The beach at Hensley house had grown crowded with witches already when I arrived, Oliver behind me, Sass and Jiao forcibly left behind with Max. I just didn't want them around me right now. Too bad I couldn't talk the lurking Order solider into staying with them but whatever. He wanted to see me in action? I'd show him action the likes of which the two sisters in question would regret for the rest of their short, painful lives.
Sand squeaked under the rubber soles of my sneakers, evening shadows falling over the shoreline. The scent of summer remained here, tried to calm me with its promise of better days. But I was long past such allure, drawn deep into fear for my son, anger for my mother, rage at the witches who lined the beach, focus elsewhere.
The Shadow Council. I should have realized they'd show up here, now, while Tallah stood on a large rock at the edge of the ocean and spoke to them with magic augmenting her voice.