Vix stared at Cassidy, her mind a numb blank. There had been no footfalls, no noise, and no warning at all. It was as though the woman had stepped out from thin air. Vix realized that she probably had.

Caine stepped closer to her. “This is bad,” he muttered, his face pale.

Vix said nothing. Her eyes slowly traveled past Cassidy, to Mirra, standing behind her. The young woman had her head turned away. Her face and eyes were obscured by her locks of curly brown hair. She ...