Cadence hung in the air for a moment, or so it seemed. She knew her sister wasn’t close enough or focused enough to have sent her a protective bubble of levitational power. Still, everything in front of her seemed to pause for a heartbeat or two. Beyond Christian and the ebony embers of the exploding Vampire, she saw familiar faces, either staring at her in shock or just turning their eyes in her direction, realizing what was happening. Her arms flailed through air, her legs kicking as if she might gain traction and suddenly learn how to fly as they all watched her, hopeless.

She saw Cale and noted how...