When my eyes opened, they landed on the driver’s in the rearview mirror. I was sure he was some I.S. goon they’d dug up somewhere and that he’d go back to his boss with whatever I said. Just as well. I wanted them to hear this, too. “Trent gave me a curse,” I started, and Pierce smiled.

“I was there,” he said, trying for a light air and failing. In his eyes was his remembered anger at how they had made him helpless. “It’s of no never mind.”

I licked my lips, glancing past Vivian and Oliver to the driver. “He gave it to me to give to Ku’Sox so I can banish him to the ever-after for good, but I need a collective to make it stick.”

Vivian’s gaze became sharp on mine. “He planned this? Then why did he leave?”

Trent was gone? Crap, maybe I was wrong.

“Ku’Sox must be killed, not banished,” Pierce said tightly. “The elven bastard will simply summon him again. I’m of a mind that the double-crossing scoundrel is the one summoning him now.”

“We’re not clearing your name if the demon can come back!” Oliver blustered.

“I don’t think I can kill Ku’Sox,” I said, glaring at Pierce. “And second, Ku’Sox is here on his own, unsummoned. He’s special, created after the ever-after and not bound to it or to the pull of the sun. The demons don’t want him, which was why he was banished here by using the same curse Trent gave me. Trent figured you wouldn’t hold to our agreement at the FIB last spring. That’s why he freed Ku’Sox. Trent thinks I can best him. Slide the curse onto the insane nutcase.” My eyes went to Oliver, holding his. “After you promised me my citizenship, of course. This whole thing is your fault, Oliver.”

Oliver took a breath. “Kalamack freed Ku’Sox!”

“You stupid…political…bastard!” Vivian exclaimed.

I shrugged, looking out the window to see that we were down by the waterfront and the tourist traps. When Trent wanted something, he didn’t care who got hurt to get it. “He freed Ku’Sox because he knew Oliver wouldn’t keep his promise unless forced to,” I said, not sure how I felt about it. “Trent promised me my freedom, and Ku’Sox is his leverage.”

“You can’t make this my fault,” Oliver protested, and Vivian rounded on him.

“Shut up, you oversexed, flabby warlock!” she shouted, and the driver glanced back at us through the rearview mirror. “This is your doing! All of it! If you’d just kept to what you promised her instead of trying to soothe your ego by bringing her down, half the city wouldn’t be destroyed, Leon wouldn’t need therapy, and Wyatt and Amanda would still be alive!”

“You cannot blame this on me!” Oliver exclaimed, and Vivian glared at him.

“I do,” she growled, “and if any of us survive, I’m bringing you down. Count on it.” Breathing fast, she looked back at me, flushed. Oliver gaped like a fish, shocked. And Pierce snickered. “Thousands of lives,” Pierce said, his voice soft. “And the free world left in jeopardy if you should fail. Trent must believe most powerfully that you can put Ku’Sox back in his place.” The young-looking but wise witch glanced at Oliver. “And by that you win your freedom, no matter what they call you, Rachel.”