My kitchen groaned with an overabundance of testosterone when I crossed the threshold from the back hall and onto the tile. Stomach clenching ever so slightly in response to the three grinning faces of the Zornov brothers and the sly sarcasm of Simon, I crossed immediately to an empty seat and sank into it. Sassafras watched from his perch in the middle of the table, amber eyes swirling with magic, though he didn't seem agitated.

I had to take ...