Sweat beaded and pooled under my clothes in the sauna of the kitchen. We'd gathered a crowd, the room tingling with an overcharge of hovering magic. Well over fifty witches packed themselves into the good-sized room with spill over into the hallway, a mix of emotions flickering past me and sometimes through me as even they, accomplished as the coven members were, lost threads of power. I flinched from the air magic, trying to keep my grounding in earth, but that just made the heat worse.These were not the witches of my birthday, the calm and black robed family prepared for Beltane night. No, these were terrified and furious witches, most still in robes and slippers, pajamas and nighties, with pale frightened faces and sleep deprivation to feed their panic.One of our own was taken. Now no one felt safe.James Crossman huddled near the perimeter, his five-month-old daughter Eliza clutched to his chest. It broke my heart when I realized it was his wife Sandra who was taken. Their lit

Mom was home when I stomped in the kitchen door, but it didn't mean she was available. Every time I tried to talk to her she was hauled off by some conversation in her head or another so I finally gave up and retreated to my room to sulk.When she did reach out at last, I slapped her away, too wrapped up in my own pissiness to care if I hurt her feelings.We're meeting tonight, she sent. Be ready at dark.It shook me loose from my funk. Already? Well really, what did I think? That Mom would sit on her hands over this? I slid from the bed and rummaged in my closet for my robe, just in case.I did my best to stay out of her way, but help her at the same time. I know she forgave me for my bad humor because when I came back downstairs with my rumpled cloak in my arms she pulled herself free from a family argument long enough to kiss me on the cheek and shake her head.Whew. No robe. That was a blessing. I hated the damned thing.I made Meira and I grilled cheeses, sliding one to Mom.

What was it about my sleep patterns these days? I woke with a start from a nightmare. This one at least was more natural in origin. It had something to do with Brad and a large cow and three zippers... I shook off the remaining fear, forgetting the details as quickly as the sweat dried on my face.Man, did I need a therapist.Which made me think of Pain. And brought everything back up again.Knowing I wouldn't get back to sleep after that, I swung myself out of bed and headed downstairs for a snack. Maybe a nighttime nom session would lull me into dreamland. At least it would give me something to do.I was bent over with my head stuck in the fridge when I felt someone watching me. I let out a little shriek when I spun around and caught Quaid looking in the kitchen door.Hand clutched to my oversized t-shirt, I went to let him in."What is your problem?" I hissed at him, my heart rate struggling to settle after the second stressor in less than five minutes."Sorry," he said. "I k

I gulped fresh air in the back yard. I'd been so engrossed in my training I didn't even realize it was full dark until Erica was taken. I tried to get my head on straight while I struggled with my emotions.Erica was gone. Celeste possibly dead. As much as I disliked the latter, I never wished anything of the sort on her. And as for Erica... she was my mom's best friend, my second mother my whole life. Yes, she bugged me sometimes and treated me like a kid. But she tried and I knew she loved me.And she was gone.I felt him before I saw him, leftover residual power from the link, but I was very happy he was there. Uncle Frank hugged me and held me while I cried on his chest. He was still cold so he hadn't even taken time to eat before coming to see me."It'll be okay, kiddo," he said. "We'll find her, I promise."It wasn't just Erica, of course, but a mix of sleep deprivation and one emotional blow after another turning me into a weeping mess of Syd.When I finally pulled back, I

This was not happening. Was not. I did not just lose my ex-boyfriend to the very creature my family hunted in a place I wasn't supposed to be on threat of violent and probably amphibious punishment by my mother.Oh. My. Swearword.I couldn't think or breathe or move. I stood there on the path in the dark, my focus so shot my limited night vision magic was gone, my shields a puddled mess dissipating at my feet. Everything wavered and wobbled around me and my chest rose and fell faster and faster as I gulped air into me, my lungs squeezing together like a steel band tightened around them, squeezing my life away.My demon howled and I jerked out of my hysteria. I gulped a giant gasp of air and bent over in half, keeping my head down so I wouldn't pass out from my anxiety-fueled hyperventilation. I had to get it together. Had to. There was no one else to save him but me.I turned and ran back toward the car, reaching out for my mother and found nothing. No one. They were all shielding