The moon was high in the sky, casting a silver glow through the windows of Val's suite. It was late, long past the hour when a human Collar should be awake. But here was Issa, her hands busy mixing the herbs for Val’s nightly drink.

The scent of bitter roots and green leaves filled the quiet room.

Her mind was a jungle of thoughts. It had been a long day. A day that had started with a quiet offer of help and ended with a public confrontation and a gruesome act of justice. She still saw the ...