We made it a bit of a party, though Charlotte and Sage did take their leave, returning to the werepalace while Mom, Oliver, Gabriel and I traveled through the Gateway and stepped across into the Stronghold.

Jared, body transformed back into the giant black dog, padded at my side, the squawk and rush of wings reminding me about Henry just as he dodged through the rapidly closing gap to clutch at my hair and hide, once again, in my dark curls like he could never face the world ...