“Which doesn’t give you the right to run it.” Tired, I fingered the fortune cookie’s advice. I didn’t want to bring this up in front of Oliver, but why not? “Trent, I’d appreciate it if you would drop your attempts at trying to make me your property, okay? If you’ve got a problem you want help with, come talk to me. If you give me five minutes’ notice, I’ll even make sure the pixies are in the garden.”

Trent uncrossed his legs, the rasping silk loud in the hush. “I didn’t tell the coven, but I’ll be damned if I don’t capitalize on it. I am not anyone’s familiar.”

“Trent…,” I almost whined. “I’m not going to make good on that. Will you let it go?”

Brow furrowed, he leaned forward, flicking a glance at Oliver. “Listen this time. You claimed me. I don’t care if you never enforce it. There is a mark on my shoulder. It matches yours. Get it annulled.”

My hand crept up and touched it, hidden under someone else’s shirt. Slowly my face became empty of emotion. He was right. The truth of the matter was, I’d been enjoying the little bit of power I had over him—like Al had over me. “You’re right,” I said, hating to admit it. “But I’ve been mad at you for a long time.” I put my hand on the table and met his gaze. His green eyes were intent, fixed on me with frustration, irritation … but nowhere did I see the hatred in him that I had when he hammered my head into a tombstone and tried to choke the life out of me. Maybe it was time to stop taking enjoyment from making him angry and … grow up.

“Trent, I need to know,” I said, gaze fixed on his. “The Pandora charm you gave me was modified to not break cleanly, and I almost suffocated. Is that what you intended?”

Trent frowned, and his gaze flicked to the hallway, where Jonathan waited. “No,” he said, looking exceptionally pissed. “I apologize, and I’m taking care of it.”

Feeling oddly satisfied, I leaned back in my chair. Jonathan. Son of a bitch. “Thanks,” I said, believing him. I’d find out about the ley-line door later when Oliver wasn’t around. I took a breath, gaze flicking to Oliver and back. “I’ll ask Al how to break a familiar bond. If there’s a way without hurting either of us, I’ll do it. But you need to stop trying to make me your slave in all but name, okay? And maybe stop telling people I can invoke demon magic? Can you do that? Give me my life back?”

Head shaking, Trent leaned forward. “I never told anyone, Rachel. It wasn’t me.”

Oliver snickered. “It was Nick Sparagmos, children.”