I have faced down wraiths, shadow packs, cursed wolves, and gods in their angry forms. None of them compare to the fear that hits my spine when Carter says: “Moon lady!” My entire body goes rigid. Claire’s breath stops. LJ drops her cereal bowl so hard it ricochets off the counter like a gunshot. I turn toward Carter slowly — like sudden movement might shatter something sacred. He is so small in my arms. Sleep-soft. Curls stuck everywhere. Eyes still faintly silver. But when he looks up at me? There is recognition. Not confusion. Not babble. Real recognition.
“Moon lady comes back later,” he says proudly, as if announcing a toy he found.
My heart stops so abruptly it physically hurts. I lower myself to the edge of Claire’s bed, keeping Carter steady against my chest. I make my voice ge
