There were lights and sirens behind us. We glanced back, watched Gwen, Theo, Roger, and Petra emerge from vehicles and run toward the House they expected to see. And then stop and stare at what wasn’t there.

“I heard,” Roger said. “But I didn’t believe it. And seeing it—I still don’t know what to believe.” He looked at me and my tears nearly welling from concern. Family came in all forms. “I’m sorry,” he added.

I nodded and tears welled again. Roger offered me a handkerchief, which was so thoughtful, if old-fashioned. I had a really great boss.

“Thanks,” I said, and wiped my eyes. “I think they’re still alive. They’re just . . . wherever the House is.”

“Then we’ll bring them back,” Roger said simply, as if it would be so easy. A gentle squeeze of my arm, and then he moved on to Connor, to Lulu, offering what solace he could.

Theo gave me a one-armed hug, the other still casted. “We’ll figure it out,” he said quietly. “I promise that.”

Petra waved her gloved hands. “Consider this a hug.”

“Considered,” I said with a slight smile.

“Then let’s get to the business of figuring.” I appreciated that her mind went directly to solving the problem. “There’s definite demon involvement,” Petra continued. “You can smell the bitterness.”

“Yeah,” I said, anger blooming. “You can.”

She frowned. “Since when do demons do portal magic?”

“Portal magic?” I asked.

“If the House isn’t here, and it’s somewhere else, that’s basic portal magic. The House is probably wherever that”—she pointed to the well of darkness—“used to be. They switched places, like the world’s worst parent trap. Demons aren’t known for portal magic.”

“Maybe someone helped her,” Theo offered.

“It’s possible,” Petra said, “but who’d want to help a demon?”

“Her criminal accomplices,” I said. “She ran with a bad crowd.”

“True,” Petra said.

“Why was she here?” Theo asked, gaze scanning the landscape. “There’s no sign of a triggered ward, right? Why come to Cadogan House otherwise?”

“Maybe she thought there might be a ward and a Cornerstone,” I said. “There’s a lot of magic in and around Cadogan House. Maybe she just guessed wrong.”

“That’s logical,” Petra said. “But why toss the House? What does she get out of it? Maybe it was a defensive move when she saw you walk up?”

I liked the word “toss.” It made this feel more like a puzzle and less like a horrifying tragedy.

“We didn’t see her,” Connor said. “There was no need for a defensive move.”

“So she wanted the House gone,” Roger said. “Why?”

“There were powerful people in that House,” I pointed out.

“And powerful things,” Lulu said. “The library.”

“The library,” I said slowly, nodding. “And the spells Paige and your mother were going to translate. But she couldn’t know what’s in the library. Not in any detail.” I looked at Roger. “Did she ask you about it?”

“No,” Roger said. “But it’s easy enough to figure out the House has a library. That information is public and online. If she’s been preparing all this time, and knew at least one of the defenses existed, she might have been researching the city, trying to figure out where . . .” Roger trailed off and closed his eyes as we all realized the implication.