Page 121 of Starry with a Chance of Nightshade

“Anyway, he told us Astria is Adam’s daughter, not Henry’s,” said Stratton. “And Adam is in Grimm Cove. At least he was last night. He helped take out some runners.”

Drest stared at me, his lips curving upward. “This explains a lot.”

“Like?” asked Stratton.

“Like why I kept sensing Adam near the Frankenstein estate when I’d visit Rachael. He was probably trying to keep tabs on Astria and Amice. And if I’m right, he’s probably why Astria made it out of the river after the accident. Someone or something ripped the top of the vehicle off and got her to safety. Got Henry out too, and Amice but it was too late for her. Adam has the strength to rip a vehicle apart with ease,” said Drest. “And it would explain Henry’s obsession with monsters. The woman he loved had an affair with one.”

“Uncle Drest, do you happen to have any pictures of my mom?” I asked, biting at my inner cheek.

Stratton came for me, ignoring the warning look his cousin gave him. He hugged me.

“I do,” said Drest. “A number of them. I’ll see to it you get them.”

I teared up. “Thank you.”

Stratton kissed my forehead and then tilted my face upward. “I love you.”

With a worried glance at Uncle Drest, I spoke out of the side of my mouth in a hushed whisper. “I love you too. Let’s not push his limits this morning. He’s not exactly handling this all well.”

“I think in his mind you were forever locked at age four,” said Stratton with a chuckle. “But he’ll come around.”

Drest snorted. “It’s not me you should be worried about. You did hear me mention Adam can peel the top of a car off with his bare hands, right? Imagine what he can do to a man who is sleeping with his daughter.”

I yelped and wrapped my arms around Stratton’s waist quickly, holding tight.

Stratton just laughed more.

“I love you,” I said. “I don’t want my father tearing your head off.”

Drest snorted. “We once saw a man stuffed in a fry warmer. He’d been ripped apart and then folded like an accordion. It was one of Henry’s monsters that did it. I’m guessing Adam would use more force.”

Stratton chuckled.

I gasped and clung to him.

He kissed me again. “Sweetheart, I’ll be fine. And thanks for not wanting me to end up a pretzel.”

There was a knock on the door, and I jolted in place while Torid instantly returned to dog form.

Stratton kissed my temple. “Sweetheart, calm down.”

“My dad is Frankenstein’s monster and can break you in two,” I said. “How about we do the opposite of calming down? Feels like a great time to panic.”

He laughed again as Drest went for the door.

When Drest opened it, I looked out, expecting to see a massive man in a leather jacket. When I saw a woman standing there with long dark brown hair with a streak of white in the front, I squealed, sounding like I was in college again, not forty. “Willa!”

She saw me and darted in and past Drest.

We collided and embraced, holding each other tight.

She glanced around the living room and then at me. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, are you?” I asked, still holding tight to her.

“I am. But I was worried about you,” she said. “I started having the worst visions of you being swarmed by…monsters basically, on campus. I got here as soon as I could.”

“Visions?” I questioned, stunned to see her again.

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