It wasn't until Mom physically had her hands on Uncle Frank I realized how much trouble we were in. He was screaming over and over, a high-pitched keening sound into the early morning light, his body burning slowly from one side to the other. I dove for him, Mom's movement breaking my freeze.

It seemed we all moved at once then, piling on top of him, the very weight of our presence smothering Odette's magic and freeing him from her grasp. The moment her shields collapsed, the ...