“What?” Crow’s eyes narrowed.

“For a thousand years, they’ve tried to make you into a demon,” Han said.

“Successfully, it seems,” Crow said.

“No.” Han shook his head. “Not unless you go along with it. It’s not about what people think. It’s about who you are.”

“Who do you think you are?” Crow said. He jerked a thumb at Lucius. “Why would you stand up for him?”

“Because keeping him miserable doesn’t make my life any better,” Han said. “Even if it did, I don’t know that I’d make that trade.”

“Well, maybe I would,” Crow growled.

“I don’t think so,” Han said.

Han and Crow stood for a long moment, eye-to-eye and toe-to-toe, with a thousand years of blood and history between them.

Crow’s obstinate expression gradually softened into a smile. He reached out, and his fingertips brushed Han’s cheek. “I would need your help to break the charm,” he said. “As you know, I haven’t any flash of my own.”

“I know,” Han said, looking at Lucius. It’s not like I’m killing him, he told himself. Not really.

“If you let me into your head, I can be the one to cast the charm,” Crow said. “That way, you wouldn’t have to do it yourself. But—maybe you don’t want to risk that?” Embarrassment stained his cheeks.

If Alger Waterlow can take pity on Lucas Fraser after all he’s done, Han thought, then maybe I can trust him, too.

“I think it’s only fitting that you cast the charm that puts Lucas to rest,” Han said. “Let’s cross back over and do it together.”

He took Lucius’s hands and spoke the charm, then opened his eyes to the dim interior of the distillery, sun easing through the cracks in the roof and walls. Across from him, Lucius opened his eyes and smiled.

They walked out into the sunlight. Dog butted his head against the old man’s legs, and Han gripped his arm when he would have stumbled.

They sat down on the bank of Old Woman Creek, where they’d sat so many times before. Dog lay down at their feet, panting. Han took hold of the amulet that had once belonged to Crow—the one he’d taken refuge in so many years ago.

Lucius sat waiting, as if expecting a gift.

Han licked his lips. “Are you there, Alger?”

I’m here, Crow said, in Han’s head.

Han dropped his mental barriers and felt Crow easing into place, as if reoccupying familiar ground.

Extending his hand toward Lucius, Han spoke a charm he’d never heard before.