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Sydney had no idea what the woman was talking about. For one thing, she thought she was a witch, and okay, in the pejorative sense of the word, she was . But a real witch? Sydney wasn’t so sure about that.

Granted, something had happened to Adam. He didn’t seem to be able to move. Or speak. But magic? That just felt like a real stretch.

Sydney had seen all sorts of things at photo shoots. Different effects done with nylon thread and lighting, and forget about what could be done with computers.

No, none of those things were visible now, but there had to be an explanation, right? She clung to that, because believing that this woman really did have some kind of power terrified her in ways she wasn’t ready to acknowledge.

She held on to her stubborn refusal to accept that any of this wasn’t explainable and shook her head.

“No, I don’t think so. I’m leaving. I’m done with this.

I’ve had enough.” She was also more than a little angry.

That was probably the only thing keeping her from losing it. “You and Adam can have your talk.”

She contemplated taking Sugarbelle with her, but the dog had finally run off to the bedroom. Sydney turned to go, got three steps toward the door, and could no longer move.

“Enough,” Veronika snarled. “I am done with both of you. I’ve been too lenient already. Now you’ll see what I’m really capable of.” She walked around in front of Sydney. “And you’ll see who Adam is, too.”

Veronika smiled brightly. “I cannot tell you how much I’m looking forward to that.”

The smile abruptly left her face. “Both of you, outside. Now . Move .”

Sydney wanted to leave, but her body wasn’t obeying her. She had no choice but to turn and follow Adam, who was already headed for the back door.

Veronika was a few steps behind. Sydney sped up a bit and reached out to touch Adam, using her body to shield the movement from Veronika. She wanted to reassure him that she was okay and that they’d get through this.

How awful he must feel. Probably like he was responsible for Veronika being here. Sydney didn’t blame him. No one was responsible for another person’s actions.

He opened the door and kept on going, across the deck and down the steps into the backyard. He hadn’t turned a light on, but there was enough from the other houses in the neighborhood to see decently by.

Sydney followed, letting her eyes adjust to the darkness.

“That’s far enough,” Veronika said.

Adam and Sydney both stopped, then he turned to face Veronika. He glanced at Sydney. There was so much pain and anger in that quick look that it was impossible to miss. Her heart ached for him.

She couldn’t contain herself anymore. The annoyance and frustration at Veronika’s behavior was more than Sydney could bear. She tipped her head back and screamed, “Help!” in the loudest voice she could manage.

A split-second later, there was no sound coming from her throat. She tried harder, but nothing she did produced a single word or note.

Veronika laughed. “You are very entertaining. I’ll give you that much. But I’m done playing. Time to show you who Adam really is. I think that will end any little crush you have going on. At the very least, you’ll see how truly incompatible you two are.”

A low growl emanated from Adam.

“Hush, darling. You know this is for her own good. Yours, too, I suppose.” Veronika stroked Adam’s cheek.

“Once she sees the real you, it’ll all be over.

You’ll understand, as I do, that it could never work between you two.

You have to know she just sees you as a … project right now. I’m sure of it.”

She ran her hand over his head. “Did she talk you into the haircut? If so, I owe her for that. You’d really let yourself go.”

Veronika stepped back, then motioned for Sydney to do the same. Unbidden, her legs moved, putting another yard between her and Adam. “There you go,” Veronika said. “Still a front-row seat but not so much in the splash zone.”

Sydney had no idea what the woman was talking about, but she was clearly insane.

And possibly possessed. How she was controlling Sydney and Adam, Sydney had no idea.

Had she somehow slipped something into their food?

But how would she have known where they were having dinner?

Nothing made sense, but Sydney’s brain continued searching for an explanation.

And for all Sydney’s belief that there must be one, she was hard-pressed to come up with what was going on. “How are you doing this?” Sydney hadn’t really meant to ask the question. It was more of a thought that had somehow slipped out. Apparently, her voice was back.

Veronika paused. “You shouldn’t be able to speak.

” She frowned. “Well, anyway, I told you, I’m a witch.

” She held out her hand, and a ball of blue light formed in her palm.

“I wield the magic I was born with. You have none, because you’re merely a human.

Do you understand now? By the way, yell again, and I will remove your voice permanently. ”

Sydney didn’t understand, not really. It was too much to grasp. Witches with real magic were something out of books and movies and fairytales. It was preposterous. “So you’re an evil witch?”

Veronika cackled in a way that did nothing to convince Sydney otherwise. “You are so human.” Her eyes tapered down to slits, her expression implying she thought herself superior. “Unlike Adam and myself.”

Sydney said nothing. A chill went through her. She didn’t want to know what Adam was. She liked what she knew about him already. That was enough. “Please,” she said quietly. “Just let me go home. I won’t tell a soul.”

Again, Adam made a sound. Sort of like he was urging Veronika to let Sydney go home, too.

Veronika shook her head. “Enough. You’re both boring me.” She pointed at Sydney. “You be quiet and watch.” She pointed at Adam. “You, show your neighbor who you really are.”

Adam’s response was a short, harsh grunt.

Veronika rolled her eyes. “Do as I say, or I will compel you, and I have some doubts about the pleasantness of that experience for you.”

A new sound rolled out of him, a threatening growl that reverberated like distant thunder.

Veronika sighed. “Honestly, you know what I’m capable of. Stop arguing and?—”

Adam lunged forward. Wasn’t much. Half an inch maybe. But it was enough to cause Veronika to jerk back.

She frowned. “I must be tired.”

Or, Sydney thought, she wasn’t the great and powerful witch she thought she was.

A new thought popped into Sydney’s head.

Maybe Veronika was on something. Some kind of hallucinogen?

But that wouldn’t explain the things she’d been able to do.

Not silencing Adam or causing Sydney to go in a direction she didn’t want to. And definitely not that ball of light.

Movement caught Sydney’s eye. Sugarbelle stood in the open door, looking into the backyard. Most likely also wondering what the heck was going on.

“All right, my darling.” Veronika lifted her fingers in Adam’s direction. “This is going to hurt you more than, well, to be honest, it’s not going to hurt me at all.” She tipped her head down. He was still growling. “Muto. Muto !”

Whatever that meant, it seemed as if something had taken hold of Adam. His body went tense, the muscles straining. His eyes screwed shut, and his mouth opened, the soft growling reaching new volume.

Veronika made a face and stepped back, but Sydney was powerless to go anywhere. She watched in horror as Adam’s muscles and joints took on a life of their own and his skin went gray.

He looked like he was in pain, although his face showed nothing but anger. And something else. Shame? Embarrassment? Whatever was happening to him, he didn’t want it to.

Sydney closed her eyes.

“Oh, no, you don’t.” Veronika grabbed Sydney’s arm and shook her. “You watch this. You need to understand that Adam and I are not like you. We’re different. Powerful. Better. Watch and learn, human.”

Sydney opened her eyes but stared at Veronika. “You’re not better than anyone. Whatever you really are, you’re the worst example of it. You’re a sadist and a bully and I hope…”

Sydney stopped breathing.

A creature rose up from behind Veronika. A winged creature of rock and muscle. One that looked very, very familiar. “Holy?—”

Veronika turned and raised her hands at the creature. Before she could do anything, a snarling rocket of fur shot from the house, flying off the deck, and clamped down on her arm. Veronika yelped.

The creature scooped the little dog up with one hand, then grabbed Sydney with the other and leaped into the night, wings moving great drafts of air with surprisingly little noise.

As the ground fell away, Sydney’s head began to spin. Could it really be that Adam was … but his skin was as hard as stone. He looked carved from it, actually.

How …

Then everything went black.