Prologue

The sheer brilliance of a Spellfire sun was a welcome beacon to Rooney Dunn, who literally floated across the tree-lined avenues that distinguished his childhood home.

After waving at a passing werewolf who shared his stretch of road, he beamed warmly at the sight of Sinful Sundaes; a favorite dessert shop formerly owned by longtime friend Elektra Spellfire.

Yet it was another longtime friend, Madeleine Moonlander, who welcomed his arrival to the shop. Like Rooney, Madeleine had left Spellfire as a young adult, returning last year to find true love with the handsome vampire Drake and lots of sumptuous sundaes at their 'Sinful' date spot.

"Madeleine!" Rooney opened his arms to greet his longtime friend with a warm, affirming hug.

"Rooney!" Drawing back, the radiant, raven-haired Madeleine motioned her old friend toward a nearby table. "Take a load off, my friend. It's been so long since I've seen you."

"It seems like a lifetime," Rooney nodded in agreement.

Soon the two sat at a corner table, reminiscing over a gourmet sundae that sent happy 'ice cream chills' down Rooney's spine.

"It's so good to sample one of these famous treats, Madeleine," Rooney smacked his lips heartily then took a long, loving look around the interior of his friend's restaurant. "It's good to be back home."

Nodding, Madeleine reached across the table to grace his hand with a reassuring squeeze. "It's good to have you back. I just moved back recently myself, when I married Drake," she cocked her head curiously. "I must say, though, that something about you seems different. You seem..."

"Dead?" Rooney arched his eyebrows.

Madeleine snapped her fingers. "That's it!" Her eyes grew wide as she considered his words. "Really, Rooney? Are you sure?"

"I had a heart attack," her friend's tone was low and melancholy. "When I went to that place they so dramatically call 'the great beyond,' they said I had the option of coming home," he shrugged, "literally, I guess."

"And why not?" Madeleine winked. "This was your birthplace, though I think your mom and dad left for the Midwest to give you a more normal upbringing. Now as a ghost, you fit right in!"

"Indeed," Rooney laughed lightly. "I was never comfortable bringing my wife Jane here. She's such a sweet and proper lady, and I didn't think she'd be comfortable with all the paranormal beings and strange goings on." He shot an apologetic glance to a vampire who sat at a nearby table. "No offense, buddy."

"None taken," the vamp grinned good-naturedly, displaying a fierce set of fangs in the process.

"Through the years, I did make it back to Spellfire for an occasional visit," Rooney gestured freely around him. "It's good to be home to stay, Madeleine. Even so, I miss my Janie. I do have the power to visit her once in awhile, but it's just not the same."

Madeleine clicked her tongue in what seemed to be a gesture of sublime sympathy. "How is Jane, Rooney? She must be devastated."

Rooney shrugged. "She was, at first," he stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Slowly but surely, though, she's moving on."