Exton

I'm having a celebratory drink with Jack - something new to me, Mexican beer - when my cell goes off. It's Raina. "Hi, sis. Is it over? How's the new papa?"

What she says next makes me cold down to the marrow and I can feel the blood draining from my face.

I snap the cell closed without a word, look Jack full in the eyes. "Cassie's dead."

"What?"

"It was Bloodmane." Nothing more needs be said. Jack's face closes up and his eyes go cold as Niflheim. He gets up in silence and leaves, gets in his truck and roars off, gods know where.

I find Monty, tell him the news and ask him to pass it on before going upstairs to check on Star.