It was late and it was a blizzard. Winter came early and strong this year.

Asterid had reorganized the herbs on the shelf in she and Burdock’s little Seam house that doubled as the Seam’s apothecary sometimes. Both of their girls, Katniss, who was four, and Primrose, who was three months old, were asleep. Katniss wouldn’t accept that her daddy wasn’t home to tuck her in so Asterid had to give her a little sleep syrup to get her asleep.

Burdock wasn’t home yet, but he should’ve been home hours ago. A hundred scenarios went through Asterid’s head before the door opened.