Rain slipped her hands into a pair of oven mitts and pulled a tray of fresh-baked clarity cookies from the oven. Setting it on the counter, she dropped the mitts in a drawer and stared at the plain, beige treats. If she were to eat one now, before they were frosted, she could focus the effects on anything she wanted.

She chewed on her lip. Sliding a spatula beneath a warm cookie, she lifted it from the platter. Her breathing grew shallow as she gazed at the spellbound treat, and she let it fall back to the tray. Don’t be an idiot, Rain.

She’d made the right decision about Chase; she didn’t need a cookie to confirm it. Putting his family and his pack in danger wasn’t a risk she wanted to take. No matter how much her heart ached to be with him, she couldn’t. Even if he figured out a way to balance his time between her and his pack, she couldn’t ask him to make that sacrifice.

Of course, if he gave her two drops of his blood, her curse would be broken and he wouldn’t have to divide his time. But after everything he’d been through…asking him to give her a sacred part of himself, to break his pack laws and risk who-knew-what kind of punishment…she couldn’t do that to him. What good would it be to have her curse broken but lose the trust of the man who’d broken it?

The door chimed, signaling a customer, and Snow’s heels clicked across the tiles as she entered the kitchen. “Ingrid is here. She wants the rent.”

“She told me she was coming for it tomorrow.” Rain rolled her eyes. Leave it to Ingrid to insist on getting paid early. Though, the check was already late, so she couldn’t blame her. “I’ll bring it out to her. Can you take care of these cookies?”

“Sure thing.”

Rain snatched the rent check from a drawer and padded into the storefront, but she stopped short at the sight of the person standing by the window. To the naked eye, the woman appeared to be Ingrid. She had the same red hair and slim build, but her aura was off.

Really off.

All witches’ auras glowed a shade of magenta. Some leaned more toward deep purple, while others could be light pink depending on the level of their power, and Ingrid’s aura usually had a dark, rosy radiance. This woman’s aura didn’t glow at all. Instead, a dull gray, almost mist-like form hovered around her body.

“Ingrid?”

Her landlord turned around. “I’m here for the rent check.” She looked like Ingrid, but her voice…her expression…wasn’t quite right.

Rain forced a smile. “How was your trip? Did you get home today?”

“I’m here for the rent check.” She blinked rapidly, plastering a fake smile on her face. She never smiled at her.

Rain’s pulse thrummed. This wasn’t the Ingrid she knew. “You told me where you went, but I can’t remember. Was it Cancun?”

“I’m here for the rent check.” Blink. Blink. Blink.

A chill crept up her spine to pool at the top of her head. What if this wasn’t Ingrid at all? Could demons shapeshift? Chase had mentioned they hadn’t found the shadow he’d seen by the river. Maybe it had been hiding, gathering its energy so it could catch Rain alone and…what? Collect a rent check? It didn’t make sense. If whatever had taken on Ingrid’s form wanted Rain dead, it would have killed her by now.

Unless this really was Ingrid, and the demon possessed her, using her until her magic and energy were drained before moving on to the next host. And since Rain’s magic was bound, the demon didn’t deem her a potential target.

But Snow would be…

She shoved the check into her pocket. Whether or not this was really Ingrid’s body, the entity in control was not her landlord. “I’ll bring the money by tomorrow. It’s locked in the timed safe, and I can’t open it again until morning.”

Ingrid stared at her blankly as if she only knew how to speak the single sentence.

Dread trickled from the base of Rain’s skull down the length of her spine. “Will that be okay, Ingrid?”

She opened her mouth, and her lips trembled as she fought to form an O shape. “Okay.” Her scratchy voice sounded forced. Not at all like Ingrid. She nodded and shuffled out the door.

Ingrid didn’t shuffle; she always walked with purpose. Rain watched as she made her way down the sidewalk and disappeared from view.

What the hell was going on?

An image of the dead witch flashed in her mind. Could Isaac have summoned a demon and sent it after Rain? Not unless he’d summoned it from the grave. Stop being ridiculous. Seeing that body in the morgue was affecting her more than she’d thought. Isaac wasn’t the only energy vampire to ever exist, and if he were alive, he wouldn’t send a demon after Rain.

He’d want to kill her himself.

