"Aye. Yeah. Not so— not so bad now." Aftershocks, for sure. Lingering fear and adrenaline. But less new flashes, and far, far from the all-consuming mess it was when Saturday found her. "Thanks. I dinnae ken what I'd've done if..."

She trails off and just shakes her head. With the Nightenders close, she was little more than a sitting duck. On her own, she wouldn't have stood a chance.