Before Brandon could respond, the bell above the door chimed again. This time it was Jessie who bounded in, her long hair pulled back in a ponytail and concern beneath her normally friendly smile.
Brandon’s gut clenched. “Hey, Jessie. Everything okay?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “I just got off the phone with Muriel. I’m worried.”
Brandon and Jason exchanged a look. “Why?”
“She finally agreed to come to Mythic and stay for a while.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” Brandon said carefully.
“Yes, but also sudden and unexpected,” Jessie said. “She sounded… off. Like she was scared or something.”
“Did something happen?”
“I don’t know. She said she’d fill me in when she got here. I think it has something to do with her magic though. That’s why I’m here. Will you help? You know more about magic than I do.”
“Of course,” Brandon said.
Relief washed over Jessie’s face. “Thank you. Whatever it is, it’s got her freaked out, and that’s freakingmeout.”
If it was what he thought it was, they should all be freaked out. “When is she coming?”
“She’s already on her way.”
3
MEDDLING BEST FRIENDS AND MAGICAL MALFUNCTIONS
MURIEL
Muriel checkedher rearview mirror for what felt like the hundredth time, feeling unusually paranoid. Still no blacked-out SUVs or cold-eyed strangers riding her bumper. The leather satchel in her passenger seat purred with contentment, warm against her reaching hand, but Muriel couldn't shake the sense of foreboding that had been clinging to her since her unexpected visit from Silas Corvus. He’d rattled her more than she cared to admit. It was exactly why she’d started packing the moment after she’d called Jessie.
Her phone buzzed in the cupholder.Speak of the wolf.
“Hey, Jess.”
“Hey. Everything okay? I thought you’d be here by now.”
She would have, had she not taken several detours as a precautionary measure. “I’m taking the scenic route.”
“How close are you?”
“About 20 minutes out. I’ll see you soon.”
“You’d better, or I’m going to send the pack looking for you.”
The call disconnected, and Muriel couldn’t help but smile. Even concerned, Jessie had a way of lifting her spirits. She only hoped that by showing up with her recent discovery, she wasn’t bringing trouble to Jessie’s doorstep. She just didn’t know who else to turn to.
When your magic becomes too much to handle—and it will?—
Her brief respite faded. The memory of Corvus's cold smile and the way his magic had slid over her made her shudder. The fact that he’d shown up the day after the grimoire had made itself known seemed too convenient to be coincidence.
Fifteen minutes later, the ambient magic that surrounded the preternatural community of Mythic hummed against her skin.
To say that the town itself was picturesque was an understatement. One- and two-story brick buildings with flower boxes appeared up and down the main, tree-lined streets. The town square was straight out of an idyllic community brochure, complete with flawless walkways and a granite fountain carved with images of thecreatures who called Mythic home. Decorative, ornate cast iron lampposts stood sentinel on every street corner.
It was charming. Quaint. Safe.