I could hardly say the words. “It’s white magic, Jenks, but she might not wake up if we can’t break them in time.”

“Holy shit!” The pixy dropped down to dust her with the red of worry. “Pierce, I take everything back. Just make Ivy okay again. Okay? Okay!”

My gaze alternated between Ivy and Pierce, my tension growing as Pierce mumbled and a haze enveloped his hands.

“Rache!” Jenks shrilled as he dropped to her face. “Can’t you just douse her in salt water? Do something!”

“It’s ley-line magic, Jenks,” I said, frantic as I looked at Pierce, helpless.

“The devil woman layered it,” he muttered. “It’s powerful tricky. Just shut-pan and let me work. She’ll be fine. You’re making an all-fired to-do over nothing.”

Easy for him to say. My heart pounded, and Jenks and I watched Ivy breathe, each one softer than the last. The haze enveloping Pierce’s hands took on a decidedly black glow, and power prickled through me. “Hurry,” I whispered as his hands moved with an unconscious grace over her. I didn’t care if he was a black witch if he saved Ivy.

Finally Pierce exhaled, the glow fading from his hands as the last of it fell into Ivy and he leaned back on his heels. “Is she okay?” I blurted out, and he nodded, looking haggard.

“It will take a moment to work itself through, but yes, she should wake now.”

Tears warmed my eyes, and I suddenly remembered I was kneeling on the cold wooden floor, my knees the size of grapefruit and aching. Ivy was going to be okay.

“Ivy!” Jenks exclaimed, hovering by her nose and jabbing it with his foot. “Wake up!”

Ivy gasped, and I jumped as Jenks darted up, wings clattering. My hand went out, and I reached for her, jerking back when she yelped as I touched her shoulder.

“You said she was all right!” I exclaimed, horrified, and Pierce looked mystified.

“Broken,” Ivy said, breath hissing when she tried to sit up. “I broke my arm when I fell.”

“Ivy! You almost died!” Jenks said cheerfully. “Pierce saved you!”

Ivy glanced at him, holding her arm and pain etching her features. “Thanks, Pierce,” she said dully. “Did she get away?” she asked as she took in the broken glass, smoldering couch, and burnt pool table.

Thank you, God, I thought, trying to calm myself so Ivy wouldn’t know how close it had been. “Of course she did.” I awkwardly took my pain amulet off and looped it over her head.

“Ow,” Ivy hissed through clenched teeth as she looked at her arm and turned gray.

“Yup, that’s broken,” Jenks said, hovering over it and dusting heavily. “Just like the window. She broke my window, Ivy!”

“The woman didn’t break the window, I did,” Pierce said, looking embarrassed.