Having undone the rusty catch, Cass tried easing the window upward. It wouldn't budge much more than a fraction. Certainly not without screeching and alerting half the household. Had she not needed fresh, cooling air, she wouldn't have bothered. She wiped her hands down her robe, then tried again, managing to push the window as far as it would go.

"I'm sorry." Devorlane Hawley's voice drawled from the bed, sending a shockwave up her spine. Another to match the several that had ...