Rain yanked her phone from her pocket and dialed Ingrid’s number. It rang five times before going to voicemail. She hung up without leaving a message.

What if this was an effect from her curse? Could Ingrid be deliriously ill because of her? No, she hadn’t shown her kindness. She hadn’t spoken to her in a week.

Rain dialed her number again. No answer.

Snow carried the tray of cookies from the kitchen and put them in the display case. “Rent’s all paid?”

“Did Ingrid seem…off to you?”

“She wasn’t her usual cheerful self.” Snow winked. “She told me she was here for the rent check, so I came to find you. That’s all she said to me. Is something wrong?”

What if she were dead? Rain couldn’t live with herself knowing she’d been the last person to see Ingrid. Knowing she could have—should have—done something to help her.

“Her aura was off. I’m going to go check on her.” She grabbed her keys and headed out the back door. A chill ran through her body as she climbed into her car and drove to Ingrid’s house, a sure sign something was awry. A cyclist darted out on Esplanade, and Rain slammed her brakes to avoid a crash. She needed to calm down, but the closer she got to Ingrid’s house the more thoughts swirled through her mind.

Focusing on the scenery, she took in the nineteenth-century mansions painted in shades of peach, lavender, and blue. White columns led up to second-story galleries, where colorful flags and plants adorned the buildings. Giant oaks towered from the neutral ground, the grassy median separating the opposing flow of traffic, and created a canopy over the street.

She accelerated, and the mansions gave way to smaller, more modest houses. Hanging a left on North Miro, she navigated through the neighborhood and found her landlord’s home. Ingrid’s car sat in the short driveway, and all the shutters were drawn.

Parking on the curb, she darted up the front steps and knocked on the door. “Ingrid?” Her hands trembled, so she clenched them into fists as the lock disengaged and Ingrid opened the door.

Ingrid squinted as she peered between the door and the jamb. “Rain? What are you doing here?”

“Are you okay?” Did she not remember coming to the bakery at all?

She opened the door wider. Her disheveled hair hung tangled over her shoulder, and indentions from a pillow marred one side of her face. Though her purple button-up had appeared freshly-ironed when she’d arrived at the shop, creases now zigzagged across it as if she’d lain in the same position for hours. “I’ve felt better. I must be coming down with the flu.”

Rain’s throat thickened. “Does your entire body ache? Like you’ve had the life drained out of you?”

Ingrid rolled her head from side to side, stretching her neck. “Yeah. Is something going around?”

That was the same way Rain had felt after Isaac stole her energy, but she’d always awoken coherent. The way Ingrid had acted that afternoon had seemed like it wasn’t her. “Any other symptoms?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I might be having hallucinations too. I thought I saw a shadow.”

Rain clutched the doorframe. “A shadow?”

“Yeah. I was lying on the couch, and I heard a shuffling sound. Then this shadow appeared in front of me, and it touched my face. I must have been dreaming. I woke up when you knocked on the door, and now I feel like shit.”

Rain tugged the crumpled check from her pocket and tried to keep a neutral expression. “Here’s the rent. I’m sorry I woke you. I hope you feel better soon.”

“Thanks.” Ingrid took the money and shut the door as Rain darted to her car.

Collapsing into the driver’s seat, she leaned her head against the headrest to stop the spinning sensation. Someone drained Ingrid’s energy and then took on her form. It was the only explanation. She let out a slow breath and started the engine.

Rain drove to the bakery and double-checked the locks on all the doors and windows. As long as they remained engaged, Snow’s charm would keep evil out of her space. If the demon decided to come back for her, it wouldn’t be able to get inside unless she let it in.

She hung a sign in the door that read please ring bell for entry and shuffled behind the counter. Keeping the door locked wasn’t the best for business, but at least she could check out the customers’ auras before she invited them in.

Snow glanced at the sign and gave her a quizzical look. “We’re screening customers now?”

“Ingrid wasn’t okay. Something drained her energy.”

Snow’s mouth dropped open. “Isaac?”

Rain shook her head. “Isaac didn’t do it, nor any other witch. Ingrid said she saw a shadow right before she passed out. Whatever came to the bakery wasn’t our landlord; it was a shapeshifter.”

Snow’s shoulders relaxed as she let out her breath. “Didn’t you and Chase see a shadow by the river last week?”

“He assumed it was a demon targeting him, but it sounds like it’s targeting witches.”

