Seeing us frozen, Ku’Sox turned the magic wreathing his hand inward. Making a fist, he opened it to release a dozen tiny winged horses, pink, purple, and red. “Love is such a fine weapon when utilized fully,” he said as Lucy caught sight of them and was predictably distracted.

I stiffened when he set the wildly wiggling toddler down, but then he gestured, and the horses galloped into the dark, down the broken path and away from me. Shouting in delight, Lucy wobbled after them, her little riding outfit making her a darling of wealth and privilege.

Trent jerked, catching himself before I had to. If we broke the circle, Ku’Sox would have us at his mercy. Still within our sight, Lucy lost her balance and plopped backward onto her butt. Laughing at her own mistake, she crawled to a retaining wall and regained her feet. My teeth clenched, and my heartache turned to hatred. “I’ll kill you if you hurt her.”

“And then I’ll kill you again,” Jenks said, his dust an eerie black.

“If either of you touch her, I will eat her soul alive,” Ku’Sox said mildly, brushing nonexistent dust from his shoulder. From somewhere in the dark, Lucy giggled.

“This could all be over if you agree to come with me, Trenton Aloysius Kalamack,” he said as he stood before us. “Ceri is no good at fixing things,” he added, looking scornfully at the small gargoyle when Bis hissed at him. “You need to learn some respect, goyle.”

Lucy toddled up, the newly risen moon making her hair a silver halo. Shouting in glee, she threw herself at Ku’Sox’s knees, a purple winged horse in her grip. Trent groaned, and my stomach twisted at Ku’Sox’s fake smile. “Aren’t you a love!” he said brightly as he took her in his arms and rose, giving me an empty black stare when the little girl looked away. Trent was beside himself.

“As you can see, I’ve not hurt little Lucy,” Ku’Sox said, smiling. “I think elf children are sweet, actually. I don’t have that grudge against the elves that my kin do. The new world wouldn’t have that ugliness.”

“Genocide is not a viable path to world peace,” I said, seething. “I can prove you broke my line.”

Seeing my anger, Lucy began to frown. The horse in her hand was dead, but she didn’t let it go. Ku’Sox didn’t seem to care. “Do that,” he said, holding out a cookie to the little girl, but she’d have none of it anymore and wanted down. “I’ll simply say we were working together and you backed out of the deal, leaving me to take the blame.”