Iepa's concern grew to fear as she reached for me, but I turned my back on her. Focused on my friends, waiting, watching. Max bowed to me.

"I will see you soon, Syd," he said. And stepped through the veil, vanishing from sight.

I felt Iepa leave, didn't care.

Let trouble come. Better than some unknown darkness I might or might not be able to survive. We'd faced difficulty before and if my constant state of alertness meant my friends and family-and the ...