Medein is not standing near her doorway. She’s far enough to tell me she used magic to open it. “I thought I heard you two out here. Come in.”
Her home is fitting for her. The cottage blends in with the elements. Everything around Medein’s village smells of bonfire, smoke, fresh foliage and petrichor. Her front door leads directly into her kitchen. The interior matches the outside—brass-colored pans hang from the ceiling, antique light fixtures clearly passed down through generations, exposed wood and diverse plants in every room.
The smell of something sweet fills the air.
Caleb sniffs. “Is that magic I’m smelling? It smells good.”
“Yup.” Medein removes a pan from the oven and out comes homemade sourdough bread. “Hardest spell in the book.”
Neither of us were expecting something so normal. And I guess Medein picks up on that when she asks, “What? Did you think spells are the only magic I make in the kitchen?”
“I may have thought you’d be in here dancing naked around a cauldron,” Caleb says.
Medein picks up on his joke and gives it right back to him. “That’s okay. I thought when I’d open my front door to wolves that I’d find you gnawing on raw meat.”
I catch myself laughing.
Crap. I really didn’t want to like her.But I do. Even if she is a witch.
Medein moves around her kitchen with ease, knowing where everything is. Her grace and fluid movements match her personality. Confident, self-assured and grounded. You can tell by simply observing her that she is the kind of person who gets an idea and decides to do it right then and there. She doesn’t lie in bed all day or get paralyzed with the anxiety of making a decision. If she wants it, she does it. I feel calm around her but also a sense of creative energy that makes me feel motivated to pick up a new project.
With the utmost respect, I’m envious. But not the petty kind—the kind where I’d let a playful cuss word or two slip because she looks so good, but I’d still let her know, privately, of course, if she had something in her teeth. At any event I knew she was going to be at. I would be inspired to not wear just any old rags because I’d know she would look flawless. She’s not competing with anyone but rather sheinspiresme to step up my game. I admire her.
“You bake?” I beam and inhale the smell.
“I do now. I found some old recipes that have been in my family for generations. Thought I’d try them. Here, have some.”
She doesn’t have to tell either of us twice. That first bite of warm, freshly baked bread has us both moaning.
“Wow,” I say.
“Yeah? Do you like it?” she asks, delighted.
“Medein, this is amazing.”
I take another bite and whimper at its taste. I lose myself in the slice so much so, that I’m sure my anxiety will have a field day cringing at my behavior later. “This is better than sex.”
Silence falls. They’re both looking at me.
My chewing slows as I gaze back at them in horror.
Did I just say that out loud?
Yup, my wolf says.
Fuck.
Caleb raises one eyebrow and stares me down.
I didn’t mean it.
…Okay, that’s a lie. I definitely meant it, but I’m open to having my mind changed... And with the way he’s staring at me right now, I think he might be up for the challenge.
Thankfully, Medein changes the subject. “So, what brings you two this way?”
“I thought maybe you could help us. Jay was branded. Are you able to remove it?”
“Let me see it.”
