Chapters (42)
- Title Page
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-one
- Twenty-two
- Twenty-three
- Twenty-four
- Twenty-five
- Twenty-six
- Twenty-seven
- Twenty-eight
- Twenty-nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-one
- Thirty-two
- Thirty-three
- Thirty-four
- Thirty-five
- Thirty-six
- Acknowledgements
- Also by Kim Harrison
- Copyright
- About the Publisher
- Cover
“How about the words of a coven member?” I asked. “I have a recorded conversation of Vivian telling me you did know of the attacks, that you were reassessing my case, and that action might be taken against my family if I didn’t submit to chemically neutering my ability to have children and work magic. It’s on my phone, Ollie. I think she’s pissed you called her a liar.”
The man looked aghast, and Trent cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable with the man’s ineptness. I was kind of embarrassed, too, and I picked past the broccoli to find a squash slice. This was what our yearly dues bought?
“This is how it works,” I said, trying not to sound irate. “I give you something, you give me something. We all go home happy.” Seeing him silent, I added, “This is what is going to happen. If you don’t rescind my shunning and agree to stop trying to kill me, I’m going to demand a fair trial of my peers, thanks to this pile of paperwork here. And the press running with the idea that the coven is corrupt means I’ll get it. TV coverage, radio, everything.”
Oliver was eying my papers, and I rested my hand on them protectively. “Even if you do manage to refute my claim that the coven is corrupt, the truth will come out that our history is based on ancient elf propaganda and our beginnings are rooted as stunted demons, the result of an elf curse. Ought to do wonders for our public image, both witches and elves.” I glanced at Trent. “Not that anyone thinks they’re still around, but hey, there it is. I’ll probably end up in jail, but any time I want, I just talk to my demon teacher, and I’m out of there, leaving you to deal with the fallout.”
“You wouldn’t!” Oliver said, appalled. “It would mean genocide!”
“She would,” Trent muttered, clearly not pleased I’d brought the elves into it.
“I will,” I said, putting my dinner aside. “Thanks to you gentlemen, I’ve got nothing to lose. You put me in this place, and I’m going for broke. If I’m going to be persecuted solely on the basis of being a stepping-stone between witches and demons, then I’m taking you down with me.” I glanced at Trent. His public persona was cracking, and he looked pissed. “And if you don’t go along with it, Mr. Kalamack, I’ll tell them how I got that way.”
His focus on me sharpened. “My father saved your life,” he said bitterly.