Lee looked shocked by the sight of a cat-size gargoyle coming at us. I got one good breath, and then my head hit the cinder-block wall when Bis landed on my shoulder and shock echoed through me. Stars shimmered at the edge of my sight, and suddenly every line in Cincinnati was singing in my head. Oh God, I’m going to spew. “Off,” I whimpered, trying to get my fingers between my neck and his tail wrapped around me. “Bis, get off. Please.”

Babbling apologies, the young gargoyle jumped to the carpet. I took a clean breath, but then my eyes widened. “Lee, no!” I shouted, seeing him standing between Pierce and me. His hands were dripping black, and with a shout, he flung the curse at him.

Shirttails swinging, Pierce drew a line in the air, and a sheet of green fell before him to block the blast. The forces hit in a silent, colorful concussion, and then the film was gone, having absorbed the energy and run back to the ever-after where it had come from.

“Lee, he’s with me. He’s with me!” I shouted, but no one was listening. “Stop fighting. Both of you!” But it was too late. His expression dark, Pierce spoke three words of Latin, shaking the air and making Lee’s jaw drop.

“Sweet Jesus!” Brooke shouted from the doorway, and I saw her dart back inside.

Gun. Where’s my gun? I need to shoot someone. I looked, then started crawling for it, glad my hands were working again. Lee and Pierce were going to kill each other!

There was a boom of sound, and Lee fell to one knee. He looked up, smiling, his hair falling into his eyes. I think he was enjoying this. A bubble had enveloped both of us, and under its protection, a shimmering sparkle of purple and black cascaded around us. Then the bubble was gone, and Lee was standing again. An admiring whistle came from him. “Not bad,” he said, grinning. “Can you do it twice?”

“I’ll allow that I’d not be wanting to make a fist with you,” Pierce said. “Step from Ms. Morgan, or I’ll be obliged to beat you soundly, sir.”

“Stop. Stop!” I shouted from the floor, waving my gun as I found it. “Pierce, Lee’s helping me. It’s Brooke you need to worry about! Brooke, not Lee!”

Pierce hesitated, his fist glowing black. “The mongrel dog summoned you,” he stated, blue eyes unsure.

“Brooke made him do it!” I said, and Pierce turned to Lee. Lee had his own dripping ball, and at his grin, the glow went out of Pierce’s hand. “You’re of a mind to help Rachel?”

“Got you, you bitch,” Brooke whispered.

“Hey!” I jerked my foot as a sharp pain stabbed through my lower leg. Bis flew up in a flurry of wings. Damn it, she’d gotten me again!