Or so it appeared. Mythic was home to a myriad of legendary creatures—some quite notorious—sosafewas relative.
Muriel kept going until she reached Jessie's house—a sturdy two-story farmhouse with a wraparound porch and a huge yard, surrounded by thick, verdant forest.
She’d barely pulled into the driveway when the front door burst open, and Jessie came flying down the steps.
“Muriel!” She yanked open the car door before Muriel had even unbuckled. “You're here!”
“I'm here,” Muriel agreed, grinning as she was embraced in a bone-crushing hug.
“Can't breathe, Jess.”
“Sorry, sorry.” Jessie eased up and stepped back but kept her hands on Muriel’s shoulders, studying her face with those sharp wolf eyes that never missed a thing. “You look terrible.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“You know what I mean. You look tired and really stressed out.”
“Iamtired and really stressed out.”
“Does it have anything to do with the bag that’s currently vibrating in your front seat?” Jessie asked, peering into the car over Muriel’s shoulder.
That’s only part of it.“It's complicated.” Murielgrabbed the satchel while Jessie pulled her overnight bag from the back seat.
“I bet. Let’s get you settled, then you can tell me what’s going on.”
Jessie led her into the house and through the living room filled with sturdy, oversized, and tactilely pleasing furniture and an abundance of toys, to the guest room at the far side of the house.
“Quietest room in the house, which, to be fair, isn’t really all that quiet,” Jessie said with a grin. “But you’ll be as far removed from the daily chaos as possible.”
“Speaking of, where are my rambunctious little nieces and nephews?”
“Matt took them for a run with other juveniles in the pack. It’s the only thing that tires them out,” Jessie said as she put Muriel’s overnight bag on the bed. “So we have the place to ourselves for a few hours. I’ll make tea while you unpack—or is this more of a hard liquor situation?”
“Honestly? Probably both.”
Jessie’s eyes widened slightly before she nodded. “Black tea and brandy it is. Take your time. I’ll be in the kitchen when you’re ready.”
It didn’t take long to unpack her overnight bag. The remainder of her simple wardrobe was in the trunk of her car, along with the personal items she refused to leave behind. Something told her she wouldn’t be returning to the old cottage anytime soon. It no longer seemed safe, especially since Corvus’s visit.
When she made her way out to the kitchen, Jessie was waiting. The table was set with mugs, a steaming kettle, and a full bottle of brandy, as well as a plate filled with assorted cheeses, crackers, and sliced meats.
“So domestic,” Muriel teased.
“Wolf pups are always hungry. We have a whole fridge in the garage filled with trays of snacks. Now, enough stalling. Talk to me.”
Muriel sank down onto the chair and wrapped her hands around the Shifters Do It Better mug. Now that she was in Jessie’s warm, cheery yellow kitchen, the weight on her shoulders felt lighter.
“I’m not even sure where to start,” she said finally.
“The beginning is always good.”
“Right. Okay. Well, my mother reached out to me.”
Jessie’s eyes widened. “A message from beyond the grave?”
“Not exactly. I think it was something she set up before she died.”
“Okay,” Jessie said slowly, but there was no trace of disbelief in her tone or expression. That was the thing about preternaturals. They tended to have open minds about that sort of thing.