on the floor, cradling Hilary's head in her lap. The pink glow in her eyes had faded, leaving

ng over his sisters, his hands shaking. Even the strongest br

w them, the front door burst open

w the light f

w slung over her shoulder. This was Carlson, twenty-one years old and Elena's oldest friend. Behind hi

there were mice trapped in the corners of the room. He saw the blood and immediately went to work. H

water from the stove.

oth and a basin, her eyes darting to the ruined back doo

d at her hands, which were still stained with

rom the stairs. "But then...

ildren, playing in the streams and hiding from the village elders. Elena had always been the quiet one, the one who saw things others m

red, her voice sounding far

on Hilary. He peeled back the blood-soaked fabric of her dres

ear him from the stairs. "The Orcs carry rot on their claws. If I

. "No. No, Carlson, you have

rrowed in concentration. "But I need more t

t me. When the light happened, what did you feel? There is still something

k. She looked at the Fae woman, Betty, who was still unconscious against the wall, her g

truth of them. They weren't just monsters. They

. He reached out and touched her forehead. He jumped ba

id. "Elena, whatever you d

change a monster into a mouse, can you change a wound i

t. It had come out of her like a scream, a raw reaction to her sister's

, hovering them just abov

now how,"

a firm anchor in the storm. "Want her to

ped listening to Mark's heavy breathing. She reached deep into the

from her heart to her shoulders, t

, Aiden paused as he stepped into his steaming bath. He felt a surge of pure, healing ligh

ing in the marble bathroom. "She isn

oft, warm glow. It wasn't the violent explosion of before.

The skin didn't just stitch itself back; it glowed for a moment before becoming smooth and

ghed, a deep and peaceful sound, a

gth completely gone. Carlson cau

voice full of wonder and a littl

for years, but the girl he was holding now was a stranger. She was something a

s out what she is... if the Bloodhound Prince hears of a girl who can tur

side. "I think it's too late for that, Carlson. Look at the