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What worried me most was Rasmus and Zara. Did the renamed ‘guardians’ share the nephilim aversion of their watcher ancestors?

There was no way to ask without telling them Mulan’s story, and she might not want it shared. Of course, telling me was like writing it on a billboard that lots of people could eventually see if they read my mind. I don’t think the shaman staff knew that my mind shouted my thoughts to the world without my permission.

As if I didn’t already have a hundred concerns, my phone pinged with a new message. Henry said Ben was at the driveway gate with a van full of strangers. At least, they were strangers to Henry. I texted back to let him in because Henry would have kept him waiting until I did.

Looking Mulan over once more to be sure she was still doing okay, I left the sleeping Wu Shaman to go greet them.

Chapter Thirteen

Asix-foot, curvy blonde climbed from Ben’s barely used apprehension van and stretched her long legs. She was curvy all over but shapely and muscled as well.

The closer I got to her, the more familiar she looked. I strained my memory, trying to place her. I’d been Fiona’s age the last time I worked in Ireland. I had returned often enough to keep in touch with work friends.

The woman’s eyes swiveled in her head as she surveyed the grounds. Then her head turned on her shoulders farther than humanly possible. There weren’t many beings with that much neck rotation.

Luckily, Ben and the other passengers hadn’t gotten out yet, so they’d missed the head-swiveling show. An owl shifter’s greatest magick was the ability to scare the living shit out of normal people. Her large white wings and long claws were just extra.

A smile bloomed across my lips. “Ya could have flown in, Jessing. I wouldn’t have minded. I know how hard giant owls find being cramped up in vehicles.”

Jessing spread her arms. She managed a half-grin for me recognizing her, which told me she’d finally lost that edge ofher seriousness that had made her keep her emotional distance when we worked together.

Her German eagle shifter family hadn’t been very affectionate with the owl shifter child they’d freakishly birthed. She’d been reticent to even make friends when Aran first met her.

“Hello, Aran. I was told you had a problem you couldn’t handle. Is that true?”

“No, I can handle it just fine,” I said, grinning at her. “But I’m trying not to kill everyone who comes after me. I’d rather solve this dilemma differently if I can.”

Chuckling, Jessing erased the distance between us and pulled me against her giant body for a hug. The woman wasn’t overweight at all. She was just large… and incredibly strong. I felt like a child in her embrace.

Shock and a slight bit of fear stiffened me for a moment, but finally, I made myself relax. “It’s good to see ya, Jessing. Ya look wonderful.”

“You don’t, Aran. You look tense. I’m here to help with that. My partner is also coming to help soon. However, he is a big man and requires a big portal. May we open one here on your grounds? This place is enormous. You must be very rich.”

I laughed as I pulled free of her fierce clutch. It made me feel sorry for her prey. “I’m not rich at all, Jessing. Didn’t ya hear? My ex-husband put me in prison for seven years. I bought this place with friends.”

“I did hear about your unfair prison time. Why did you stay in that place? It is the question no one can answer for me.”

My voice was soft but firm. “I stayed to protect my daughter from her power-hungry father who threatened me. In hindsight, it was not a wise decision. But ya can’t change the past.”

“Ezra always said it was a waste of magick that someone like you would let someone like your former husband lock both you and your magick away.”

I grunted. “Oh, that’s right. Ezra worked his way up the Shadow Breaker ranks after I left.”

“Yes, some would say that,” Jessing said with a smile.

“What would ya say?” I asked.

Jessing drew in air through her teeth. It was a terrible sound, and I looked away so she wouldn’t see me wincing.

“I would say the irate fairy felt he had unfinished business with you,” Jessing said.

“Well, he didn’t,” I said. “I broke up with Ezra long before I married Jack.”

“Why does your daughter now cavort with supernatural beings? An angel follows her everywhere,” Jessing informed me.

“Why do wolves howl at the moon? We’re a magickal family with destinies we can’t fight.”

Jessing stopped asking questions to laugh.