Originally released in 2010 in the anthology, Inked, this novella takes place near the end of the novel, Night Season when Cynna and Cullen are off world. Lily and Rule are in Washington when he receives a call that a Nokolai friend had been killed and another had been arrested for the murder. Of course it doesn’t help that Robert Friar lives in this small town and had just started the group, Humans First. Lily first has to prove that magic was involved in order to stay on the case.

I’d just reread this story in my copy of Inked and it’s been so long between reads that I couldn’t recall most of what happened. You do get a complete story involving Rule and Lily’s relationship, the mystery, investigation and action. And of course magic is involved. What it doesn’t have that all of the novels in this series have is the rather deep discussions on magical theory. In that aspect it makes this an easier read.

Most of the series regulars are mentioned, if not on hand, including Arjenie, who we hadn’t physically met yet at this point in the series.

If you are enjoying this series you will definitely like this book. But I don’t recommend this as a place to start. ( )