“Besides, I wasn’t the one who planted the bomb,” Lee said. “It was Kisten.” Lee’s face was serious in the sudden silence. “I’m sorry about his passing. He was a good man. Come on, Ivy,” he coaxed, like the successful, suave bachelor from a wealthy West Coast witch family that he was. “The boat was business. This is survival. Rachel forgave me.”

I was starting to see why Trent liked this guy, even while they were business rivals. I hadn’t forgiven him, but I wasn’t so far out of it to make the mistake of saying so. Ivy pressed her lips together, tension dropping as she turned away. Hand reaching for the center island counter, I stood. I had to find my calling circle. I wasn’t going to wait another moment to get this damned mark off my foot and my name back—my beautiful, anonymous demon name that no one but Ivy, Jenks, Al, and my mother knew. God help me.

Someone took my elbow, and I blinked at Pierce, keeping me upright as I stumbled the two steps from the table to the center counter. His hat was falling off my head, and I fixed it, almost falling over. “You’re nigh asleep on your feet,” he said. “Sit.”

“Al,” I said, breathing heavily when my hands smacked the top of the island counter. I’d made it. “You’d better get in a circle. I have to call Al.”

Lee jerked. “This is a setup? You’re giving me to Al?” he exclaimed, and I started when I felt him tap the line out back.

Ivy ducked and I yelped when Pierce flung out a hand and the ball of purple aimed at us ricocheted into the sink. The pixies scattered, shrieking. “Mr. Saladan!” Pierce shouted as I coughed at the smoke drifting out the open window. “Dash it all, calm yourself!”

“I’m not going back to that!” Lee exclaimed, determined from fear.

Ivy rose from behind the counter, her eyes black and, as Pierce would say, all wrathy. “Rachel doesn’t give people to Al, you ass! You may deserve to be tossed into the ever-after, but that’s not what she’s doing! As long as you don’t owe Al anything, you’re safe.” She hesitated, then added, “It wouldn’t hurt to get in a circle, though.”

Lee squinted at her, another ball of black stuff in his hand. Seeing them occupied, I dropped below the level of the counter, swearing as I slipped and fell on my butt. Moving carefully, I got to my knees and looked for my calling mirror. Al was going to pay up. I was going to make him. I was going to have one less tie to demons. It was going to be a good night.

“I’ve no fist with you,” Pierce said, “but threaten Rachel again, and I’ll give you thrice the pain you promise her.”