“Which is why you’re here, itchy witch, and not screaming in my bedroom.”

Fear came out as anger. “Knock it off, will you? That doesn’t work anymore.”

I had time for a breath, nothing more. Al was on me, pushing me into my chair, his face inches from mine, his arm under my chin. Bis fell back, wings flailing as he left my shoulder.

“I need to work harder at it, then,” the demon said, his words clipped.

I could feel my pulse lifting my skin to touch him. His heavy weight pressed into me, and my breathless reflection was in his red, goat-slitted eyes. “Get off,” I panted.

Bis hissed, and I saw a flash of reaching claws.

“You need to learn your place, ’goyle,” Al said, and I jerked when his eye twitched and Bis thumped to the carpet, unseen but wheezing in what had to be shock and pain.

“Hey!” I shouted, squirming to get out from under Al.

The demon leaned into me harder, and my breath whooshed out. “And you need to develop some manners. Or is it respect?”

A part of my brain realized he wasn’t using magic, and I struggled to move. My hand got free, and he shifted to grab my wrist, bringing it to his nose as he breathed deeply. Sensation spilled down, and I realized he had the wrist that carried his mark. Damn.

Behind me, Bis mewled, “It’s gone. It’s gone. I can’t hear them.”

Double damn, I was in trouble, and I tried to see Bis, failing.

“That runt of yours tried to drop me with your charms, Rachel.”

My eyes flicked back to Al’s.

“Lie to me,” he coached. “Tell me you had nothing to do with it or you will fund my mansion. I don’t care if your brats will be demons or not.”

“What are you doing to him!” I exclaimed as Bis mewed. “Bis, go home!” I added, knowing a circle couldn’t hold him.

“I can’t,” the kid panted. “I can’t feel the lines. Rachel, I can’t see them!”

Holy crap, what had Al done?

Al pressed my wrist against my chest, his fingers against me. “Pierce could have killed me. Me, who has survived … everything!”

Teeth clenched, I grunted, “Let Bis go.”

“I’d be more concerned about yourself, itchy witch. Bis is simply existing without contact with a ley line. It hurts the mind. Deprivation.” He eased up a little, and I got a good breath of air. “The sooner I’m happy, the sooner I’ll stop blocking his contact. Is killing you going to make me happy, Rachel?”