Grace put her hand to her head as if it pained her. “No matter what my mother did to me, I thought that she loved Jesse, and that everything she did was in service of raising him—of bringing him back. But now I see that she cares only for herself. Letting Belial use Jesse as he did, to commit murder—it is unconscionable.”

James laughed shortly. “So Anna was right, you roped Lucie into this Jesse business. As if it wasn’t bad enough, you dragged my sister into your schemes.”

“About Lucie—”

“No,” James snapped. “Enough. Not another word out of you. You came here tonight thinking I was still under the spell’s power—that I would hide you from your mother because I was your duped, doting fool. You had no intention of telling me the truth—”

“I know no other way to ask for help,” Grace whispered.

Bitterness made it hurt to speak. “I would throw you onto the street,” said James, “but this power of yours is no better than a loaded gun in the hands of a selfish child. You cannot be allowed to continue to use it. You do know that?”

“Yes.” Her voice shook. “I am throwing myself on your mercy. I have no one else in this world. I will do whatever you advise.”

James felt suddenly weary. He was exhausted—by his own fury, his own regret. He could not bear to look at Grace and think of all he had lost. He certainly did not want the responsibility for her now.

But he couldn’t risk abandoning her. As long as she and Tatiana were both alive, Grace was at risk of being used as her mother’s weapon. When Tatiana discovered Grace had broken with her, it would only seal her alliance with Belial, her rage and fury.

“We must go to the Clave,” James said. Grace started to object, but he shook his head. “This power you possess is evil. No human should be able to force others to act against their own free will. If you wish to prove that you indeed have broken with your mother, you will tell the Clave what she did to you, and ask the Silent Brothers to remove this power. No good can come of it. I will protect you from your mother and her demons however I can, but I will not do it alone. I will work with the Clave to help you. We are not friends, Grace. I do not want that intimacy with you. But I will help you. You have my word.”