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“This is just so incredible,” Wiley said with a wiggle. He probably looked like a squirming idiot, but he didn’t much care right then. He was meeting a supernatural being, and it was even possible he was going to get powers! “What about the goddesses? Damn. Can’t believe they actually exist. Are they like Thor or…oh my God, does Thor really exist?”
“Nah, they aren’t like any gods we typically hear about or even read in comics. They’re powerful beings who’ve been alive since the beginning of time. They pop in and out. I nearly shit myself the first time one of them disappeared.” He cleared his throat.
Wiley laughed. “Oh, I get it. When you changed into that cougar, I felt a little something like that. Reality changed in one fell swoop.”
“It’s going to feel that way for a while. Your whole world is about to change.” He hit his blinker and swerved fast down a narrow, gravel road. “I should have known Jo was up to something when she sent me after pumpkin doughnuts when she could have just conjured them up. Should have realized she was sending me after another brother. Though it’s weird she didn’t just come out and say it. Would have been safer if I’d have brought Clay or Grey with me.”
Every time Baer called him a brother, a warm flood of belonging filled his gut. A sense of belonging he’d never enjoyed in his life. He couldn’t wait to meet the others, to see how he fit into this special little world. Or big world, since it felt larger than the reality he’d known before walking into that doughnut shop.
It had all started out as a normal day with one tiny bonus—pumpkin doughnuts. The previous morning he’d encountered a little old lady who’d been raving about pumpkin doughnuts when he’d stopped for a latte at his favorite coffeehouse. Her words created a craving in him, so he decided he’d earned a treat.
This morning, he’d walked into that bakery a regular person with regular worries and walked out—well, honestly, they’d run the hell out of there—with an entirely new view of the world.
As a large, white plantation house came into sight, his emotions churned. He leaned forward, his mouth falling open as the gorgeous place filled his vision. At least two stories, maybe three, thanks to what looked like one of those big, historical attics at the top, the structure rose majestically among a setting of gorgeous live oaks. Pillars graced the front, and it looked like someone had been systematically removing the kudzu that had grown along the face.
As they parked, a large German shepherd ran out to the Jeep, and Baer laughed as he jumped out and hugged the dog.
“Is she yours?” Wiley asked.
“Yeah, this is Ruby, and she is very curious about you.”
“I can’t imagine what that’s like. Hearing your own pet.” He thought of his diva cat and had to grin, unable to imagine the disdain she seemed to feel toward everything. She had such a regal way of carrying herself, he’d named her Queenie. Even as a kitten, she’d pranced around like she owned the place.
Ruby put her paws on the driver’s front seat and panted in his direction, looking like she had a big grin on her face as she stared at him. He opened his door and climbed down, chuckling as she ran around to greet him. She didn’t jump up on him, so he kneeled, rubbing her soft fur and getting a lick in return.
“This is where you’ll be staying,” Baer said as he walked up behind his dog.
Wiley’s heart skipped a beat and his head jerked up. Stay? Okay, so maybe this crazy fantasy was starting to take a dangerous turn. He didn’t really know Baer or any of these so-called brothers of his. Was it safe to stay with them? Maybe it was just a misunderstanding. Fighting to keep the growing trepidation out of his voice, he replied, “Oh, I have an apartment in town.”
Baer shook his head. “I’m sorry, but it’s too dangerous. The goddesses put up a magical barrier here that keeps the pestilents out and keeps you safe. You’ll have to stay here for the foreseeable future.”
Wiley looked at the house again, his mouth hanging open. It was nicer than any place he’d ever stayed before. His grandmother’s home had been a ranch with two small bedrooms and a single bathroom with pink tile. His apartment was small.
Overwhelmed, he hung back as Baer started for the front porch. Red hair swung as he looked over his shoulder and saw that Wiley wasn’t following him. He returned to Wiley, moving with fluid grace for such a tank-like man.
“You okay? Feeling like it’s a bit much, right?” He’d cocked his head as if he were trying to see Wiley’s face more clearly. His brow was furrowed with concern and worry.
