“It’s what? Seven-thirty?” Glen was saying. “I’ll send a car at noon. Unless you have your license?”

I shook my head, though he couldn’t see it. “A car would be nice.”

“Rachel? Are you okay?”

There was a demon loose in the city. A master vamp was out to get me. My church was unsanctified. And Brett was dead. “I’m fine,” I said, sounding wispy. “See you after noon.”

Numb, I hung up the phone before he could say anything more. It felt heavy in my hand, and I stared at my spell books, at eye level. Damn it, this wasn’t right. I wiped my eyes and got to my feet, feeling like everything had changed.

Bare feet squeaking, I headed into the sanctuary. I came to a halt just past the top of the hallway. Trent was examining the stained-glass artwork, and his shiny shoes caught the light when he turned. Quen was six feet away, looking ready for anything.

“Trent, I’m sorry,” I said, thinking my face must be white when his eyebrows went high. “I can’t do this right now. I don’t think Ceri is going to come over anyway.”

“Why?” he asked, spinning on a heel to face me fully.

Oh, God, they had killed Brett. “I shoved her down last night,” I said, “and she’s probably still upset about it.” Brett was dead. He was military. How could someone kill him? He was damned good at staying alive.

Trent shook out the sleeves of his expensive suit and let out a disbelieving laugh. “You shoved her down? Do you know who she is?”

I took a quick breath, trying to hold myself together. Brett was dead. Because of me. “I know who she is, but when someone pushes me, I push back.”

Trent glanced at Quen, his face going tight. My jaw clenched, and I kept my breathing shallow. I looked to the rafters for Jenks, trying not to cry. Someone had killed Brett. He had been only one step away from me. I was so damned vulnerable. All it would take was a sniper, but I couldn’t live in a cave. This was crap. Purple fairy crap with green sparkles on it.