Slowly I straightened. I could handle that.

“Ms. Morgan?” Lee’s voice sounded odd among the dripping snowmelt coming off the garage’s overhang. The sun was behind the house, and I shivered now that I wasn’t moving. “Anything left in your little gun?”

I looked at it. If I had counted right—and I thought I had—there were eight charms in there. Eight charms that were useless as Lee could deflect them all. And even if he didn’t, I stood little chance in taking that many men without getting nailed. If I played by the rules …

“I’m dropping the gun,” I said, then carefully, slowly, opened the reservoir and dumped the blue splat balls out before I tossed it to him. Seven tiny spheres bounced, rolling in the cracks of the red cobbled drive to come to a stop. Seven in the open; one in my hand. God, this had to work. Just don’t bind my hands. I had to keep my hands.

Shaking, I put my hands in the air and backed away, a tiny splat ball dropping down my sleeve to make a cold spot at my elbow. Lee gestured, and the surrounding men converged. One grabbed my shoulder, and I struggled not to hit him. Placid, meek. No need to tie me up.

Lee got in my face. “Stupid, stupid girl,” he sneered, touching his forehead under his short dark bangs where a new cut spread.

He pulled his hand back, and I forced myself to not move, taking it as he backhanded me. Seething, I pulled myself straight where the momentum had shifted me. The surrounding men laughed, but my hands behind my back were moving, the splat ball rolling to find my palm as I finished. My eyes flicked from Lee to my splat balls on the cobbles. Someone bent to pick one up. “You’re wrong,” I said to Lee, breathing hard. “I’m a stupid, stupid witch.”

Lee’s attention followed mine to the splat balls. “Consimilis,” I said, tapping a line.

“Get down!” Lee exclaimed, pushing the men around him out of the way.

“Calefacio!” I shouted, elbowing the witch holding me and rolling to the ground. My circle snapped into existence around me with a quick thought. There was a sharp pop, and a scattering of blue-colored shrapnel peppered the outside of my bubble. The plastic balls had burst from the heat, sending superheated sleep potion everywhere. I looked up from between my arms. Everyone was down but Lee, having put enough men between him and the flying potions. In the garage, Ivy stood panting over the last three vamps. We had gotten them. All that was left was Lee. And he was mine.

A smile curved over me as I stood and broke my circle, taking the energy back into my chi. “Just you and me, surfer boy,” I said, tossing the splat ball I had used for a focusing object and catching it. “Care to throw the dice?”

Lee’s round face went still. He held himself unmoving, and then, without a glimmer of emotion, tapped a line.