big leap. I can manage this. Da believes in me, and more importantly, I now believe in myself.

“Let’s do it.”

Appearing baffled, Kerboros stands back as I hold my dad’s hand and close my eyes. This began with pookas, so it’s fitting it’ll end with them too. I picture Ferghus and the rest, and I imagine them stampeding through the walls, hooves sparking fire, purple smoke trailing from their tails. And then I unleash the magic.

People scream.

It’s my wedding, of course they do, and I let the images fade. The guests break out into nervous laughter when they realize there’s no substance to the smoke.

Dad takes his turn next, and tears fill my eyes when he opens his. On the blank wall opposite, he creates a slowly shifting panorama of my life: Thea as a round-cheeked infant. Thea, barely able to walk and already pulling pooka tails. Thea missing her front teeth and running like the wind with Taragon. Thea with a newly shaped figure and a wild mane of hair that didn’t see a comb for longer than I care to recall. Thea as I am now, weeping happy tears as I hug my dad, the person who has always, always loved me and been there for me.

Nobody in this room is as lucky. I am rich in family and friends and now in my chosen partner too.

Spontaneous applause shivers through the crowd as my dad turns to Kerboros. “Here’s what I have to say to you, son. I’ll be your biggest supporter, so long as you’re good to her. If you hurt her, I have a shovel.”

“I never will,” Kerboros promises.

But I knew that already. He has such a tender heart, though he’s been forced to growl like a wolf and hunt like a hound for most of his days.

“To the happy couple!” Da calls out.

And we toast along with everyone in the room. At some point, Kerboros tugs on my hand, guiding me toward a side door. We slip outside, and I know he wants a moment alone with me, because that’s precisely what I’m craving too: a little privacy, a stolen kiss.

But someone else—two someones—have gotten here before us. Ragh and Govannon break apart, breathless and red-cheeked from the intensity of their kiss. I’m so happy, I could scream.

“You’re here!” I exclaim, delighted. “Together!”

“Thanks to Kerboros,” Govannon says. “I was so afraid Ragh couldn’t forgive me.”

Ragh kisses Govannon tenderly. “My love. There’s nothing to forgive.” He turns to us with wide, shining eyes. “Bless you. Bless you for giving my love and my life back to me. All this time, I didn’t even know he was missing. I didn’t know I should be looking!”

“Because you always doubted you were worth staying for,” Govannon whispers.

They’re lost in each other again, making up for time apart, and we tiptoe past, leaving them to their epic and boundless joy. I’m so glad we took the time to talk with Ragh and learn his story. I’m proud of the role we played in putting happiness back into the world.

Kerboros reaches for my hand, and it reminds me of the moment in the Summer market when he bought me cake and I hugged him with sheer happiness. We receive nods and greetings from various wild fae, and some of them want to talk. By tacit consent, we respond to everyone with the same courtesy we’d show a ruling power.

Because I meant it when I told Ragh that everyone matters.

At last, we reach that secret courtyard with the fountain at its heart, and I curl into my true love’s arms, flushed with radiance. I lift my face, and he kisses me as if he needs my lips to live. I kiss him like he’s air and light combined.

“I love you,” I whisper when we break apart, and I realize we’re saying it in unison.

I’ve never felt like anyone’s other half before, but I’m sure of him—of us—and of the incredible future that awaits us. At one point, the odds were stacked against us, but Olive has shared some mortal sayings, and I love this one especially: Never tell me the odds.

I’ll beat them every time. I used to be no one except my dad’s daughter, and now I realize what I should’ve known all along: That was enough; I was never nobody.

To love someone else truly, madly, deeply, you have to love yourself first. And I do—as much as I love Kerboros.

As much as I love my family and friends.

And together? We’re unstoppable, and we’ll change the world.