“Got wind there’s a girl in this town, causing trouble. Calling herself the slayer.” She paused, giving a raspy, self-assured laugh. “Which is funny, because that’s my job.”

“The slayer popped back to her own timeline a month ago,” Sweet said. He held up his red palms as the nerd in the suit aimed his crossbow at him. “Who are you?”

“I’m Faith, the vampire slayer,” the girl purred into the microphone. Jonathan felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.

The man in the suit leaned over, awkwardly squinting against the stage lights. “And I’m Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, her Watcher.”

Questioning murmurs swept through the room. Could there be more than one slayer? Would lightning really strike the same club twice? All around the Bronze, demons reached for pool cues and darts that could be used as makeshift weapons. Every vampire face shifted to bumps and fangs. Anya’s and Harmony’s necklaces glowed phosphorescent green as their skin shriveled into vengeance-demon veininess. Andrew flicked open Tucker’s Eagle Scout knife.

“Screw it,” Jonathan said. Jumping off his stool, he scooped up the Conch Clarion and let loose a battle cry. “For Demondale!”

Bringing the shell to his mouth, he blew. Unleashing hell.

Again.

Acknowledgments

This book would not have been possible without the work of so many people. All my thanks to:

The women in the BtVS writers room, who inspired me to become a writer. Marti Noxon, Jane Espenson, Rebecca Rand Kirshner, Tracey Forbes, Ashley Gable, Dana Reston, Elin Hampton, Thania St. John. The show owes its legacy to you.

Britt Rubiano and Cassidy Leyendecker, for making my Wish come true and geeking out with me through the process.

Laura Zats, my agent who I found many years ago by typing “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “literary agent” into the same Google search. Thanks for being my Giles ever since.

Dad, who introduced me to the Buffyverse.

Erin and Liz, who have very different opinions on the bunnies of Watership Down.

The cast members of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but most especially Charisma Carpenter, Michelle Trachtenberg, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, Eliza Dushku, Emma Caulfield, Amber Benson, Julie Benz, Juliet Landau, Kristine Sutherland, Clare Kramer, and Mercedes McNab.

About the Author

LILY ANDERSON is the author of The Throwback List; The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You; Not Now, Not Ever; and Undead Girl Gang. A former school librarian, she is deeply devoted to Shakespeare, fairy tales, and podcasts. Somewhere in Northern California, she is having strong opinions on musical theater. Find her online at MsLilyAnderson.com.