My face went cold. I let go of Al’s arm and dropped back. Nick, clawing at Al’s grip on his throat, sent his eyes to mine. “I’m not a demon,” I said, knees wobbling.

Al pulled out a pocket watch and looked at it. “Technically, perhaps, but one can’t help one’s birth, can one? Ta. Must dash. Lots to do tonight.”

“Rachel—” Nick choked out, fear thick on him as he struggled to find his feet and get out of Al’s grip. “I’ll get you for this. I promise.”

“Don’t be gauche,” Al said before my mouth opened, all playfulness gone from his cultured voice. “You did this to yourself—summoning Rachel to the West Coast with my name? Don’t deny it. I can still smell the stink of broken dreams on you.” Nick’s eyes squinted shut when Al pulled him close and breathed deeply of his hair. “No need to change names, now, love,” the demon said. “I’d think you’d be glad to be rid of him, seeing as he put you in Alcatraz.”

“We had a deal,” I tried again, hearing the soft sound of Pierce pouring a cup of coffee. “If you don’t let him go, I swear …”

Al arched his eyebrows at me, waiting. At my shoulder, Jax started humming nervously.

“You’re not teaching me crap,” I said, voice shaking. “And you’re all but ignoring not one, but two agreements we have. What by God’s little green apples are you doing for me?”

He hesitated, and I exhaled, pushing out all the tension. “Newt would love me to be her student,” I said, and Al squinted at me from over his glasses. “Either you start making good or I have no reason not to accept. Hell, I’d get rid of Pierce that way. Maybe I should.”

“You wouldn’t,” Al intoned, and Nick took a gasping breath as Al’s fingers loosened.

“Why not?” I was shaking, and I crossed my arms over my chest to try to hide it. “Who’s watching her?” I asked. “Anyone? She killed Minias, didn’t she?”

“Rumor has it.” Al loosened his fingers a touch more, and Nick’s feet touched the carpet.

I felt a surge of strength. “How would all you good old boys like it if us girls got together? Huh? Wouldn’t that be great? I’m sure she’ll remember everything, eventually.”

Al’s eyes narrowed. I arched my eyebrows, wishing I could do the one-eyebrow trick, and he frowned. “You’re not worth it,” he muttered, and shoved Nick away.