He turned to me, opened his mouth to say something, then twisted fast and launched himself at the Nix, trying to catch her off guard. He flew through her and tumbled to the floor.

“What kind of spell has she—?” I began.

“Not the Nix. It’s Jaime—she’s put up a necromantic barrier to block interference from other spirits. The Nix probably told her to.”

“So what can we—”

“Do?” Jaime said, rising to her feet. “Nothing, witch. You can do nothing.”

I blinked. The Nix had disappeared—into Jaime.

“Where is she?” I said. “If you’ve—”

“Oh, don’t worry about the necromancer. This isn’t about her.”

Before I could answer, Trsiel appeared, landing in front of me with his back to Jaime—the Nix. His gaze darted first to Kristof, then to me.

“Ah, the angel,” the Nix said. “Better late than never, hmmm?”

Trsiel spun, saw Jaime, and frowned back at me. “What’s she—?”

“I was just about to tell Eve what I’m doing with this body,” the Nix said. “Of course, I could surprise her, but that would quite ruin things. How much better that she should know exactly what I have in mind…so when it comes to pass, she can know that she failed to stop me.”

“Trsiel!” I said. “That’s the—”

“Nix,” she said. “He knows, witch, and he’ll do nothing about it. He won’t interfere even when I wrap my hands around their necks. Yes, their necks. Those whose lives you made this bargain to save. Ironic, I think.”

“Paige and Lucas?” I said. “Don’t you dare—”

“Not only will I kill them but, with a little ingenuity, I can take an even sweeter revenge. What could be worse than your poor daughter losing her perfect guardians? Thinking she killed them herself.”

I started to lunge at the Nix, then remembered it would do no good and spun to face Trsiel, shouting his name. But he didn’t move.

“Goddamn you!” Kristof said, turning on Trsiel. “If you don’t—”

The Nix’s laugh cut him off. She lifted a hand, waved, and walked out the door. With a roar, Kristof rushed Trsiel. He grabbed him by the shirtfront and threw him toward the door.

“Get out there and do your goddamned job!” Kristof snarled. “Stop her!”

“I can’t,” Trsiel said softly.

Kristof bore down on Trsiel again. He grabbed him by the shirt, then rammed him against the wall. He locked his forearm under the angel’s chin.

“You’ve tricked Eve, haven’t you?” Kris said. “Betrayed her to that…” His mouth worked, unable to find the right word. He lowered his face to Trsiel’s. “If you’ve had something to do with this, no Fate is going to save—”

I laid a hand on Kris’s shoulder. He stopped, jaw still working as he eased back.