Ceri slid in with her hand to her hair to keep the fair strands from floating. “It was a magical explosion!” she said breathlessly. “Someone just rang the bells!”

Pierce came in behind her, and my heart clenched. He had shaved and was back in his usual dark pants and vest, his eyes wide and his hair tousled. He looked entirely in control, and yet … like he belonged in my chaotic life. Eleison, echoed in my thoughts. Four hundred people.

Looking away, I downed more cottage cheese, not knowing when I’d get another chance to eat. “I think it was Brooke,” I said as I dug my spoon in. It was after sunset. She’d tried to summon me. Stupid woman. But I could make it work for me—twice over.

Pierce edged past Ceri to stand beside me. I eyed him, then put my attention on my lunch. “She summoned Al,” he said flatly. “The fool.” Pushing from the counter, I ate one more spoonful and put the lid back on. Ivy’s eyes were on me as I opened my charm cupboard and pulled out a pain amulet. Yeah. I’ll need this.

“What are you doing?” Ivy asked.

Not turning, I pondered whether I could do this without my splat gun, deciding I’d have to. “Al is on this side of the lines. Brooke summoned him,” I said.

“Rachel!” Ceri said brightly. “You don’t have to worry about the coven coming for you anymore. Isn’t that wonderful?”

I turned, an invoked pain amulet dangling. “Brooke summoned him, not the coven, and since everyone knows Al is my demon, I’m going to get blamed for it.” I hated saying that, but it was true. This sucked. But I was going to make it work for me, damn it. Don’t reject, rejoice? God help me, I’m in trouble.

One by one, they reacted as they figured it out. In a flash of dust, Jenks was on my shoulder, ready to go. Telling him he couldn’t come wasn’t going to be fun. There was only one person joining me. One person I was sure would be okay.

“Bis?” I called, and Jenks’s wings hummed as the lumpy shadow above the fridge lost the yellow of the walls and became the young gargoyle. He was really getting good at this. Ivy started, and even Pierce seemed surprised, but I’d known he was somewhere close. I could feel the lines better when he was around.

Ceri’s expression was worried as Bis crawled down the fridge like a bat and made the hopping flight to the counter beside me.

“What are you doing?” Ivy said, her pupils dilating.

“Trying to save Brooke’s ass,” I said shortly, then turned to Bis and wiped my fingers off on the dish towel. “Think you can jump me there? Can you follow Al’s aura signature?”