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"Right, but you knew this guy was going to call, and aotin the dark on this one"

"This is frighteningly like the poker gaie, you have children"

"You have a son now, as well!"

"And you have a two-ie stared hard at Jade "You’ve known that so on"

"All I know is that Lucian has been uneasy since weto Salem to talk to him--and that Lucian did soie, if there were so I could really tell you, I would And if there were so you could do… I’m afraid I’d feel compelled to let you do it But I don’t understand what is happening yet

Honestly" Lucian sat again, drulanced at Jade "How much time do we have?"

"We need to be at the airport in about two hours," Jade said

"I really should coie," Sean said impatiently

"No," Lucian said

"You may needto me Tell her that you two have a fahter, only two aze Sean stood, folding his ar at his ith both reproach and ao Hm I am the one who is a cop, you know"

"Of course, Sean, but once… well, once I was different!" Maggie ned display of great largesse and patience He s to Lucian "We’ll see, Lucian We’ll see" He turned back to his wife "If we decide we just can’t live without a trip to New England, we’ll coood idea--like I said, I am the cop Never hurts to have a cop around, even if he’s a Southern boy in the far North"

"Sean is right--it’s always good to have a cop around," Lucian said

"But I do still have a certain sixth sense," Maggie protested "I can tell what you’re trying to do right now

You all want to go, and you want to leave Maggie safe at home It can’t work that way and you know it"

"We’ll see," Sean and Lucian said sih

"We should get to the airport," Jade said unconor and Jordan are arriving in New York tonight, and I’ve put through an E-ie demanded

"To stand by," Jade said

"Ten," Lucian ie said

Lucian looked around at the "Ten of us, including you, Maggie! Yet, I have a feeling we may need a few more"

"A few--as in twelve?" Jade said, puzzled

"A coven of twelve," Seanat Lucian

"No… thirteen," Lucian said

"A coven? Because it’s Saleie protested "I’ve known numerous Wiccans in my day! They really don’t believe in evil--"

"And in your day, you’ve known a lotas well

"But Lucian," Jade murmured "Surely… we can just put a stop to this?"

He shook his head "If it were a siames, I could easily put a stop to it But… I think that certain forces have already been unleashed If I’ with a tremendous power For noell, let’s catch that plane, huh?"

Megan was sleeping A peaceful, drea She was such a beautiful girl Such a kind spirit, a gentle soul

Ah… well, life changed things like that

But still…

Megan breathed in easily, exhaled softly Hair draped over her face, lovely long fingers splayed out over the pillow