“No,” Nick said weakly.

I felt ill. I had used too much salt. God help me. I didn’t know demons could sense it when I drew on a ley line. If I lived through this, I’d never use them again.

The demon gazed at me. “I can take you there,” it said. “But in return I want no compulsion put on me to return to the ever-after.”

Nick’s grip tightened. “You want me to let you loose in Cincinnati for the entire night?”

A power-filled smile edged over the demon. It exhaled slowly, and I heard the joints in its shoulder crack. “I mean to kill the one who summoned me. Then I’ll leave. It smells over here.” It looked over its smoked glasses, shocking me with its alien eyes. “You won’t ever call me—will you, little wizard? I could teach you so much that you want to know.”

Fear fought with the pain in my shoulder as Nick hesitated before shaking his head.

“You won’t hurt us,” Nick said. “Mentally, physically, or emotionally. You will take the most direct path and do nothing to endanger us afterward.”

“Nick Nicky,” the demon pouted. “One might think you didn’t trust me. I can even get you there before her Ivy leaves if I take you through a ley line. But you’d better hurry. Rachel Mariana Morgan seems to be failing fast.”

Through the ever-after? I thought in panic. No! That’s what had killed my dad.

Nick swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “No!” I tried to shout, squirming to get out of his grip. The stupor from its saliva was almost gone, and with the return of movement came pain. I welcomed the hurt, knowing the pleasure had been a lie. Nick was white-faced as he tried to keep me unmoving and hold the lining of my coat against my neck.

“Rachel,” he whispered. “You’ve lost so much blood. I don’t know what to do!”

My throat was too parched to swallow. “Don’t—Don’t let it out,” I insisted. “Please,” I pleaded as I pushed his hands off of me. “I’m fine. The bleeding has stopped. I’ll be all right. Leave me here. Go call Ivy. She’ll pick us up. I don’t want to go through the ever-after.”

The demon’s brow furrowed as if it was concerned. “Mmmm,” he mused gently, touching the lace at his throat. “Sounds like she’s going incoherent. Not good. Tick-tock, Nick Nicky. Better decide quick.”

Nick’s breath hissed in and he tensed. His gaze roved over the pool of blood on the floor and then me. “I’ve got to do something,” he whispered. “You’re so cold, Rachel.”

“Nick, no!” I shouted as he set me on the floor and lurched into a stand. Reaching out with a foot, he smeared the line of blood.

I heard a frightened wail. I covered my mouth as I realized it was coming from me. Terror pulsed through me as the demon shuddered. It slowly stepped across the line. It ran a hand across the bloodstained wall and licked its finger, never taking its eyes off of me.