“Why would a demon be hunting witches?”

“I don’t know, but it seems more probable than possible at this point, don’t you think? Something is draining witches’ energy.”

Snow nodded. “I hate to say it, but I’d rather it be a demon on the loose than to think Isaac has returned from the grave.”

She let out a slow breath. “I hate to say it, but I agree.”

Snow’s brow knit. “Why did it come here? Are we its next targets?”

“That’s what I thought at first, but if it drained Ingrid’s life force, it probably got a glimpse into her mind. And knowing Ingrid, she was thinking about getting the money, convincing herself she wasn’t showing kindness by not evicting me immediately.”

“So it took some of Ingrid’s energy, took on her form, and showed up here because that was what she’d been thinking about?”

Rain bit her lip. “It makes sense, doesn’t it?”

“I guess so.” She nodded, the wariness in her eyes making way for resolve.

“And it didn’t bother attacking us because it had plenty of Ingrid’s energy running through its veins.”

“Do demons have veins?”

Rain straightened her spine. “It doesn’t matter. Demons are nasty creatures, hell-bent on causing death and destruction. We aren’t targets any more than any other witches. And we’re Connollys.”

Snow put her hands on her hips. “That’s right. We can take care of ourselves. No demon is getting past my charm.” She leaned against the counter. “But you should probably tell Chase. Fighting demons is what werewolves do.”

Her sister had a point, but to talk to him after everything that had happened? “I can’t. You call him.”

Snow crossed her arms. “You’re the one who talked to Ingrid. It’s your theory. Besides, I know he’d want to hear it from you.”

Pressing her lips together, Rain closed her eyes for a long blink. As much as she ached to hear his deep velvet voice, she couldn’t do it. Instead, she dialed the number for O’Malley’s Pub and asked for Luke. Cool relief flooded her veins when he picked up the phone. She explained what happened with her landlord and her theory that the shadow demon had taken on her form.

“You’re sure it came to the bakery because of Ingrid’s thoughts? Someone didn’t send it after you?” Concern emanated from Luke’s voice.

Thoughts of Isaac raced through her mind, but she pushed them aside. “I don’t have any living enemies. I don’t believe it was targeting me.”

“Okay. Let me talk to Chase.”

Rain swallowed. “He’s not here. We’re…not talking at the moment.”

Silence hung on the other end, stretching out until she thought the call had dropped. Finally, Luke responded. “I see. I can send someone else over to stand guard.”

“That’s not necessary. My sister is here, and the doors are locked. Please don’t send anyone over.”

Luke paused again. “If you insist. Chase will be informed, though.”

“I understand.” Hearing the news from his alpha rather than her would feel like betrayal. What had she been thinking calling Luke instead of Chase? Her mixed-up emotions had gotten the better of her. Maybe she should have eaten that clarity cookie after all.

“Thank you for the information.”

She pressed end and looked at her sister. “I’m sure we’re fine.”

Snow furrowed her brow. “You don’t think Isaac could have summoned the demon? I mean…you never actually saw him die.”

She wrapped her arms around her middle, holding herself together. “There’s no way he survived.” He couldn’t have. Even if he had, seven years had passed and he hadn’t come for her yet. Why would he start now?

Snow nodded. “I believe you. Between your aura-reading ability and my magic, we’ll be fine.” She drummed her nails on the countertop. “So…can we talk about Chase now?”

Chase strode into the hospital parking garage, heading for his bike, when a dark, human-like figure sprang from behind a pickup truck and darted around the corner.

“Shit.” He picked up the pace, following the shadow, and stopped to peer around the corner. The figure stood at the garage exit, and it whirled to face him, cocking its featureless head before inching away from the building.

The semi-translucent figure was nearly solid black, but as it regarded Chase, its face seemed to morph, taking on liquid-looking features that smoothed into nothingness as quickly as they formed.

At midday, the sun had risen plenty high enough to chase away the darkness, and demons only came out at night. There was no mistaking this was the same shadow Chase had seen twice before, but if it wasn’t a demon…what the hell was it?

It took two cautious steps backward before turning and running down the street.

“Goddammit.” Chase took off after the creature. Mending his relationship with Rain would have to wait.

