Joey slipped his arm around Michele’s waist, and Bethany smiled. It had all worked out for the citizens of Blansett. Halona and Drake were planning their wedding soon, Grey and Beck had purchased a house, Sydney and Nick seemed happier than usual, and Beth wondered if they had a secret they were keeping.
She had found her warrior and gotten her grandmother back. Clarissa was passing down all her knowledge about the ancient ways, including the language that was supposed to have been lost.
Bryan walked the length of the railing, speaking to each passenger on the boat. When he got to Bethany and Kal, he stopped then drew them into a hug. “Let’s do this.”
Bethany handed him the mirror. “Would you do the honor?”
Bryan glanced at Kal, who smiled and nodded.
Bryan drew his arm back to toss it into the waves, and Bethany reached up to hold his arm. He looked down at her quizzically.
“The salt water should hold the demon indefinitely, but let’s make sure.” She took the mirror back from Bryan and lay it on the deck. His eyes widened as he read her intention.
Bethany stomped down on the mirror and yelped, holding onto Kal’s arm as she hopped around on one foot. “Ouch, ouch!”
Everyone laughed, including Kal.
“Okay,” Beth huffed, gingerly putting her foot back on the deck and testing to see if it felt broken. “If you guys think it’s so funny, you smash the mirror.”
“I will,” Grey called out confidently. She sashayed up the deck and flung her arm out, shooting a fireball at nearly the same time Clarissa and Helena-Marie yelled no in unison.
The fiery missile ricocheted off the reflective glass, and everyone ducked. Mickey, Shell, and Joey screeched in surprise and fell to the deck in a tangle of limbs. Rebounding across the wood, the fireball hit various items before it bounced into the waves and sizzled out.
“Way to go, Sparky,” Beck called out, and Grey shot him a look of warning he ignored by hanging over the rail with laughter.
Halona had her face buried in Drake’s chest, her shoulders shaking with poorly concealed laughter.
“Anyone else want to take a chance?” Bryan invited, his eyes dancing with amusement.
“Dad, did you know that would happen?” Sydney asked. She stood with her hands on her hips glaring at him. At the same time she fought to keep from laughing with the rest of the group.
Bryan reached down to pick up the mirror and drew his arm back once again, tossing it out into the waves as far as he could manage. The whole crew broke into enthusiast cheers and clapping.
Kal put his hands on both sides of Bethany’s face and lowered his lips to hers. When he broke the kiss, he wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. She returned the gesture, holding him as if she would never let go.
“I have to tell you something,” he whispered into her hair.
Beth started to loosen her grip, but he held her fast. She wanted to see his face, but he didn’t budge, so she relaxed and used his chest as a pillow, waiting for him to speak.
“I really didn’t want a crowd around, but I don’t want to wait either.”
“Kal!” she admonished. “Whatever you want to tell me, just say it.”
“I love you,” he blurted out.
Behind them, Bethany heard another cheer and a bottle of champagne being uncorked.
She drew her head away from his chest to look up at him. “I love you too.”
Bryan handed them glasses and lifted his in a toast. “To love!”
Everyone lifted their champagne flutes. “To love!”
The End.
Mystic Tides Page 33