“Look out!” Jenks shrilled, shooting straight up. Both Trent and I instinctively crouched. Trent gasped as Ku’Sox’s spell tore through his bubble, breaking it, and I threw a wad of energy at the incoming ball, deflecting it. The night wind shifted my hair, and Ku’Sox’s energy pinged over my ley line and into the woods to die. There was a tug, and Trent’s circle was up again. Ku’Sox jerked to a halt, so close the circle hummed a warning.

Trent’s eyes met mine, and slowly we stood. I felt ill looking at the grim hatred in his expression. I didn’t think it was the rings that had saved our skins. We just knew what to do.

“Curious,” Ku’Sox said, walking the edge of our circle like a lion in the shadows. “Both of you together? Unexpected.” His eyes slid to the ley line. “And potentially troublesome.”

Satisfied, I stood straighter. A drop of sugar-coated anger slipped through my fear. “We can prove you did this,” I said, and he rolled his eyes. “I’m going to Dali and—”

My words cut off as a wash of energy made Ku’Sox flicker. Trent moaned when it melted away to show Ku’Sox holding Lucy on his hip. The fair-headed little girl was only a year old, innocent of the monster who held her and happy with the world. Her little mouth curved up in a smile when she saw me, and then she cried out when she saw Trent, reaching with her hands for him to come take her.

“Rachel, I can’t,” Trent said, ashen. “She’s my daughter.”

“You’ll go to Dali and what?” Ku’Sox said as he held her on his hip, his arrogant expression mocking. Beside me, Trent’s breath quickened. Shit, he might do anything, I thought, and I grabbed his arm, refusing to let go lest he walk through his circle and break it. This was what had happened in the clearing with Quen and Lucy, and I vowed it would have a new ending.

“Down!” Lucy demanded imperiously when she saw Trent, then, “No! No!” when Ku’Sox tightened his grip.

“She’s my godchild. You broke our agreement,” I said as the little girl’s pout drifted into the realm of a tantrum, and the clean-shaven demon in his three-piece charcoal suit smiled a perfect, evil smile.

“File the paperwork.” Frowning, Ku’Sox jiggled Lucy, but she wouldn’t be distracted, her hands extended to Trent and pleading for him to come get her. I didn’t think I could hate Ku’Sox any more. Trent’s hands were fisted, his breathing shallow. Bis’s ears were down in indecision, and Jenks hovered at the top of Trent’s circle, waiting for instruction. I didn’t know what to do. Ku’Sox might hurt her.