They were waiting for me at the stronghold, my faithful ones. Gram took Demetrius's hand as he joined the others, facing me. I dug my fingers into Galleytrot's fur, the big dog sinking to his haunches beside me while I addressed them."I know I won't be able to convince any of you to stay behind," I said. Silence and grim expressions. Answered that question. My heart swelled with love and eagerness as I went on. "Okay then. Listen up. Charlotte, you're with Galleytrot." She'd been with me the night we tracked Rosetta and her Chosen and with her keen nose tied to his, I knew we'd find our target that much faster. "Sass, you stay with me." Amber fire flared in his eyes. "Demetrius, if you could handle any stray sorcery and intimidate your old followers, that would rock."He gave me a thumbs up, so odd to see him make such a normal gesture."Shenka, you and Gram clean up the mess I make, capiche?"Because once I found the Chosen and the dark maji, I was going to make a mess.Oh boy,

I didn't go right to Core. There was something I had to do first.Max didn't say a word as I returned to the house, expecting to sneak in and do what I had to do then out again before the crap hit the fan.Before the family could react to me releasing the coven's magic.I'd already made my decision to leave the leadership even as I turned from Fate and marched back the way I came. Zeon continued to scowl at me, Iepa hanging back. I offered the maji leader a flash of my middle finger-while Max chuckled-before tearing open the veil and returning home.Good thing Max was on the ball. I'd have forgotten to shrink myself and probably torn the roof from the house. Yes, our neighbors didn't notice much when it came to magic, thanks to centuries of Sidhe influence, but I doubted they'd miss it if the top of the two-story was suddenly in the back yard.To my surprise, I landed in the kitchen in the middle of an anxious group of people, one cat and a very agitated black dog. The room was so

I was practically flying when I hit the ground at the bottom of the stairs, already shrunk to my normal size. The urge to keep going, pound my way through the veil and to the vampire mansion, smear opposition and cut the bitch's throat was so powerful I had to force myself to breathe. Knew it was my demon's impulsiveness driving me.Sure it was, Syd.I fixed my waiting friends with a grin of evil delight. "The mansion," I said.Sebastian groaned softly, tapped his forehead with his fingertips. "When I left them, Anastasia gathered the blood clan and took them home to Austria, leaving the house in the care of their human servants."I thought of Stewart and the helpless staff who were now, quite likely, dead. Just another tick on the tally against Ameline.She was racking up the points, yup yup.Time to cash in her ticket.I almost giggled at that. Even in the face of trouble-hell, usually in the face of trouble-there were times I cracked myself up."According to this Fate," I je

Charlotte stalked past me as Alison's form wavered from corporeal to ghostly and back again. I really should have learned the combination of stones to press to open the secret staircase to the underground, and this time actually watched as my werefriend followed the combination with unerring accuracy.The floor beside her groaned and collapsed, falling down into a set of stone steps leading into the dark. A giant ball of witchlight burst into existence at the top of the staircase as Quaid shouldered past me, face lit with blue light."There will probably be others downstairs," he said. "Let me handle them."Another one who couldn't follow orders. Though Demetrius had the Chosen well in hand the last time I saw him. And from the echoing booms and faint screams I heard coming from outside, the battle was still going strong.I nodded, let Quaid lead the way. As much as I would have loved to barrel my way into the underground, he was right. Focus on Gabriel, let the others do what they

She blocked me. Of course she did. But that didn't keep me from attacking her again.And again.And again.The power I released ricocheted around the room, hitting the walls, the slab, passing through Alison, reverbing back from Max as he protected himself.Can you help me? I threw my need at him, heard him grunt.I will feed you what I can, he sent. But right now I am the only one keeping this house from collapsing.Crap. Never mind, I sent. And thank you.Let Max go. Focused on Ameline. Panted a little as I pulled back, felt her for weakness. There had to be weakness. Just look at her. But no, nothing. Not a hint of a way through the shields surrounding her.No matter the power she expended, she had accessed the magic of the chamber. When I tried to tap into it myself, the same shielding blocked me, the reason, I understood now, for its sadness.Thanks to the magic she hoarded behind her wards, we were equal.Maybe so, my vampire sent as I fumed over the truth. But she carr