“If you even think about using your powers, you will draw everything in this city right here,” Dare reminded him, “and this time, I won’t rescue you.”

Dee looked at her quickly. “You? Rescued me? Is that what you think you did?”

Virginia twirled the flute like a baton in her fingers. “I rescued you. You might have been able to fight one or two of them-but there were hundreds of the creatures closing in on you. Every cucubuth clan in Europe must be in the city. I even saw some rogue Torc Madra in there, and you know how dangerous the dogmen are. You would have been captured, and most of you would have been delivered to your masters.”

“Most of me?” Dee swallowed hard at the sudden image.

Virginia’s smile was savage. “I’m sure they’d have taken a few bites out of you on the way. Just a little taste.”

Dee shuddered. “I hate cucubuths.”

“And you can be assured that at this moment, they hate you too. Your enemies are multiplying by the hour.”

“You’re their enemy too,” Dee said.

“Not I.” Virginia twirled the flute again. “They never even saw me. They’ll blame you.”

Dee shook his head in admiration. “I had forgotten what a ruthless foe you are. We should have joined forces generations ago; together we could have ruled the world.”

“We still can,” Dare agreed, “but right now you need to work out a way to open the gates. We’re being watched.”

Dee didn’t move; only the sudden tightening of his shoulders betrayed his tension. “Where? Who?”

The woman nodded into the reflective black water in front of them.

Dee looked, staring hard, before finally saying, “Two birds, flying high… and yet birds don’t fly at night, and certainly not in perfect circles.”

“Too high to see what they are,” Virginia said, “but I’ll wager they’re ravens.”

“Ravens?” Dee licked his lips nervously. “Well, there are ravens in the Tower of London…”

“Whose wings are clipped so they cannot fly,” Virginia reminded him. “These birds are not natural. Which means…”

“Odin’s birds,” Dee whispered.

“Which also means that Odin’s wolves, Geri and Freki, are probably not far behind.” Virginia smiled sweetly. “What are they called, again? Oh, yes: Ravenous and Greedy. I’m so glad they’re not hunting me.”

Abruptly, the English Magician’s aura blazed bright yellow around him, painting the walls in amber light and black shadow; the stench of sulfur polluted the night air.

“What are you doing?” Virginia Dare cried in alarm. “You’ve betrayed our location!” Even as she was speaking, the sound of distant howls and triumphant screaming filled the sky. The cucubuths had awakened.