Page 113 of Wind with a Chance of Wolfsbane

Jonathan nodded. “So do you. He’d be the black wolf from Romania.”

“The one who saved my life and who I think is responsible for flying Mina and me to the States and putting us in a hotel room in Mill Hollow, leaving us with money, family photos, our passports, and other items, as well as notes about what to expect?” I questioned.

“He did all that?” Jonathan appeared confused. “Never mind. We can’t possibly be talking about the same person because Lucian is a wanker.”

Hannah tugged on my hands while she stared at Jonathan.

I knew her well enough to know she wanted to say something but was holding back. “Hannah, how did you know his name? I didn’t even know it.”

She averted her gaze. “He talks to me in my head sometimes.”

Jonathan growled so loudly that it echoed throughout the cave.

Hannah yelped and pressed herself against me.

Jonathan gathered control of himself quickly, lifting his hands in a sign of surrender. “Hannah, no. I’m sorry. Lucian and I have a long history. It’s not a great one.”

“You don’t like him because he bit you and made you what you are,” she said softly.

“Hannah?” I touched her cheek. “Honey, what are you talking about?”

She put her hand over mine. “Mom, Lucian bit him too. Kind of like what he did to you. He did it to save Jonathan’s life. Not to be malicious or anything.”

“Is that true?” I asked, my gaze sweeping to Jonathan.

He nodded.

“And this Lucian shared this with you? Why?” I asked my daughter.

She lowered her head. “Well, you called my father Jonathan, and Lucian has mentioned a man named Jonathan several times before. I just put two and two together. That’s all.”

I sighed. “Honey, I’m sorry. This is your father, Jonathan Harker. Like the character from Stoker’sDracula.”

Hannah stared at her father. “Not like the character, Mom. He is the person Stoker is talking about in the novel. He’s the original Jonathan Harker.”

“No. That’s absurd,” I corrected.

Jonathan cleared his throat. “Willa, about that.”

My face fell. “Are you freaking kidding me? You’retheJonathan Harker?”

“Yes,” he said sheepishly.

I did my best to fully appreciate what he was saying. I thought about my copy of the novel that was annotated and gasped. “You’re who wrote in the margins of the book I have!”

“Guilty,” he said.

My heart broke for what he’d gone through. I was torn between continuing to hold my daughter’s hands and going to him.

Hannah released my hands and nodded to him. “Go ahead. I’m good.”

I kissed her cheeks, one by one.

She laughed softly. “Mom, I’m fine. I swear.”

I went to Jonathan next and hugged him.

He wrapped his arms around me tightly and lifted me off my feet as he squeezed me. He set me down and put his lips to my ear. “I think Fate has been setting us in front of each other for a very long time, love.”

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