She was still in her skimpy mightgown, her black silk robe doing next to nothing to hide her somewhat tall build, trim and smooth-limbed from her martial arts practice. Her wavy brown hair, mused from sleeping, spilled over her shoulders in an untidy fashion. Wide-eyed from being jerked from her be, her chocolate brown eyes looked larger than usual and her full lips were open to show small teeth. Head cocked, Aiden spun in his chair. Taking in her lack of clothes, his grim widened. Grimacing at her less than suave entrance, Ashley pulled herself straight, trying to find her usual iron hold on her emotions. Her tan cheeks were flushed and she wouldn’t meet my eyes as she closed her robe with an abrupt moton. "Matalina," she said, her voice still rough from sleep. "Is Glen Okay? Will he talk to us?" "God, I hope so." Aiden said dryly, turning his chair so he didn’t have his back to Ashley. The agitated pixy flitted to perch on the center island counter. a glittering trail of silver sparkles sifted from her, slowly fallling to make a temporary sunbeam, clear evidence of her flustered state. I already knew her answere, but I couldn’t help but slump when she shook her head, her wings stilling. Her pretty eyes went wide and she twisted the fabric of her silk dress. "Please," she said, her voice carrying a frightening amount of worry. "Glen won;t come to you. I’m so scared Spencer. He can’t go alone. He won’t come back if he goes alone!" Suddenly, I was a whole lot more concerned. "Go hwere?" I said, crowding closer. Ashley moced in too, and we clustered before her, almost helpless as the tiny woman who could stand down six fairies started to cry. Forever the gentleman, Aiden carefully tore a tissue and handed her a piece the size of my thumbnail. She could have used it as a washcloth. "It’s Jack," Matalina said, holding her breath between sobs. Jack was her older son. My fear quickened. "He’s at Carmens apartment," I said. "I’ll drive you over." MAtalina shook her head."He’s not there. He left with carmen on the winter solstice." I jerked upright, feeling as if I’d been kicked in the stomach. "Carmen was here?" i stammered. "At the solstice? She never called!" I looked at Ashley, shocked. That freaking human cunt! She had come, cleared out her apartment, and left; Just like Glen had said she would. And I thought she cared for me. I had been hurt and half dead from hypothermia and she just left? As I fumed, the betrayal and confusion I thought long gone swelled to make my head hurt.