I couldn't take it. Couldn't. I fled from Mom, from Gram, from all of it. Couldn't bear the touch of the veil, instead threw on my jacket and boots and felt the bite of the cold as I ran out into a frosty white world almost unfamiliar, across town, through the glass door, down the stairs, across the green barrier and into Liam's waiting arms.

The cavern's power embraced me, held me as close as my Sidhe friend as he guided me into his room and sat me on the edge of his bed. The ...