We sat at the table, my carnal thoughts making me blush as Sebastian turned and sank into a chair, still holding my son. Those thoughts turned to "awww" as he softly rubbed Gabriel's back with one big hand, while Mom served us wine and some fruit and cheese. I bit into a strong piece of cheddar just for something to focus on as my demon rumbled her continuing interest, hand fisted around my glass of milk.Sebastian waved Mom off when she made the offer of some cabernet."I no longer enjoy the taste of alcohol," he said. Winked at me. "The only disappointment in all this."Mom's eyes locked on Gabriel as she sat and, without prompting, Sebastian handed him over while a little seed of resentment woke up, cutting through my consideration of his strong hands, the way his muscular chest rippled through the open collar of his white shirt.I'd tried to save his former queen, hadn't I? And he gives Gabriel to my mother.Typical.Sebastian told Mom everything while she rocked my son in an

Why is everything all black and fuzzy? Numbness pulls at me, hums to me to return to the dark and be still. I almost do, want to, for some reason. There is great comfort in it, in the embrace of the black and the haziness of the nothing.Have I fallen into my sorcery? Into a gaping hole made for travel from the hungry black of my power, only to be lost?No, that can't be right. I can hear voices, can't I? Familiar voices, ones I know very well. They make me want to focus, to listen and understand why I am here, floating in the dark.Even as I do, my soul flinches. Cries out. Tries to retreat. Something isn't right. A fundamental something, tied to the center of who I am.But what? And do I really want to know?Light assaults me, bright and terrible, and only then do I realize I'm blinking. Looking up into Lula's face while she talks from very far away. Not to me.To Mom. Who hovers over me, face lined in strain, hands clenched tight to her chest.Why are they upset?And should

Maybe I should have feared her. What she might have become. The last time I saw Alison, she'd attacked me, tried to steal my crystal from Demetrius.Was blown apart by the power.Instead, the boiling hate woke in full force as I grasped her by the front of her shirt-part of me remembering she was corporeal at the last minute-and shook her.And shook her.And shook her. Until my arms ached. Until I was sobbing for air, pouring all of my rage and bile over her, dumping the shreds of my guilt and fury and shattered remains of my heart.Alison simply sat there.And took it.Which made it worse. I jerked her toward me, pressed my nose into hers as I screamed at her my final shred of need in this world."Show me my baby!"Alison finally reacted, twitched."You gather echoes. Where is he?" I pushed away from her, stood, spun to face her, power crackling as the girls woke. Finally, something to do, to focus on. Someone to punish.Someone else.Her tears, her sadness, cracked me d

I could see the tension in Varity's face as she performed her necromancy.And nothing happened.A frown pulled at her lips, lining her already wrinkled face with surprise and frustration."He was young," Lula said softly. "Have you raised a baby before?"Varity shook her head, deeply troubled as her power swirled around the skull. "I haven't," she said. "But he should have an echo.""He was Sidhe," Mom said, bringing up the argument I feared the most. "They don't have echoes. It could be he simply doesn't have one to show."But Alison was already shaking her head, her nerves gone, face determined as she held out her hands to Varity. For the skull. As though it were some special gift."Please," she said. "Let me."Varity met my eyes, but Quaid spoke before I could."Just give it to her," he said, voice rough, gruff and graveled. With grief? I didn't know. But his power around me never wavered and I sent silent thanks to him for his continued support.For his belief in me.I n

I was going to go alone. But there was no way my posse would allow me to leave them behind.Lula was called away before Gram and her bully pack made themselves very clear."You're taking us," she said, linking arms with Shenka even as Charlotte crossed her arms over her chest, scowling at me. Sassafras appeared through the kitchen door, leaping up on the table, tail thrashing in agreement.Made me happy, despite my one-woman crusade addiction. Filled me with a kind of brilliant joy, as though I'd swallowed the sun. Had to take a second to keep the lump rising in my throat from emerging completely.Nodded.Reached for the veil.We formed a magical daisy chain, my friends and family following behind me as I stepped through and into Ahbi's welcoming embrace. Sassafras leaped at the last minute, landing in my outstretched arms, first through with me as my demon grandmother released us and allowed me to take over.My maji power sought Maurice-and my son all over again. Though I knew