MADELINE
My mother's voice drifted up the stairs. "Madeline, dinner's ready."
I closed the grimoire I'd been studying. The words had stopped making sense an hour ago anyway. My mind kept wandering to the metaphorical blood on my hands. To the way that witch's eyes had probably gone dim first when the gift I had left her started working his magic before her body would have exploded. Hee blood and guts would have gotten everywhere. From the distance I stood, I could tell that Cian must have suffered the brunt of it. I really had not expected him to be there. If I had known, I would have made it less violent.
I pushed myself up from my desk. My legs protested. I'd been sitting too long. The walk down the hallway felt longer than usual. Each step echoed in the quiet house.
The dining room came into view. I stopped in the doorway.
Something was wrong.
