Ceri was blinking to keep from crying, but a tear slid down, making her all the more beautiful. “We can start again,” she said. “So can they. The war almost destroyed both of us. Don’t start it up again. Not when we finally have a chance to live. Trent. Listen to me.”

I shut my eyes. Why doesn’t it go away?

In a rush of sound, Ivy and Jenks arrived together, standing over us in shock while Ceri held Trent back from killing me.

“Hi,” I croaked, still holding my neck, and Ivy dropped to me.

“What happened?” Ivy asked, and my chest clenched to an unbearable tightness. She didn’t know. How could I tell her? “You’re back,” she added, checking me for damage. “Are you okay? Your mother said you went with Al at Eden Park. Damn it, Rachel, stop trying to fight everything by yourself!”

I opened my eyes at the concern in her voice. I wondered whether I should just stay in the ever-after. At least there, I wouldn’t be putting my friends in danger. Kin. Witches are kin to demons. Suddenly it was making a whole lot of sense. Demons had cursed elves into a slow slide of extinction. Had it been done in retaliation? Had the elves hit the demons first?

“Rache, you okay?”

No. I wasn’t okay, but I couldn’t seem to get my mouth to work to say the words. I wasn’t a demon, but my children would be. Damn it! This wasn’t fair.

“Is it Trent?” Ivy said, her anger rounding on him, and I shook my head. “Get out of here, Kalamack, before I pound you into the ground!”

Ceri’s delicate form helped Trent up, and as they hunched into each other, she helped him hobble to the street gate. She turned once, the tears flowing freely from her anger-black eyes. “I’m sorry, Rachel. I-I…”

I looked away, unable to bear it. I wasn’t ever going to have kids now. Not with anyone. Never. Stupid-ass elf. Look what they did to me.

“Rachel,” Ivy said, forcing me to look at her. “Tell me what happened.”

She gave me a shake, and I stared at her, numb. Jenks was on her shoulder. He looked terrified, like he already knew. “Trent,” I started, and tears spilled over. Wiping them angrily, I tried again. “Trent’s dad…he…”

Jenks took to the air and got in my face. “You’re not a demon, Rachel!”