Suddenly the ever-after was looking a whole lot better. “You want me to get in the water?” I asked. “It’s freezing!”

Ivy’s steps were loud on the gravel as she came up to us, but any hope that she was going to side with me died when she took my elbow and started walking to the river. “Rachel, Pierce is right this time,” she said, and I made a noise of disbelief. “Trent owns Cincinnati. It’s a death trap. The ever-after is just as bad. Go with Pierce.”

“Ivy!” I protested. My feet splashed into the water, and I jerked out. “It’s cold!” I said, pulling out of their reach and staring at the fast-moving water.

“Don’t be a girl, Rache,” Jenks said, hovering over the water and jerking up three more feet when something jumped at him.

“Look!” I said, pointing and backing out completely. “There are fish in there!”

Pierce ducked his head, muttering, “I think she’s afraid.”

I huffed, but Jenks came to my rescue. “She doesn’t need to be. I’m going with her.”

Ivy’s eyes, black and glinting in the starlight, widened. “You are not leaving me alone with your kids and that gargoyle.”

“I can’t bring my kids with me!” he protested. “Come on, Ivy, give me a break!”

I jerked when Pierce pulled me off balance and into the water a step. “Hey!” I shouted, hearing it echo on the flat water. “I said I’m not getting in the water! I almost died the last time.” Memories of ice and Trent surfaced, and I wrapped my arms around my middle. I had saved him, and he had saved me. What was wrong with us?

Ivy spun to me. “Shut up. Go with Pierce. Jenks will go with you so we know where you are, then he’ll come back and tell me. I’ve got the kids.” She glanced at Jenks. “Okay?”

“Okay,” the pixy said, and I wondered if he’d really leave me. Except that if he didn’t, she’d never know where I was.

“I’ll get everything set up for Fountain Square,” she was saying. “At least we didn’t tell Nick everything about that! You keep the statue in case Trent follows me. I’m going to Rynn’s, but better safe than sorry. Get in the water, Rachel. They can track you to here, but the water will kill the scent. I imagine you’ll go down about a mile before you can make it across.”

“Depends on how well she swims,” Pierce said, his feet already in the water, and I shivered.

“Guys, this isn’t a good idea,” I said as the cold seeped into me, but no one was listening.