“Where have you been?” Okay, so she’d brought her pulse down to speaking level, but it was still fast enough to make her voice tremble.

Atticus face was shadowed, his features strained. “Taking a walk.” He stepped into the kitchen with measured calm, even though an underlying tension vibrated in his movements. “Had to clear my head.”

She couldn’t read him like that, without his aura, couldn’t guess at his state of emotions, his intent. Just a few short hours ago, she’d have never believed he’d harm her—well, she’d also been convinced he’d never betray her like that. But he had.

He’d taken her powers.

The realization speared her heart,...