“I never would’ve let Thad go regardless,” the woman continued. “I was terrified he was in danger from whoever shot you. I feared you two had witnessed something, and the gunman might come for Thad despite his young age.”

So MizB would’ve been even more freaked out than Jo had allowed for? She slowed her pacing. All this new information screwed with her years of burning hatred. Plus, Thad had grown up so . . . good. Jo couldn’t possibly have done better with him.

Because he couldn’t possibly be better. “This isn’t the best time to talk. I can come back another night.”

As if she hadn’t spoken, the woman murmured, “At Mr. B’s wake, I saw you. You were at the window, sobbing in the rain as you watched Thad. I knew you were going to let him go, because I’d told you that’s what a mother would do.” Her tears started up again. “I thought you’d made the decision to pass on.”

“I did.”

“I mean, to the beyond.”

Jo’s patience neared its limit. “Oh, for fuck’s sake, woman. If Thad didn’t love you, I’d pop you in the face.”

Thad’s shocked gaze darted from Jo to MizB and back. “Uh, maybe we shouldn’t, um, talk to our elders like that?”

“Elders?” Jo was about to go hysterical. The two of them were millennia old!

But MizB smiled. “You used to say that to me all the time. Do you remember?”

Jo did.

“So I’m hopeful. I can’t make up for all these years overnight. But having hope is enough for now.”

Uncomfortable silence followed.

Then MizB rose. “I’ll be right back.” She paused at the doorway. “You won’t go anywhere?”

Too tired to fight, Jo sank down on the couch again.

The woman hurried from the room.

“Thanks for covering about the uncle,” Thad murmured. “It’s a long story. I’ll give you the lowdown later.”

“I’m tanking this, kid. I’d say I’m not usually such a bitch, but it’d be a lie.”

“You’re doing awesome.” Thad didn’t seem discouraged at all, just the opposite. “Mom told me you were tough-talking and never sugar-coated things.”

“I didn’t know MizB saw my face looking like modern art.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “I don’t want to say anything that’s gonna hurt or embarrass you, so I think I should blaze. I was having a shit day before you and I ever mixed it up.”

“What happened?” He leaned forward. “What made you cry? Tell me about it.”

Confusion. “Like tell you . . . about my day?” Had anyone ever asked her to do this? “I broke up with my boyfriend. He’s probably my mate—I’m definitely his.”

“Is breaking up with a mate even possible?”

All things were possible in the Lore! “Yep. He couldn’t keep it in his pants. So anyway, I should—”

“Were you with him long?”

“Two weeks,” she answered. “So this isn’t the best time to dig into the past with your”—she bit out the word—“mom.”

“You can’t go yet. Please stay a little longer.” No, not with the eyes. “Please?”

Damn it! “Fine. I’ll give this another fiver.”

“Thanks, Jo!” His face lit up as if she’d promised the world(s).

“You look like you did when I gave you that Spidey doll. Best theft I ever committed.”

“I still have it. It’s on my bookshelf.”

“No way!” I’m with my little brother. Holy shit, we’re talking.

MizB returned, carrying a tray. “A little refreshment,” she said, setting it on the coffee table. She’d brought three steaming drinks—a cup with a tea bag and two mugs of warmed blood. She even had a bowl of hot-chocolate marshmallows. “Fresh from the blood deliveryman.”

They got delivery?

MizB looked like she was about to hurl; she must’ve heated it on the stove. So not only had the woman accepted Thad’s changes, she was adapting to them.

What wouldn’t MizB do for Thad? We have that in common. Two women who fiercely wanted what was best for him.

She offered Jo a mug with a weak smile. “Marshmallow, Josephine?”

Like luring a feral cat.

Jo exhaled, her anger deflating. As confident as she’d been at eleven, she hadn’t been bulletproof, not enough at least. MizB had gotten Thaddie to safety after Jo had kicked her first ant mound.

All the woman had ever wanted was to be a good mom. She had been.

Jo took the blood, even accepting a marshmallow to be nice. “Smells good,” she lied. Though dying of thirst, she’d been ruined for regular blood.

Still, both MizB and Thad looked overjoyed by her willingness to play ball.

For him, Jo supposed she could retract her claws every now and then.

He raised his mug. “To Jo’s homecoming.”

Better get used to the red stuff. She forced herself to choke it down. Like drinking sludge compared to Rune’s high octane blood.

MizB said, “I guess you two didn’t need to use utensils after all.”

SIXTY-NINE

I really appreciate the effort you made in there,” Thad said when he and Jo settled into chairs beside the pool. “I know it had to be strange.” Roger that. “I’ve done worse.” The three of them had talked about the old library, and some of the wackier things Thad had done as a kid. He’d laughed so hard that Jo had even chuckled. Before she knew it, she’d finished her blood, and dawn had been approaching.