My vampire reacted before I could, an explosive gust of spirit magic shoving back the advancing undead with murder in their hearts.

"You touch her," the essence said through my mouth, "and you will feel pain the like of which there has never been."

It probably helped the concussion of her attack had knocked most of them back, even leaving Mom and Margaret wobbling a little. The rotund European Council Leader spun on me with anger in her eyes, but Mom was ...