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Chapter 1

The women in my family have always been witches, which is hen Ulean, my wind Elemental, tossedand whispered in e forto close my eyes and lower myself into the slipstrea my name When it told me that my aunt Heather and cousin Rhiannon were in trouble, I didn't wait for a second warning I called theot my second surprise of the day

"Marta's dead" Heather's voice was strained

I stared at the phone Marta, dead? The woman had been ancient the last time I was home, but we all expected her to outlive the entire town That she was dead seemed incomprehensible "She's dead? What happened?"

"I don't know, Cicely We found her in her garden She was drained of blood and her throat had beenripped apart And I do mean ripped"

The obvious ansas a rogue va: the ripped part Most vaent for the Vampire Nation lived in New Forest and kept order in the area Geoffrey was a good sort--if you can call a vaood sort--and it was hard for me to believe that any one of the vamps under his control would be so stupid as to kill Marta She had char them off and the repercussions would be harsh, even for the vamps

"You think one of Geoffrey's people killed her? What do the police say?"

My aunt paused "I'e things going on and the town ischanging The cops didn't see Marta's death"

A chill ran up my spine

Strange is not the word for it, Ulean whispered There are so er

"Are you sure you're okay? A voice on the wind told er I was about to pack"

A pause Then, "Please coood It's tiht now, I' on the edges and in truth, it has me afraid"

My aunt never admitted fear That she would do so now sealed my decision to return to New Forest

Heather paused, then added, "I think at this point, everyone's fair ga hit the hardest I'll explain when you get here And there's another reason you should return"

"What?" Family duty, I had no problem with, unlikeat the back ofelse was in play