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22
Bronywyn
“This is so freaking cool.” Deissy carefully moves around the gym, studying the different equipment as if she’s never seen a pull-up bar before.
“It’s just a normal gym,” I tell her with a half-smile.
“But it’s a gym where supernaturals train.” She turns to me. “Thank you for not kicking me out.”
I shrug. “Other than being human, you remind me a lot of myself back in the day.”
“I’m really sorry about your mother.”
“Thank you.”
The door opens, and Magnolia strolls in with Drex. “Hey, we just heard.” Mags looks at Deissy and cocks her head to the side. “Human?”
“Yes. Deissy.” She holds out her hand, and the witch takes it with a smile. “Nice to meet you.”
“Magnolia. Witch. Nice to meet you, too.”
After releasing Magnolia’s hand, Deissy turns to Drex. “And you are?”
“Drexel, hunter.”
“Woah. So you have three hunters in your group?” she asks me, and I nod.
“Delaney used to be one, and Elijah used to be a vampire. But she’s a witch, and he’s a hunter now.”
She gapes at Drex then turns to me. “You guys live extremely complicated lives.”
The young hunter snorts. “Isn’t that the damn truth?” Shifting his attention to me, he crosses his arms. “Rainey said you wanted to speak to us?”
“Yes.” I take a deep breath. “Deissy wants to learn about our world, and I’m asking you two to teach her what you know. Teach her to defend herself, and tell her how to kill should she be confronted with a supernatural.”
Drex looks from me to Deissy, then back to me. “But she’s human.”
“Yes. A human like Paloma, who has been thrown into this world. She needs to know how to keep herself safe.”
“Any reason why you aren’t going to do it?” Mags asks, crossing her arms and glaring at me. “You don’t think you’re going to make it back from that summons.”
“I think there is a good chance my return will be delayed,” I tell her. “And in that event, I am leaving this entire house to you.”
She gasps. “Seriously?”
“Yes. Winnie and Ivan will stay on staff and help you. Their payments come directly from my account and go into theirs, so there is nothing you have to worry about. I have plenty of funds to keep you sustained for about a century, even given the current inflation of prices.” My tone is business, and I do my best to keep all emotion at bay. But when Magnolia’s eyes fill and she rushes forward to wrap both arms around me, I lose my composure and embrace her right back.
I’d feared companionship for so long, friendship even, because having anyone get close means having someone to lose. But in the past year, ever since Elijah carried Rainey into my clinic, I’ve let this entire group in.
I care for them like family—hell, they are my family.
Winnie.
Tarnley.
Rainey.
Delaney.
