Alyson Noel - Horizon

“So, it stands to reason that the other tourmalines are destroyed as well? I mean, there were a lot of tourmalines out there . . .”

“It’s the logical conclusion,” Dace says. “And, for now, it’s all we’ve got to go on.”

“Since when has anything in Enchantment ever been even remotely logical?” I watch as he tries to wipe the ink onto his pant leg, but, for the most part, it’s too late. His palm will be blue for a week.

“It’s a new day.” He abandons the task and grasps my hand with his clean one. “Which means there’s a whole new town for us to discover.”

“You make it sound so exciting.” I lean against him, overcome with an inexplicable reluctance to leave.

“That’s because it is exciting. Except maybe for you.” He tips his finger under my chin, tilts my face toward his. “What gives? You nervous about heading back?”

“A little.” I shrug. “Guess I’ve gotten so used to the evil Enchantment, I’m not sure I’m ready for the new and improved version. Not to mention how the only real challenge I now face is getting through senior year. How can that ever compare to saving three worlds? Do you think I might’ve peaked too soon?”

“I think you’ve only just begun.” He drops a kiss on my cheek, helps me onto Horse’s back, and we begin the journey back to the portal with Horse intuitively leading the way, and Raven riding high on my shoulder.

It’s a ride we’ve made countless times in a similar fashion, but never with quite so much fanfare as now.

All around us animals pop out of shrubs, caves, and elaborate tunnels they’ve carved deep into the earth, calling to us in their various ways, as we make our way to the vortex.

“You ready?” Dace slides free of Horse’s back and I do the same.

Stopping just shy of the place where the vibration is higher, the energy moving quicker, I take a long moment to look all around, knowing I’ll be back many times, but still wanting to memorize this place the way it looks now. Then after bidding goodbye to Raven and Horse, Dace clasps my hand in his and we step through together. The two of us spiraling up through the earth, side by side, only to find this particular portal leads to the Rabbit Hole—though the formerly bleak desert landscape is gone.

“It’s weird to see it so empty.” It’s the first thing I say as we enter the deserted club. “With the instruments still on the stage, and the tables full of bottles and glasses, it looks eerie, almost like it’s been evacuated.”

“In a way, it was,” Dace says. “But surely this is not the first time you’ve seen it that way?” His lips curl at the corner, his eyes flash on mine, and it takes a moment to get the reference.

“So you did know?”

He nods.

“And still you let me go?”

He squints, swipes a hand over his chin. “Wasn’t easy. It took every bit of my strength not to go after you. Luckily, there was still a small a part of me that managed to cling. And it was that part that insisted on sparing you. Besides, it was fun watching Raven breach the Coyote lair right under Leandro’s clueless nose.”

We walk past the plush banquets, the extra-long bar with the gleaming countertop and sparkly snake suspended overhead. Its glass mosaic tiles flashing, blinking, appearing as though the serpent is slithering, which instantly reminds me of Marliz’s tattoo.

She’s finally free. Free of Gabe—free of the Richters’ hold—free to live her own life, her own way. Perhaps she’ll even make it out of Enchantment, find a place to settle and rebuild her life. Or at least that’s what I hope.

“What will become of all this?” I turn to Dace, steering my thoughts away from Marliz and back to more practical matters. “You’re the last remaining Richter, which makes you the sole heir. What will you do if it all becomes yours?”

Dace swipes a hand over his chin and looks all around. “I can’t even wrap my head around the prospect of owning all this.”

“But what if you do end up with it?” I study him closely, my eyes roaming his smooth brow, his perfectly chiseled cheekbones, the sheen of stubble that covers his jaw.

“Seems a shame to waste it. A lot of money was spent on the rebuild, and you have to admit they did a nice job . . .” There’s a sheepish look in his eye, as though seeking permission to claim what’s rightfully his. Both of us knowing this has always been a place of bad energy and worse deeds, and the black onyx they used ensures the energy stays. Though what if we can turn that around? While it’s true that energy never dies, it can be transformed. “Besides,” he says. “Enchantment is sorely in need of a place to hang out.”

“Fine,” I say. “Keep it. I won’t try to stop you. But only on one condition . . .” I narrow my gaze on his. “You have to promise you’ll get rid of all the Coyote insignia.”

“And replace it with Raven?” His brow quirks, his lip tugs at the side.

“Works for me!” I grin, leaning into him as he wraps his arms around me and hugs me tightly to him.

“Ready?” He pauses before the door.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” I heave a deep breath and shield my eyes as he leads me into the daylight where the sun is already noon-high. And while it’s definitely warm out, it’s not nearly as hot as it was before this all started. Hopefully, this marks the start of a cooling trend.

We take a quick detour to check on the chain-link fence where I placed the small golden lock as a symbol of our love last Christmas Eve—both of us amazed and relieved to see it still there. With everything that happened, with everything working against us, our love managed to survive.

And when he leads me to his newly restored Mustang, I can’t help but gasp. “Wow. Lita and Xotichl told me about it, but it’s a whole other thing to see it in person. It looks amazing!”

“A gift from Leandro,” Dace says, helping me into my seat before sliding behind the wheel. “I should probably get rid of it. You know, bad energy and all . . .”

I shrug. “I think you should keep it. And not just because it’s gorgeous, which it is, but because if we set our sights on trying to erase every trace of Leandro, and Coyote in general, well, then we won’t have time for anything else. For better or worse, they founded this town. Now it’s our job to make something of it so it truly lives up to its name.”

The engine roars to life with a single turn of the key, as opposed to the three to four turns it required before, and I settle into the ride and stare out the passenger window. Taking in deeply rutted dirt roads, the scraggly line of rundown adobes, the majestic Sangre de Christo mountain range rising beyond. Musing at how it all looks a little better, a little sunnier, or maybe that’s just the way it looks to me, knowing what I now know.

“It’s funny.” I swivel toward Dace. “I guess I never really noticed until now, but the horizon in Enchantment appears just as inaccessible as it does in the Upper-and Lowerworlds.”

Dace looks at me, places a hand on my knee, and gives it a squeeze. “That’s the thing about the horizon. Every step leads you toward it, but you can never quite reach it. But maybe that’s a good thing? Maybe it’s nature’s way of reminding us to never give up—to always keep striving.”

SIX MONTHS LATER

DAIRE

I wake to the sound of banging in the kitchen and the scent of something burning seeping under the door.

All the signs indicating it’s Sunday.

Lita is at it again.

“Is that what I think?” Dace rolls toward me, grabs me at the waist, and pulls me tightly to his chest as he nestles his chin at the nape of my neck. His body so warm and inviting, I’m just rolling over to face him, when the banging stops, the oven door slams, and a long string of curses begins.