My foul humor lingered long past dusk, only the tingling touch of vampire magic shaking me loose from my bad mood. Shenka was smart enough to keep her distance, the twins and Sassafras out and about doing who knew what. So when I felt my undead family arrive and rushed to greet them, my second trailed after me.

"Syd." I stopped at the sound of her voice. Turned and met her knowing smile as she poked me with magic. "Smiling is usually a great way to show other people you're not ...