“That’s not true,” I said. She looked so startled to be interrupted that she didn’t bother to deny it. I continued in a low voice only she could hear. “Your new friends at the Seraphim club have all the Aelvesgold you’ll ever need. That’s why you want to close the door, so you’ll have the only source of Aelvesgold in this world. Witches will have to come to you if they want to stay young, and the fey that remain in this world will become your slaves.”

Her lips curled into a faint smile. “And why not? It’s better than witches being the slaves of the fey as they have been for thousands of years. Join us and you’ll see how powerful you’ll become with an endless supply of Aelvesgold to feed your magic.”

“I don’t need …” I began, but I suddenly thought of the Aelvestone I’d dropped into the spring. The power I’d absorbed from it was still thrumming through my body, but how long would it last if I couldn’t keep the door open? Already I could feel a longing for more of the stuff. Of course I knew where the new Aelvestone lay, but Lorelei’s eggs needed that one to grow. I’d never be desperate enough to take it from them, but would others find it and steal it?

Adelaide’s smile widened. “Go ahead. Open the door and let the good neighbors of Fairwick go back where they belong. Once you’re free of their influence you’ll see you’ve joined the right side. You don’t owe them anything. Even your incubus boyfriend has abandoned you.”

The taunt almost undid me, but instead it steeled my resolve. Liam might not be here now, but he’d saved my life – and so had my friends in Fairwick. Frank was on his way now to destroy the nephilim. I needed to stall for time.

“I’ll open the door,” I said, “but I won’t let you close it.” I drew the fairy stone from my pocket and saw Adelaide’s eyes widen.

“I saw that in your father’s hands once. I wondered what had become of it.”

“He gave it to me, of course.” I slipped the stone on my finger and turned to face the arched doorway. There was nothing beyond the arch but more thicket now, but I’d seen it opened onto a seaside cliff. With that image in mind, I passed my hand across the doorway.

Nothing happened.

My heart stuttered in my chest. Was the grief I felt over Liam keeping my heart closed and so the door as well? Was that the caution I’d ignored in Wheelock: Don’t use this spell if you’ve recently had your heart broken?