“You son of a bitch!” Kisten cried, and I spun to see three witches down in a messy circle about him. The one that had thrown the ever-after made a pained motion, and Kisten savagely kicked him. How had he gotten there so fast? “You burned my paint job, you mother!”

As I watched, Kisten’s mien shifted in a breathless instant. Eyes black, he lunged at the closest gesturing ley line witch. The man’s eyes widened, but he had no time for more.

Kisten’s fist rammed into his face, rocking his head back. There was an ugly sounding crunch, and the witch crumpled. Arms slack, he arched backward through the air, landing to skid into the headlights of the Cadillac.

Spinning before the first had stopped moving, Kisten landed before the next, turning in a tight circle. His dress shoes smacked into the back of the startled witch’s knees. The man cried out as his legs buckled. The sound cut off with a frightening suddenness when Kisten stiff-armed his throat. My stomach clenched at the gurgle and crackle of cartilage.

The third witch backpedaled into a run. Mistake. Terrible, terrible mistake.

Kisten paced the ten feet between them in half a heartbeat. Grabbing the fleeing witch, he spun him in a circle, never letting go of his arm. The pop of his arm dislocating hit me like a slap. I put a hand to my stomach, sickened. It had taken a moment’s thought, and nothing more.

Kisten stopped before the last witch standing, an aggressive eight feet back. I shuddered, remembering Ivy looking at me like that. He had a pistol, but I didn’t think it was going to help him.

“You going to shoot me?” Kisten snarled.

The man smiled. I felt him tap a line. My breath came quick to shout a warning.

Kisten jerked forward, catching the man about the throat. The man’s eyes bulged in fear as he struggled for air. The pistol dropped, his hand hanging useless. Kisten’s shoulders tensed, his aggression shining from him. I couldn’t see his eyes. I didn’t want to. But the man he held could, and he was terrified.

“Kisten!” I shouted, too afraid to interfere. Oh God. Please no. I don’t want to see this.

Kisten hesitated, and I wondered if he could hear my heart pounding. Slowly, as if fighting himself, Kisten pulled the man closer. The witch was gasping, struggling to breathe. Headlights glinted on the spit frothing at the corner of his mouth, and his face was red.

“Tell Saladan I’ll be seeing him,” Kisten almost growled.