Page 45 (1/2)

"This isn’t about power!" Trent exclai Ray’s name off the paperwork "Lucy is h the pages and initialized the changes

Horrified, I stood by the chair This wasthis because ofto find a way to live with de Da?

Coreless hand resting atop it protectively "Produce Lucy, or you will not leave this rooirl was a living symbol of the elven future, and whoever raised her held her power until she was old enough to hold it herself Scared, I sized up the thugs by the door I’d had worse odds and fewer assets, but one of thenized an odd panic There’d be no ley line this deep underground I had only one spell’s worth of power spindled, but when Trent reached up and put a hand on le Lips pressed, he pushed y into me, and shocked, I remembered Trent had a fah him, I did, too Not so helpless then

But rounds?"

Cor and pushed back fro a court order, and youI don’t know, but we’ll co"

I moved back from the chair, pissed as three of his people approached "This is why you hen you get your soul, Cormel I’m almost ready to force it down your throat"

A flicker of unease passed over Corone quickly "Satisfied?" Cor him the folder

"Your souls will return at sundown," Landon said shortly, and Cormel’s s in the proper direction," he added, then paled at Cormel’s sudden snarl "I will personally fix your soul to your body myself," he said quickly "You can’t force the tides, and we ic required"

Suspicious, Corrimace

"And I need time to sway the dewar," Landon said with a relieved exhale

I’d had just about enough "You ot to his feet, shaking out his coat and stopping the vampires with one hard look "You haven’t earned your voice, Landon You’ve not done one thing to prove you’re fit to lead a school outing, much less an entire people"

"He can’t force the demons into the ever-after," Trent told Cormel

"Watch me" Landon’s face was red as he held his papers like a shield

"He can’t reinstate the Arizona lines once he destroys the ever-after, either," Trent continued "Cormel, you will be known as the ic"

There were too many people in here, and my back was almost to the wall My heart pounded This was easier when I didn’t love anyone

"The risk is worth it," Cor by the door Crap on toast, they had guns "Landon, if it’s not done at sunset, you will die an hour afterward because I ring the life froo"

Landon looked frightened as he edged to the door Daone Frustrated and angry, I paced to Cormel "He can’t save you!"

The vampire’s eyes were black when they met mine "And you won’t" He eyed the short distance between us and waved his y swirled tohere had only lost Lucy

By the door, Landon hesitated "You strapped them, didn’t you?" he asked, and I s pain, but he wasn’t looking at me

"No," he said, and I was jerked back as someone pulled me away from the desk "We’re seven stories down They can’t reach a ley line fro e and the cry of pain raced through rin widened at the cry, and I yankedood"You will not take Lucy froet at Cormel

"Down!" someone yelled, and I heard Trent’s voice raised loud in elven chanting

Ta na shay swirled inmy heart pound and my lips pull back froed out of the way, his eyes black in fear as he saw my desperate confidence

I feinted, then scrabbled the other way, ducking his reach forto slam my foot behind his knee

He dropped I could hear crashes behindspells Souns "Trent!" I shouted, turning

Cor when his th of a ith a kitten "You think you can best me?" he snarled, and I screa there, seeing Trent struggling under two vaunpowder A woo!" I exclai between us

Corer With a sudden tug, he yankedaround my neck "God help me, how does that vampire bitch resist you?" Cor it has been since anyone has been able to hurt y burst froto stay out of his reach

"Corru Just as well, as a pulse of force exploded fro everyone down The s shattered into the hall with a loud pop, and frightened cries filtered in Cormel was on his hands and knees His un as I went Energy zinged downspool in iven me more than I realized

"Cohibere!" Landon bellowed from the floor, and I ducked even as Trent set a circle and the ic was harmlessly deflected

I skidded to a halt behind Cor an arun to his head "Givehim with a pulse of ever-after "You want to live forever?" I shouted, gun pressed against his head "You need your brain intact! Tell theone silent Landon was flat on the floor, a haze of energy in his hand Trent was standing over the two vampires he had downed He had a red ry Whispers carip when six capable-looking valass in the hallway Each one of the me off "Shoot her," he said to his men "Try not to hit me this time"

My eyes widened Shit, he had called my bluff