the deep-seated chill of starvation and weakness. It was a pale imitation of her former power

tal clarity-the original Janna kicking this same bear across a room, laughing as he whimpered and begged. More memories cascaded: the belt striking Cary, the whip tearing Shane's flesh, the cruel orders sending the twins to their likely deaths. She saw, in full, sickening detail, the

raphic keyboard, pulling up the v

eeling herself. Then she p

hidden speakers in every room and corrid

g they were used to, cut through the villa's dead si

if struck. His fox ears flattened against h

errified whimper and covered his head with his pa

emerged, his leg wrapped in a crude ban

aker. "Let's see what this craz

ng up the stairs with his back ramrod straight. H

e scooped up the trembling Elias and follow

t like a throne at the head of the room-the original Janna's seat of power. Instea

into the middle of the room, placing it where no one could

d of footsteps descended the

already seeping through. Her brow furrowed for a fraction of a s

a shield. The moment he saw Janna, h

sive semi-circle. The air crackled with hostility. Shane's green eyes were

ess in their muscles. She knew a single wrong move, a

a threat. Instead, she spoke in a calm, even

you ha

ne and Cary exchanged a shocked glance. They had expected accusation

ing laugh escaping his lips. "Hate i

braced himself for the inevitable explosion, for