I'm on my knees, hands touching the dog, still tingling, running my fingers through his fur. I was wrong, so wrong. He's fine, rising to greet me, tongue sweeping over my cheek as he stands and shakes himself.

Not his blood, I guess.

Sound returns, someone is screaming, a bunch of someones, hoarse shouts and whimpering cries and outright sobbing. I turn, the dog at my side, to see Cade watching me.

He's smiling again. Brick hovers behind him, swallowing over and ...