“If you can find a way for the undead to retain their soul, then the numbers of the undead will grow at a similarly slow pace.” He smiled, starting to button up his coat. “Balance is maintained. No one dies. Isn’t that what you want?”

I put a hand to my middle. I suppose I should’ve expected this; no good deed goes unpunished and all. “And witches and humans?” I asked.

He looked out my kitchen window and into the dark. “Maybe that’s up to you, too.”

But what I heard was “Who cares?” Just wanting this to all go away, I said, “I don’t know how to do it. You’ve got the wrong witch.”

Rynn Cormel found his hat and, with a graceful swoop, plucked it from the floor. “I think I have the only witch,” he said, brushing the matted dandelion seed from it. “But even if you don’t find a way, others will see what you accomplished and will build on that. In the meantime, what have I lost by declaring your blood off-limits to all but Ivy? What have I spent in making sure that you and she have a chance to develop a blood relationship free of stress and trouble?”

I stifled a shiver, and my hand rose up to cover my neck.

“It’s no effort at all,” he said, then put his hat on.

Okay, he was keeping my butt safe from vampires. “I appreciate that,” I said grudgingly. “Thank you.”

A copper spell pot grated against the salt when Rynn Cormel pushed it aside with the toe of his dress shoe. “That’s hard for you, isn’t it? Owing someone?”

“I don’t—” I started, then grimaced, rubbing my back where a cupboard knob had raked my skin. “Yes,” I finally admitted, hating it.

His smile grew to show a slip of teeth, and he turned as if to leave. “Then I expect you to honor that.”

“I don’t belong to you,” I shot after him, and he turned in the threshold, looking good in his long coat and stylish hat. His eyes were black, but I wasn’t afraid of him. Ivy was a bigger threat, hunting me slowly. But I was letting her do it, too.

“I meant, I expect you to honor your relationship with Ivy.”

“I do that already,” I said, clasping my arms about myself.

“Then we are in perfect understanding.”

He again turned to leave, and I followed him into the hall. My thoughts went to Ivy, then Marshal. He wasn’t my boyfriend, but he was new in my life. And we were having the hardest time getting together to do the simplest thing. “Are you the reason Marshal and I weren’t able to get together this afternoon?” I accused. “Are you going to drive him away so Ivy and I will fall into bed together?”