My skin was red as the scorching water beat mercilessly down. I stood, watching the crimson liquid circle the drain before disappearing into the nameless pipes below. I should be doing something, washing my body, or getting dressed again, but I was paralyzed.

When the water turned cold, I summoned the energy to reach for a towel and step out of the tub. The vanity mirror was coated in a thick layer of steam, and I wiped it away to get the first good look at myself.

I looked like hell.

The soft curves of my chin and cheeks were now hollow. A crooked nose, most likely broken based on the angle, matched my swollen eye. My hair hung. in dripping clumps, droplets ran down my face like tears. For all I knew, they were.

The moment I stepped through the door, the thin layer of peace was gone. The band-aids holding me together would have to be stitches; broken would have to be healed.

Uncle Finnigan was waiting when I opened the door, releasing the steam into the otherwise chilly room. I waited, rocking back and forth as he finished reading a long document and added it to the pristine stack next to his open briefcase.

His movements were slow and silent, limbs poised like a dancer. After a long pause, he turned. His pupils were blown to an impossibly large size, making him appear even less human. I hated when he did that, it meant his emotions were elevated.

"I'm sorry," I started, hearing the desperation in my voice. "I didn't think it would attack, and I let it get out of control. I'll do better next time, you'll see. I can-" I was cut off by a long sigh, the whistle of wind sucking the words out of my mouth.

"I should have known you weren't ready, Alexis." His deep voice filled the room. "You're still too weak. I should have kept a closer eye on you."

"I can do it. Just give me another chance. I know what to expect now."

I held my breath as my uncle looked me over. He looked like an owl, his body turning as his head remained motionless. "I'm afraid it's too late anyway."

"What?" My pulse raced.

"I sent someone better equipped to handle the demon. It won't be a problem."

"Then it's over? The girl, she's safe and healthy?"

"As healthy as can be expected after that ordeal. You suffered more physical injury in any sense." I sunk into the bed, my face in my hands. At least there was one upside. "Here." Something small hit the mattress next to me. "Your aunt wasn't able to be here today, but she sent this just in case."

I held up the vial, green liquid. Having earned my fair share of well-won bumps and bruises as a kid, so I knew what it was: superficial healing draught. I uncorked the bottle and gulped it down, the familiar taste of lemon taking over my mouth. The physical wounds would heal soon, but the pain would last a few days.

"Did you tell her what happened?" I asked, my cheeks heating at the thought of my failure. "Do they all know?"

"Just Beatrix," he confirmed. "No one else knows where you are or what you're doing."

"It will be good to see them again. When do we return home?"

The long pause unsettled me. His eyes were fixed on the wall, unblinking. "You won't be returning yet. I have another assignment, one that is better suited."

"How long will it take?" My throat felt dry, like someone had run sandpaper over my tongue.

"Another four weeks or so. It will be easy, scouting at the least, a small intervention at the most."

"When do I leave?"

"As soon as your bag is packed." He finally turned to face me, expression unreadable. "You don't have to go. We can always return to the manor and keep training."

"I'll go." I couldn't keep disappointing my family. Running home would only bring more stares. "I need to prove I can lead the family."

"I trust you will. Everything is arranged. I'll give you the details in the car." He stood, to collect his papers, placing them neatly in his briefcase before straightening his suit. When he saw my lingering gaze on the wall, he stooped low to meet my eyes. "Is something more the matter?"

"What about Kiri?" I whispered. "It's already been three weeks and I haven't talked to her once. Could I stop by, just to talk to her?"

"I'm afraid time is of the essence. Kiri was doing well the last time I saw her. She was training with the recruits and seemed to be making friends."

I nodded, but it felt hollow. I wasn't okay with the arrangement, but it was for the best. She would still be there and safe when I returned.

Still, I missed her hugs and laughter but her calm more than anything. Kiri had a way of soothing the pounding in my head, making everything clear. At least she seemed to be doing well without me.

"Alright, I'll pack my bag." I collected my thoughts, assembling the broken pieces scattered in my head. "Did you give her the letter?"

"Yes, she received it, but I couldn't tell you what she thought of it. She didn't read it in front of me."

"It's fine. I didn't expect to be gone this long. Could you tell her that I'll hurry back and explain everything soon?"

"It will be my priority after getting you settled. Shall we?"

I didn't have much to pack and Uncle Finn knew that. He took my small duffle, and he steered me out of the hotel room. In the silent hall, the stains from the pearls of blood left a track to the door. The staff would never get that out.

We passed a lone employee who gave us a quick look before returning to his phone. He hadn't spared me a glance when I trudged through earlier.

It hurt to hop into the car. My bruised legs were cramped with the strain. The potion was working, but slowly. For now, it felt like I had squatted double what my body could handle. When we were on the road, my uncle handed me a file.

"Here's your next assignment. It's relatively easy, but there is a lot of thought that needs to go into it."

I opened the thin covering to reveal an awkward-looking kid smiling at me from a photo obviously for school. His black burls matched the dark rims of his glasses and his laugh lines looked permanent.

"So, what's his deal?" I preferred to know personal details. The important stuff, much to my uncle's dismay. He liked black and white facts, one of the few areas we differed.

"He gave blood last week and we were contacted with a potential risk. Wolf, at least he should be. I think his father was Max Davis, a wolf from Alpha Daniel's pack. He died eight months before Nick was born. Car crash. No one likely knew about the child, The mother was clueless about the father, Max's, identity. She's Catherine Tristen."

"You're kidding." Catherine Tristen was a famous lawyer who had a staunch stance against the supernatural. She only represented high-status cases that usually left the accused with the guilty verdict. "And her son? Does he share his mom's opinions?"

"He does not appear to share his mother's sentiments, no. He was expelled from his last school for inciting a protest on school grounds over the treatment of Coth."

My brows rose as I took another look at the kid in the picture. Apparently, my first impression of him was wrong.

I skimmed the rest of the paper, noting that most of the data were pending.  "Where is he now?"

"His mom moved him to a private high school near Daniel's pack. Her house is there, but she shouldn't be a problem. He's boarding at Ridgewood High."

"They do that?" I scoffed. "Maybe it won't be so hard to investigate if he's never home."

"This case is relatively straightforward. What will be difficult is determining if he has the wolf gene or not. You also have to decide if it's safe to bring him into our world. If there's a risk, it might be best to let him grow up a normal human."

"I'll do my best to ensure that doesn't happen," I promised.

"I trust you will. You, of all the people, are uniquely qualified."

I didn't respond to that. My situation had become a sore topic. Being the first witch in the Morill line not to be born with magic was a shame I wore. I knew my family still hoped magic would surface, but I had given up hope. One day, I would have to admit to the supernatural world that I did not inherit my mother's famed power.