“Where are we going?” she asked.
“Tedi's place. It's perfect for this kind of thing—private, peaceful, and warded six ways from Sunday.”Jessie glanced over with a reassuring smile. “You're in good hands, Ree. I promise.”
The car rounded a final curve and a cabin appeared, nestled so perfectly among the trees it might have grown there. Natural wood, stone foundation, flowers blooming in wild profusion around the porch. Everything about it sang to Muriel's magic, soothing her in a way nothing else could.
“Does a witch live here?”
Jessie's smile widened. “Not anymore. Old Mabel sold it to Tedi and her mate. It’s become our unofficial clubhouse.”
They climbed out of the car just as the cabin door opened, revealing a beautiful woman with golden hair and warm hazel eyes.
“Glad you could make it! Hi Muriel. I’m Tedi. We met at Jessie and Matt’s wedding.”
“Yes, I remember. How are you?”
“Better than you apparently,” Tedi said without malice, then immediately brought her hands to her lips. “Oops. Sorry. No filter.”
“Do you know something we don’t?” Jessie asked warily.
“Many things,” Tedi answered with a graceful shrug of her shoulders. “Nature of the beast. You’ll have to be more specific.”
“Tedi is an oracle,” Jessie explained. “Her mind operates on several planes simultaneously, seeing potential outcomes.”
Oh.
Tedi stepped back and ushered them inside. The cabin's interior was just as soothing as its exterior—warm wood and soft textures, herbs hanging from exposed beams, crystals catching the light from tall windows.
Two more familiar looking women waved from the plush sofa. One was bronzed, blonde, and green-eyed. The other was her monochromatic twin, with alabaster skin, black hair, and gray eyes. Both were surrounded by unmistakable auras of magic, butwhatthey were, Muriel didn’t know.
“Ana and Ryssa, right?”
“Got it in one,” the blonde said with a radiant smile.
“Please, make yourselves comfortable,” Tedi said. “We’re just waiting on Dani.”
As if summoned, the door burst open and a tall, athletic blonde bounded in carrying two large totes. “Sorry I'm late! Had to make a supply run.” She headed straight for the kitchen counter and began lining up cartons of orange juice and bottles of whipped cream vodka with the efficiency of a bartender. “Can't have a proper SLUT club meeting without creamsicles.”
“The official drink of the SLUT club,” Ryssa said with a smirk.
Ana tucked her feet underneath her on the other chair and patted the sofa cushion beside her in invitation. “Please, sit. We don't bite.” Her smile was gentle, genuinely warm.
“Well, except Jessie and Dani because they're werewolves,” Tedi added matter-of-factly.
A few chuckles murmured through the space, and even Muriel had to hide her smile.
Once everyone had drinks in hand, Dani dropped into the last chair and said, “Okay. Why are we here?”
Jessie nodded to Muriel. “Tell them what you told me.”
Muriel’s eyes widened. “Everything?”
“Everything. They need to know what they’re up against. And before you say anything about this being ayouproblem, may I remind you thatyouarepack.”
Muriel looked at the women gathered around her offering supportive smiles and encouraging nods, radiating energies that should have clashed but somehow harmonized. There was so much power in this room, she realized. Not only from whatever magic they held but from the bonds that they’d created.
And they were includingher.
Moisture built in her eyes as warmth washed over her, a sense of belonging she hadn't felt since... maybe ever.