The Second Life of Magnolia Mae by Angela Schroeder Read Free Book Online Page B

her ear as she peered out the dark window. A flash of black ran across the yard in the distance. She now expected the wolf. It no longer seemed odd to have the animal so near. It never came close to the house though; for that she was grateful. She found herself lost in thoughts about the wolf. Was it the same wolf that was with Daciana or a descendant? If it was the same wolf what had kept it alive all these years? Thinking about the wolf and all she had recently learned, she’d lost track of time.
    “Well, I made chocolate since you decided not to come help.” Her brother’s voice brought her back to the living room. “It is cooling on the counter. What have you been doing?”
    “Just looking out the window. A storm is coming.” Her emerald eyes glanced in his direction.
    He stood with his arms crossed across his chest. “I already made a cake. I am not making thunder cookies.” He failed at his attempt to hide a smile as he dodged the small decorative pillow she tossed at him. He ducked out of the room and back to the kitchen just as the rain started to fall.
    Music floated to her from where he worked. Jace had put some music on the old stereo that sat in the kitchen. Magnolia joined him there and set the armband on the table. She started dancing around, giggling at how funny her brother looked across the room as he attempted to follow her gyrations. A pair of lights shined through the kitchen window, causing her laughter to stop abruptly.
    “Who would come at this hour?” Jace asked as he went to look outside.
    Bash was standing at the door, dripping wet. He looked down at his hands then glanced up at Magnolia. “Happy birthday.” It was spoken so softly that she nearly missed it. “I didn’t want to call and wake you, but I saw the lights on when I was out driving, so I thought…”
    “You’re just in time for cake.” Jace patted him on the back then closed the door behind him.
    Magnolia grabbed a towel out of the bathroom for him. She sat at the table while Jace frosted and cut the simple square cake. It was nothing like the beautiful bakery-style cakes her mother used to make, but it still made her smile. The guys sang the birthday song as they brought her a slice to the table.
    A blush crept up her face; she was not used to anyone besides Jace being there for her birthday, it being just the two of them since their parents had died. She was not sure how she felt about Bash joining them, but part of her was glad that he’d thought enough about her to drive past her house to see if she was awake just so he could be one of the first people to tell her happy birthday.
    After making a wish, she blew out the single candle that had been placed on the chocolate slice in front of her. The three of them ate while listening to the stereo. The rest of the cake sat in the center of the table. She knew it would be gone before the next day. Cake never lasted long, not with the sweet tooth that she and her brother had.
    Washing the dishes, Magnolia glanced out the window above the sink to see the branches from the tree swaying quickly to and fro, bending nearly to the ground. Lightning flashed across the sky, followed by such a huge boom of thunder that it shook the house. She rinsed the last fork, set it on the towel, then turned to the guys. “I’m going to go grab a few things from my room. Get the lanterns?”
     

     
    Bash watched her walk away. She had never looked more adorable than she did in her fleece pajama bottoms and tank top.
    He followed Jace into the back room to help with the lanterns, candles, and weather radio. He stopped at the fridge to grab them each a bottle of water. Just as Magnolia stepped next to the chair in the living room, the power went out. Bash lit the kerosene lantern that he was holding, while Jace built a fire in the fireplace. Magnolia quietly lit the other two lanterns and placed them at the other end of the room. He watched as she returned to the chair where she’d stopped