Cyrene touched her neck as she sent him a little frown, but managed on the whole to sail through the doorway with her usual grace and elegance.

I slammed up against a ward and felt my body distort in what I was sure was a gruesome manner as I attempted to force my way through it.

‘‘I’m sorry,’’ I said finally, backing away. ‘‘I can’t get through it.’’

‘‘It is for dark beings,’’ István said, giving me a suspicious look.

‘‘Aisling will simply have to remove it again,’’ Gabriel said, going in ahead of me. ‘‘Is she here?’’

‘‘On the patio.’’

‘‘Aisling? Could you unbind the ward so May can enter?’’ Gabriel called out in a loud voice.

The person who appeared from the patio wasn’t Aisling. It was a man, dark haired and dark eyed, slightly taller than Gabriel, but leaner, with much less body mass. That fact didn’t seem to matter, though—he took a flying leap at Gabriel, slamming them both against the nearest wall.

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

‘‘What—’’ Cyrene started to ask, looking confused as the two men hit the floor, fighting for all they were worth.

I didn’t wait around to see what happened—I shadowed, raced around the side of the house, and leaped over the fence, running around to the patio with a burst of speed I doubt I’ll ever be able to match.

Drake was assisting Aisling to her feet, Jim in front of them heading for the house. I ran past the two of them, hurdling the third as I headed for the hallway where I could hear Gabriel yelling.

‘‘What on earth—what was that? Drake, did you just see someone—’’ Aisling was saying as my feet hit the slick stone tile of the entryway. I threw myself onto the back of the man who was trying to strangle Gabriel. István had him by one arm, Pál by the other, but they weren’t having much luck in stopping him.

I grabbed his hair with both hands, and using my knees as leverage on his back, flung myself backward, dragging him with me.

The man screamed as I rolled out of the way, throwing myself across him and slamming his head down onto the stone floor.

‘‘What is going on—good lord! Is that May on Kostya? It’s so hard to see her, she’s almost translucent. Gabriel, are you all right?’’ Aisling’s voice asked.

‘‘Stop!’’ Drake bellowed, but I ignored him, continuing to slam Kostya’s head onto the tiles. ‘‘Gabriel! Control your mate!’’

‘‘Mayling, you must stop. Kostya’s head is too thick to harm; you’ll only break the stone floor.’’