I nodded, then looked up at Ash. “Adventures, things didn’t go to plan, because of course, they didn’t. Saw Nan, overthrew a government, have all-powerful magic, but we’re back.”
“Wait, what?”
I sighed and rubbed my hands through my hair.
“Can we close up the shop and get some takeaway and beer in here? Seriously, I’ve eaten organic food by default every damn day and haven’t experienced the superpowers that apparently come with this.”
“Yeah, of course.”
“Well, I need to hit the bookstore before they close. You bitches will have quite the reading to do before bed tonight,” Jez said and swanned out.
“So Jez’s still the same then,” Ash said. “And what about you?”
“Yeah, mostly or I will be. I’m just coming off a climactic event and am feeling a bit flat. But Ash...”
“Yeah?”
“I’m taking over the portal side of the business going forward, OK?”
“Oh, thank fuck for that!”
Epilogue
Five years later
“Tess...babe. Tess, you’ve got to wake up.”
I opened my eyes groggily to see my
husband looking down at me. Yup, we’d gotten married much to Mum’s delight, six months ago. She looked past Flea’s tattoos and background when she saw the bank balance of the business. That and the fact Ash lived with Gabe and now had a four-year-old son called Mikey and had shown no interest in walking down the aisle.
“What’s up?”
“It’s Ash. Mikey’s done it again and she needs us to sort it out. Apparently, he’s wished up something a bit on the scary side.”
“What time is it? Goddamit, I don’t want to put a seal on him, but I’m seriously beginning to see the wisdom in Nan’s decision right now.”
“Come on. Should I get the trike or is Miazydar staying here?”
I looked over to where my small dragon lay curled around the brass bedstead. Staying here. Good luck with the magic child, he said before dozing off again.
“He’s staying.”
“Probably for the best. Don’t want you catching a cold out there, or junior here.” Flea’s arms went around me and he hugged me close, his hands linking over the gentle swell of my belly.
“Junior’s no more than the size of my thumb at the moment, so unlikely, but you’re right, we better go. I’ll blink us there. Ash only calls when it's something really scary.”
We appeared inside the darkened hallway in Ash and Gabe’s place, the nameplate on the door read “Mikey’s Room.”
“Fuck, that was fast,” Gabe said. “I’m glad you’re here though.” And with that, he opened his son’s door.
I heard the growl as soon as we did so, then two yellow eyes, bright as lamp lights glowed in the darkness within.
“What the...?” Flea said, but it became apparent pretty quickly what was there. The rumble became a snap and a furry muzzle lunged at us, complete with a very impressive set of gleaming teeth. We slammed the door just in time but were treated to the sound of the beast tearing at it. I reinforced the door with steel and then turned to the others. “Is that Mikey or something he’s conjured up?”
“It’s not Mikey,” Ash said, walking in with her sleeping son lying with his head on her shoulder. He had Gabe’s blond hair but Ash’s stubborn set to his lips.
“Right, well, I can make it disappear—” I said.