“Jenks,” I said in a bitter frustration. “Leave me alone.”

“Blow it off your broomstick,” the pixy snarled. “Jonathan is across the street.”

“Jonathan!” Adrenaline rushed painfully through me, and I pulled from Nick. “Where?”

“Don’t look!” Nick and Jenks said simultaneously. Nick put his arm back around me and started to turn me away.

“Stop!” I shouted, ignoring the pain as I tried to see behind me. “Where is he?”

“Keep walking, Rachel,” Nick said tightly. “Kalamack might want you dead, too.”

“Damn you all back to the Turn!” I shouted. “I want to see!” I went limp in an effort to make Nick stop. It sort of worked as I slipped from him and hit the pavement in an untidy pile.

Twisting, I scanned the opposite street. A familiar, hurried gait drew my attention. Darting between emergency personnel and rubberneckers was Jonathan. The tall, refined man was easy to spot, standing head and shoulders above most of the crowd. He was in a heap of hurry, headed for a car parked before the fire engine. Stomach clenching in worry, I stared at the long black car, knowing who was inside.

I swatted Nick out of the way as he tried to get me upright, cursing the cars and people who kept getting in my line of sight. The back window rolled down. Trent met my eyes and my breath caught. By the light of the emergency vehicles, I could see his face was a mass of bruises and his head was bandaged. The anger in his eyes clenched my heart. “Trent,” I hissed as Nick crouched to grip me under my arms and help me up.

Nick froze, and we both watched from the ground as Jonathan came to a halt beside the window. He bent to listen to Trent. My pulse raced as the tall man abruptly straightened, following Trent’s gaze across the street to mine. I shivered at the hatred pouring from Jonathan.

Trent’s lips moved, and Jonathan jumped. Giving me a final glare, Jonathan walked stiffly to the driver’s door. I heard the door slam over the surrounding noise.

I couldn’t take my eyes from Trent. His expression remained angry, but he smiled, and my worry tightened at the promise in it. The window went up and the car slowly drove away.

For a moment I could do nothing. The pavement was warm, and if I got up, I would only have to move. Denon hadn’t sent the demon after me. Trent had.

Thirty-Three

I bent to get the paper from the top step of the church’s stoop. The smell of cut grass and damp pavement was almost a balm, filling my senses. There was a sudden rush on the sidewalk. Pulse pounding, I fell to a defensive crouch. The small-girl giggle following the pink bike and tinkly bell down the sidewalk was embarrassing. Her heels flashed as she peddled like the devil was after her. Grimacing, I slapped the paper against the palm of my hand as she disappeared around the corner. I swore, she waited for me every afternoon.