“I don’t care.”

“The ex-Consort has been most uncooperative,” Jun said.

“I can’t imagine why.” Barabas grinned wider. “She’s usually the embodiment of patience and cooperation.”

Christopher stumbled into the house, walking backward, his eyes wide.

Something was wrong. “Christopher?”

He turned to me, his face shocked, the corners of his mouth slack with terror. “Thanatos.”

“What?” Barabas asked.

“Thanatos is coming.” Christopher’s voice shook. “The reaper of souls is coming to take one of you to the afterlife.”

Oh boy. “No, that’s Teddy Jo. He’s a friend.”

“Chris.” Barabas moved in front of the door. “Remember how we spoke about visual cues? Look at my face. I’m not upset. Look at Kate. She isn’t upset.”

“It’s okay, Christopher,” I said. “Teddy Jo and I have a business appointment this morning. He’s actually a nice guy. He’s coming to pick me up.”

Panic slapped his face. “No! Don’t you get it? He is coming for someone’s soul!”

And now the book burning made total sense. He clearly had a Greek underworld fixation.

“Deep breath,” Barabas said. “Calm . . .”

“He’ll take no one.” Christopher’s voice dropped deeper. “I won’t allow it.”

“Calm . . .” Barabas repeated.

Christopher jerked his hands up and shoved Barabas aside. The weremongoose flew across the floor and smashed into the wall to the left of me.

Oh shit.

Christopher’s body expanded, ripping through his clothes. He opened his mouth and his canines grew, curving down like vampire fangs. Red smoke spiraled out of his back. “Stay inside!”

He ran out the door.

“What the fuck?” Barabas charged after him. I grabbed the hem of my gown and ran after them.

I burst onto the lawn. Barabas spun around, searching the street.

No Christopher.

Nobody outside except Teddy Jo flying in from the west on his dark wings.

“Stop!” I yelled, waving my arms. “Stop!”

Teddy Jo waved back at me.

The gown tangled around my legs and I nearly tripped. I grabbed the hem and ripped the skirt all the way to my waist.

“What the hell was that?” Barabas snarled.

“I don’t know.”

“Where is he?” Barabas spun around.

“I don’t know.”

Julie dashed onto the lawn.

A piercing scream rolled through the air. Fear grabbed me into a tight fist, an instinctual deep terror rising from somewhere within, from the place where the primal fears of fire, darkness, and predators lived. Barabas let out an odd high-pitched chatter that no human mouth should have been able to make.

A winged shape swooped down from above, propelled into an eagle dive by enormous blood-red wings. Somehow Teddy Jo saw it and careened to the left, banking hard. The creature that used to be Christopher spread its wings, trying to slow, and landed on the lawn. He was muscled like an antique statue. He opened his mouth, his fangs glistening. Madness churned in his ruby irises.