As the door closed, Arra slumped. “All right, Tony. Tell me. Tell me that I’ve crossed a line. That I’m abusing my power; making arrogant and unilateral decisions. That ability doesn’t give me the right to run the lives of others. That small abuses lead to larger ones, and that all power corrupts and that I’m already on the slippery slope to the decision the Shadowlord made—that my desires are the only ones that matter. That just because I can, is reason enough.”

Shrugging free of the blanket, he stood, too angry to remain still. “I was going to say you can’t goddamned well rip out chunks of people’s lives, but that’s good, too.”

“I know how CB thinks. He would have solved the problem in the simplest way possible by dragging out that old chestnut about the good of the many outweighing the good of the one—regardless of whether or not the one agrees with the sentiment—and tossed me back through the gate.”

“You’re a wizard! You don’t have to let him toss you anywhere!”

A sardonic eyebrow lifted. “I didn’t.”

“Don’t let him doesn’t mean my way or the highway! It means you bring him around to your way of thinking!”

“How do you suggest I convince him?”

He had no idea, but he knew one thing for certain. “Not by running away. Again! You didn’t even try!”

“Because trying makes it so? Do your best and happy endings are inevitable?” Her lip curled. “You’re living in a fantasy world.”

“Hello!” Tony jabbed a finger toward her. “Wizard!” Held up his hand to show her the small scars on his wrist. “Vampire!” A larger gesture to take in the entire studio. “Television! Fantasy’s seeming pretty damned real to me right about now. You’re just too goddamned scared!”

“You would be, too, if you knew what I know!”

“So what don’t I know?”

She was on her feet now, facing him, her hands curled into fists by her sides. “The Shadowlord destroyed my entire order!”

“Yeah? Well he didn’t get the last two until after you buggered off on them!”

It probably wasn’t a lightning bolt because a lightning bolt would have killed him. It was probably just the biggest static shock in history. It slammed into Tony’s chest and threw him backward against a set of shelves. They rocked, but held and he slid down them to the floor, pain sizzling along each individual nerve ending. Tony had no idea there were so many of them. He could have stood not knowing.

“Get out!”