It is time. I have been waiting for this moment since my Fall. The breath in this body shudders, its heart fluttering. I hear her footfall on the stairs.

"Hello, daughter."

She looks up at me, and her bottom lip trembles. Then her eyes narrow.

"Don't wear that body."

"I thought you might find it comforting," I say, and she shakes her head firmly once. And so I put aside the Kent shape and wear Tanwen instead, who is not so very much taller than Rose is now.

"You've grown again," I say sweetly, and smile at her, pinch her cheek gently. "And you came. You are a good girl, Rose."

"I'm not. But I'm Mama's girl, and so I'm going to save her." She looks at me very seriously. "You have to promise you won't hurt her after, not ever."

"Cross my heart," I say, and she shakes her head.

"A real promise." She holds out her hand, palm up, and I nod, surprised but pleased. She is my daughter, truly, for all her human weakness. I scratch my nail along her palm and blood springs up. She does not cry out, and I nod, approving, then cut my own palm. I press them hand-to-hand.

"I swear," I say, "I will not harm your mother." I feel the flicker of blood between us like flame.