“Rachel,” Ivy said slowly, “it’s the Brimstone. You aren’t thinking. Just sit tight!”

My eyes narrowed. “I can take care of myself,” I said, starting to feel really good. It wasn’t the Brimstone. No, I lived for excitement! I made decisions based on what would screw my life up the most! I was a messed-up, screwed-up stupid witch who had to mix danger with her sex life in order to get turned on, and I was going to live a very short, exciting life. I went to end the call, then hesitated. “Hey, you want me to keep the phone line open?”

“Yes,” she said softly. “No. Yes.”

I sobered at the worry in her voice. “Okay.”

My blood tingled through me, and I tucked the phone into my waistband, upside down so the mike was exposed and not muffled by my jeans. Ivy would be able to hear everything that happened. I looked at Jenks, seeing his worry and tension. “Well?” I said, pushing myself off the wall. “What do you think?”

“I think Ivy’s going to kill me,” he whispered. “Rachel. I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

I took a breath, exhaling long and slow. It was done. If anything, I ought to thank him; I was up and walking, able to run even if I was going to pay for it later. “Don’t worry about it,” I said, touching his shoulder. “Just stop making my decisions for me, okay?”

My roving eyes fell upon the bench he and I had been sitting on. My mouth went dry and I tried to swallow. Brett was standing by it, his arms crossed and his eyes fixed on me. He was smiling. At me. “Shit,” I breathed. “Jenks, they know it’s us.”

He nodded, his youthful face going serious. “He showed up a few minutes ago. We have six at the exit behind us and four at the bend the other way.”

“And you just let me keep talking to Ivy?” I said, not believing it.

A shrug lifted his shoulders. “They’re Weres. They aren’t going to make a scene.”

Normally I would have agreed with him. Heart pounding, I snuck a look at the six Weres at the exit. They had scads of jewelry and were in bright colors, making them from the street pack. Bringing up my second sight, I felt the last of my bravado wash out of me. Their auras were rimmed in brown again. How had Walter managed to pull them back together like that?

“Ah, Jenks?” I said, knowing Ivy was listening. “They’re in a round. They aren’t going to just sit there. We have to leave before the rest arrive.”

Jenks looked at me, looked at the Weres, then looked at me again. His gaze went to the roof, and he was probably wishing he could fly. “There’s only one layer of shops,” he said suddenly. “Let’s go.”

Grabbing my arm, he pulled me into the fudge store. Feet stumbling, I followed him in, breathing deeply of the rich scent of chocolate. There was a small line at the counter, but Jenks plowed to the front of it amid a chorus of indignant protest. “Pardon, me. ’Scuse us,” he said, flipping the barrier up between the front and the back.