The house was cold and dark when we arrived, the air itself seeming chilled despite the early summer warmth we'd enjoyed. Thunder rumbled in the distance, an approaching storm leeching heat from the very ground as though it understood something massive came our way.

I sat with Miriam and Sydlynn for an hour or so as mother soothed baby with her love and magic and I purred them both into calm.

"I don't know what's going to happen, Sass," Miriam said, afraid from her ...