The figure jetted around a corner, sticking to the fence line as it ran, stopping every now and then to look back at Chase…almost as if to make sure he followed. Chase texted Luke and James, sharing his location and asking for backup. They’d call it his imagination if he claimed to see a demon out in the daytime.

He tracked the creature out of the Central Business District and into a dense patch of trees in City Park. Leaves crunched as boots pounded the ground behind him, and he looked over his shoulder to find Luke and James making their way toward him.

“What’s going on?” Luke caught up first, followed by James.

“The shadow. It’s out in the daytime.”

“What the hell?” Luke scanned the trees. “Rain said it was a demon.”

Chase froze. “When did you talk to Rain?”

Luke jerked his head, indicating they needed to walk and talk. “She called me half an hour ago. Said the demon attacked her friend and took on her form. I’ve heard of demons who can shape-shift, so I assumed she meant it happened last night.”

“Goddammit, Rain. She was with me last night.” He clenched his jaw to stop himself from asking permission to leave the hunt. His duty came first, but if his woman was in trouble…

“She’s fine,” Luke said, as if reading his mind. “You can go back to her as soon as we’re done here.” Thankfully, he didn’t ask what happened between them. The fact that Luke believed in her safety eased his fears. His best friend wouldn’t leave his fate-bound unprotected if she were in danger.

James squinted at the sky. “Can demons handle sunlight?”

“Not that I’m aware of.” Hell, the first time Chase had seen a demon was a few months ago when a crazy halfling tried to build an army to take over the city. The werewolves had crushed his plans within a few weeks’ time. They could take out one daylight-proof shadow demon. If that was all they were dealing with.

Luke turned in a circle, scanning the perimeter. “Weekday afternoon. Park’s deserted. Humans rarely come this far out anyway. Duck into the trees before you shift. Vanquish it and get out.”

Chase nodded, and they moved deeper into the thicket before shifting into their wolf forms. As Chase’s beast took control, his first instinct was to run to Rain and make things right with her. He fought it, using his human thoughts to remain in control. One demon wouldn’t be hard to kill. Then he could win back his woman.

The shadow moved from behind a tree. It barreled toward James, plowing into him and knocking him from his feet. James grunted as he hit the ground, but he sprang up, ready to attack. The creature tried to get Chase from behind, but he spun around, swiping his massive claws across the shadow’s chest. His paw passed straight through the entity as if it didn’t exist.

What the hell?

The thing stood there, tilting its head, its features wavering as if trying to take on a face-like form.

Luke and James fanned out around the entity until they all encircled it. Chase rocked back on his haunches, energy coiling in his legs, and sprang for the fiend.

No impact. His body propelled through the shadow; the surprise of not making contact threw him off-balance, and he tumbled into a tree, hitting the trunk with a thud. He scrambled to his feet and inhaled deeply. If this creature were a demon, the distinct scent of rotting garbage would have assaulted his senses. Instead, he smelled grass, earth, and trees. Nothing to indicate this creature had ascended from hell.

He growled low in his throat, and the wolves converged, stalking the…whatever it was…as it stepped backward in retreat. How the hell could they kill something they couldn’t touch?

The entity took a few more slow steps backward before it stopped and dissolved into nothing. Chase scanned the area, but not a trace of the shadow remained. His friends split up, searching through the trees.

Nothing.

Luke shifted to human form, and Chase and James followed their alpha’s lead. “Christ! What the hell was that?”

Chase shook his head. “I have no idea, but I’ll see if I can get more information from Rain.” His chest tightened. If she would even talk to him.

Isaac opened his eyes as his tulpa reformed before him. Perhaps draining a werewolf would be a better option for his next move. The healing abilities he’d gain might give him enough strength to create the spell he needed with his own magic. His body had burned through most of his last victim’s lifeforce in less than twenty-four hours.

Using a tree for support, he pushed to his feet. The rough bark cut into his hand, tearing the paper-thin skin as he clutched the trunk. His back was stuck in a hunched position, and his spine snapped and cracked with splitting pain as he forced himself upright.

Werewolves were too strong, and they were on high alert since he’d allowed his tulpa to play with them. He’d drain a witch. Use her power to cast his spell, and then it would be his turn to play with the werewolves. First, he’d finish what he started with the one trying to claim his Rain. With his rival dead and his magic restored, he might stick around to punish the rest of the pack.