I refused to back up, almost numb. My breath came and went, and Quen’s presence seemed to grow stronger. “You can’t,” I said, voice quavering. “You made a deal. You or your agents can’t hurt me this side of the lines. Lee knows that. He’d never agree.”

Al’s smile widened, and when he tapped his dress shoes against the pavement in delight, I saw he had lace on his socks. “Which is why I will free him the instant before you expire, so he is the one actually doing it. He has reason enough on his own to want you dead, so the agent clause won’t come into play. But killing you is the last thing I want to do.” Gazing past me to where the sky met the basilica’s towers, he breathed deeply. “The moment I leave Lee, I am susceptible to summonings and such. And much as I hate to miss the fall parties, this is so-o-o-o much more fun. Don’t think that makes you safe, though.” He brought his gaze down, and I shivered at the alienness hidden behind the normal brown orbs. “I can keep you alive through a tremendous amount of pain.”

I swallowed. “Yeah, and you can’t go misty to avoid my foot hitting your crotch either.”

Tilting his head, Al stepped back. “There is that.”

“Who is Newt?” Trent said, reminding me I wasn’t alone, and I jumped when he touched my elbow. “Morgan. I want to know right now if you practice demonology!”

Jenks darted from my shoulder, anger hard on his tiny features. “Rachel is not a practitioner!” he said hotly, easily dodging Quen’s attempts to get him away from Trent. Quen dropped his hand, probably only now realizing how dangerous a small flying thing with a sword could be.

Trent’s eyes had never left mine, trusting that Jenks wouldn’t hurt him. His question had been laced with an iron demand for an answer. Fear lay under it, but stronger than that was anger at me for dabbling in demons. My eyes returned to Al. “Newt is a very old, crazy demon. I bought a trip home from her when your friend dumped me there.”

“Her?” Trent stammered, panic sliding behind his green eyes. “There are no more female demons. We killed the last few before leaving the ever-after.”

“Well, you missed one,” I said, but Trent wasn’t listening, having been pulled aside by Quen. The older elf was very distressed and I wondered what was bothering him. Al? Being trapped in my circle? The threat of Jenks? Ellasbeth’s wedding being crashed by a demon? All of the above?