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I trusted Jasmine, and if she said it would help, I’d try it. The liquid was thick and syrupy. It was sweet at first, but left a bitter aftertaste. I forced down a couple sips, then passed the jar back to Jasmine.
“Story time,” I said. “Tell me how Zoe got you here and what I missed at home.”Home. My stomach twisted uncomfortably. The word didn’t feel right for what Copper Springs was to me. Luke’s certainly wasn’t home, but I wasn’t sure Copper Springs ever truly felt like home, either.
“Your friend here came into the bar every night for the last week.” Jasmine glanced at Zoe. “She’s a shameless flirt, just so you know.”
“Well, I can’t say I’ve seen that side,” I admitted.
Zoe shrugged. “Your bestie’s cute. What can I say?”
Were they making googly eyes at each other? Right now? “Alright, um, so after she flirted…” It was also news to me that Zoe had been back to my bar so many times, but I wasn’t sure that mattered anymore. Jasmine was here. That was the important part. Unless… “Wait, you didn’t kidnap her, did you?”
“Oh no, you were special,” Zoe teased.
I frowned. “Nice.”
“She arrived after the bar closed that night you were hurt,” Jasmine explained. “She had a key, so I believed her when she said she was your friend.”
I realized Jasmine was testing me here. I never gave my key to Zoe, but she knew where to find a spare. “How’s Mary?” I asked Zoe.
“She didn’t want to give me the key, if that makes you feel better,” Zoe said. “She followed me into the bar to make sure I wasn’t going to steal anything or hurt anyone. She’s feistier than she seems.”
I smiled at that. At least Mary was doing well. I hoped my dad just let the bar sit there, unoccupied so Mary could come and go as she pleased.
“I put up theclosedsign with a note,” Jasmine explained, as if she knew exactly what I was going to ask next. “Said I had a family emergency and had to return to my coven.”
I shivered at that thought. It was the last place she’d ever go, but nobody knew that aside from myself and my dad. And I wasn’t sure how much he knew.
“So Zoe told you about the life bond and my dad?” I asked.
Jasmine nodded. “And they were right to take you. Your dad’s been into the bar every night as well. Asking if I had any contact with you. Wants to know where you are and how to get in touch with you.”
“He knows where I am,” I said. “He came here himself.”
Jasmine shrugged. “I don’t know if he does. He seems confused, off. Not quite himself.”
I glanced at Zoe. “Sounds like he is being controlled.”
“Owen asks about you too, but that’s for another reason. He’s his usual charming self,” Jasmine said.
“Wonderful.” I didn’t miss him at all. He made it too easy to walk away after the way he ended things.
“So after all that strangeness, I was all in when Zoe told me everything and asked if I wanted to help,” Jasmine said.
“Thank you.” I clasped my best friend’s hand in mine. “You have no idea what it means to me that you’re here.”
“You know home is where your loved ones are,” she said. “I know Stella’s was your mom’s, but she’s with you wherever you are.”
A lump in my throat made it difficult to swallow. Jasmine was already writing off Stella’s and if I let myself be honest, I knew she was right. There was no going back, not for us.
I squeezed her hand. “Thank you.”
“You need to rest,” Jasmine said, releasing my hand. “Zoe agreed to work with me on some training. My magic is rusty and we’re going to need all the help we can get to find the magic user behind your dad’s actions.”
“I’m happy for you, Jaz.” I knew she missed using her magic; she’d said as much a few times. “Thanks for doing that, Zoe.”
Zoe smiled. “We’re a team, now.”
I might have ended up in this situation in a very negative way, but maybe it was time to let go of that and accept this. They had been kind to me while my own father was trying to kill me. What was the harm in letting them in a little? In maybe building some friendships? It had been so long since I let anyone in. I could do this. To help the shifters who were in danger from the magic controlling my dad. “We are.”
