The gunshot's echo rang in Seraphina's ears, a sharp crack that seemed to stretch forever, the room tilted as Rafe's head snapped back. Dark blood sprayed the wall behind him, his body slumping in the chair like a broken doll.

She stared, her breath caught in her throat, waiting for him to move, to grin that stupid grin and say something ridiculous like, "Takes more than a bullet to shut me up, princess" as he usually did. But he didn't. His still open eye stared blankly at the ceiling, the light gone from it.

"No," she whispered, the word barely a sound, her voice cracking as the reality slammed into...