“It’s harder to lull a person into foolish choices if they can fight back,” Ceri said. “If it gets out, their pool of potential familiars will be weak and undesirable in a matter of years.”

My mouth dropped open. “Oh.”

“I’m listening,” Al said, sitting with an uncomfortable stiffness.

Hope so strong it was almost painful raced through me. “Take your demon mark off me, break the familiar bond, agree to leave me alone, and I won’t tell.”

Al snorted. “Not shy about asking for things, are you?”

Ceri gave my arm a warning squeeze and let go. “Let me do this. I’ve written most of his nonverbal contracts the last seven hundred years. Can I speak for you?”

I looked at her, her eyes alight and savage with her need for revenge. Slowly I set the hammer down. “Sure,” I said, wondering just what, exactly, I had saved from the ever-after.

She pulled herself straighter, an official air falling over her. “I propose that Al will take his mark off you and break the familiar bonds between you both, in return for your solemn vow to not teach anyone how to hold line energy. Furthermore, you and your kin by blood or the laws of man shall remain free of reprisal from the demon known as Algaliarept and his agents in this world or the ever-after from now until the two worlds collide.”

I tried to find enough spit to swallow, failing. I never would have thought of that.

“No,” Al said firmly. “That’s three things to my one, and I’ll not lose my hold on the likes of her completely. I want a way to recoup my loss. And if she crosses the lines, I don’t care what agreement we have, she’s mine.”

“Can we force him?” I said softly. “I mean, we do have him over a barrel?”

Al chuckled. “I could call Newt in to arbitrate if you like… .”

Ceri went pale. “No.” Taking a steadying breath, she looked at me, her confidence cracked but not shattered. “What of the three can you bear to keep?”

I thought of my mother and my brother Robbie. Nick. “I want him to break the familiar bonds,” I said, “and I want him to leave me and my kin by blood or law alone. I’ll keep the demon mark and settle up later.”

Algaliarept brought his foot up and propped his ankle atop a bent knee. “Clever, clever witch,” he agreed. “If she breaks her word, she forfeits her soul.”

Ceri’s eyes went serious. “Rachel, if you teach anyone how to hold line energy, your soul belongs to Algaliarept. He can pull you into the ever-after at his will and you are his. Do you understand?”

I nodded, believing for the first time that I might see the sunrise again. “What happens if he breaks his word?”

“If he harms you or your kin—by his own volition—Newt will put Algaliarept in a bottle and you have a genie. It’s standard boilerplate, but I’m glad you asked.”