Meadow’s POV:

The crash of the ceramic plates against the marble floor made me flinch, and I cursed as the pieces scattered around me. I froze like a deer caught in headlights.

Mel gasped, nearly dropping the pan she was holding. “Stay still!” she barked, already rushing toward a door in the corner of the kitchen. “You’re barefoot, Meadow. Don’t take another step.”

I nodded quickly as my muscles tensed. And when I remembered that Alaric was only a few feet away, I turned ...