Werewolves & Wisteria by A. L. Tyler

had the opportunity to talk alone yet. I could only assume that he had figured something out about Martha.
    We came upon a small settlement of cabins. Several of them were overgrown with flowering wisteria that looked out of place on the bed of fallen pine needles. They were like a little colony of storybook cottages hiding in the drought-blighted forest.
    Charlie stayed close to my heel as a woman came out to greet us. She looked older than I would have thought, maybe slightly older than Lyssa, with a thin frame and a braid of graying hair that hung all the way to her waist.
    She studied me with a shrewd expression, and then her eyes landed on Charlie. Behind her, I could see more shadows moving through the windows of the cabin she had emerged from.
    “I told you not to bring that here,” she said, though her tone was surprisingly gentle. She was like a mother chastising children.
    Martha held up a palm in apology. “Her friend was attacked. This was her first experience with werewolves, and they didn’t feel safe coming alone.”
    “They’ve got you ,” Adeline accused. “A necromancer would have been more than enough firepower, if they had needed it.” Her eyes flashed to me. “You won’t. There are people here who won’t want to let him leave, and that means keeping the bridge, too.”
    “And if that’s the case, they will need the firepower,” Martha said firmly, stepping between us. “You said you kept up with Kendra longer than I did, so I know you must know about Charlie. He’s stopped, and he’s repented, and he’s not with Stark anymore—”
    “—And our memories aren’t so short,” Adeline finished. “We understand better than most about warlocks and demons, Martha. I know the difference between a weapon and the hand that wields it. All the same, you can’t bring him here and expect people not to be insulted. Charlie’s the reason I had a falling out with Kendra. And just because people will want to keep you here doesn’t mean I’m going to let them. Kendra’s the only reason for that.”
    Martha relaxed, and Adeline’s eyes moved to Vince and me. She held out her hand.
    “You must be Vincent.”
    They shook, and she came to me.
    “And Annie.”
    She took my hand, and after everything that she had said, I felt compelled to apologize.
    “I’m not a warlock,” I said, shaking my head and frowning. “The whole thing with Charlie, it was kind of an accident, because—”
    “One hell of an accident,” she said gruffly. “But Martha already told me. She’s vouched for you. She told me that Charlie went out of his way to keep Vince alive when other options were available. She called in every debt my family owes to your aunt, so I hope it’s worth it to you.”
    “Debt?” My frown deepened.
    Adeline’s sharp eyes flashed to Martha again, questioning why I didn’t know.
    “Kendra did everything in her power to save my mother’s life,” she said. “It wasn’t enough in the end. The cancer was too widespread, and werewolf skin is impenetrable to most magical forces, helping or hurting. But she gave her years more than she would have had, and they were quality years. I won’t forget that she did that for us.”
    “I’m sorry for your loss.” The words felt wrong, and I felt like a child saying them, but the little twitch in Adeline’s eye and the small smile on her lips made it a little better.
    “Vince, go on back to the cabin. They’ll show you around and talk about what we can do for you.” She nodded in the direction of the cabin, and Vince started to move off.
    I made a small noise in protest, and went to grab his hand. He gave mine a quick pat and said he would be okay, and I was once again amazed at his courage.
    Adeline focused her intense stare on me, and waited until Vince had gone inside to speak again.
    “You’re together?” she grunted.
    I nodded my head to the side, shrugging a little, but Adeline seemed to be waiting for me to speak. “Yes, I think