Chapter 22: The Stronghold

I was tired, so tired, as I entered the veil and slid along the rubbery membrane toward the Stronghold plane. But I couldn't stop. There wasn't time to lag, get some sleep, not for me. Even more now I was determined to stop Erica and Belaisle from depopulating North America's witch compliment if it meant killing my mother's oldest friend myself.

I stepped out into the cool quiet of the Stronghold a moment later, hand reaching for the wall as all the strength ran out of me. Panting for fresh air, I leaned heavily into the stone, forehead pressed to the rock wall, begging my body and energy to hold out just a little longer.

I'd been so powerful for so long, this feeling of being drained to the edge was new and frightening. It had to have come from moving my family en masse. There was nothing about it that felt like foreign interference, so I only had my own body's weakness to blame.

We'll manage, my vampire sent, sounding weary herself. We always do.