Only eight minutes until I was to meet the catnapper. It both seemed too soon and not soon enough, if that made any sense. I'd run out of time to find Studmuffin myself or find a way to not hand over the Ring of Everlasting Night. I'd done my best though. Now I just hoped the exchange went smoothly and I had my favorite familiar back in my arms again soon.

While I waited in Dad's car, Bernie, my whole body strummed with vibrating, too-tight nerves. Dad had the sense to put snow ...