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The ie of Juliette’s fiery death came to mind I closed my eyes

I hesitated, unable to shoot The bow and arrow dissolved between oddess had instructedopen on nearby desks ruffle in a sudden breeze The hair on the back of my neck rose Witchwind

There must be another witch in the library I opened my eyes to see who it was

It was a vampire

Ysabeau stood before Benja Phoebe in my direction

"Ysabeau" Benja someone else? Matthew, perhaps?" Blood welled from a ser That pressure was enough to keep Benjamin where he was Nausea swept over ed Phoebe, dearest, you lass and Fernando At once" Without looking away from her prey, Ysabeau pointed in o," Phoebe er from Benjamin’s neck with an audible pop His hand clamped over the spot

"We’re not finished, Ysabeau Tell Matthew I’ll be in touch Soon"

"Oh, I will" Ysabeau gave hily toothy smile She took two steps backward, took my other elbow, and jerked me around to face the exit

"Diana?" Benjamin called

I stopped but didn’t turn around

"I hope your children are both girls"

"Nobody speaks until we’re in the car" Gallowglass let out a piercing whistle "Disguising spell, Auntie"

I could feel that it had slipped out of shape but couldn’t y to doworse

Leonard squealed up to the gates of Hertford College

"I hesitated Just like with Juliette" Then it had almost cost Matthew his life Today it was Phoebe who had nearly paid forer seat

"Thank God we used Matthew’s bloody great car," Leonard muttered to Fernando as he slid in the front "Back home?"

"Yes," I said

"No," Ysabeau said at the sa on the other side of the car "To the airport We are going to Sept-Tours Call Baldwin, Gallowglass"

"I a to Sept-Tours," I said Live under Baldwin’s thumb? Never

"What about Sarah?" Fernando asked from the front seat

"Tell Amira to drive Sarah to London and meet us there" Ysabeau tapped Leonard on the shoulder

"If you do not put your foot on the gas pedal immediately, I cannot be held accountable for lass closed the door of the cargo space just as Leonard squealed into reverse, narrowly uished don on a bicycle

"Bloody hell I’ve not got the tehtly "Show us the book, Auntie"

"Diana does not have the book" Ysabeau’s words caused Fernando to stop mid-conversation and look back at us

"Then what is the rush?" Gallowglass dean to speak loudly in the direction of Fernando’s cell phone "Benjanant, Sarah You are not safe, nor is Amira

Leave At once"

"Benjae hand jerked Phoebe back It twisted her head to the side

"He bit you" Gallowglass’s face whitened He grabbed me and inspected every inch of my face and neck "Christ Why didn’t you call for help?"

Thanks to Leonard’s coard for traffic restrictions or speed limits, ere nearly to the A40

"He had Phoebe" I shrank into the seat, trying to stabilizeboth arlass asked

"Granny was listening to a horrible wo works while sixty children screalass "Where were you?"

"Both of you stop it We were all exactly where we planned to be" As usual, Phoebe’s voice was the only reasonable one "And we all got out alive Let’s not lose sight of the big picture"

Leonard sped onto the M40, headed for Heathrow

I held a cold hand to ether as the car swayed "I couldn’t think"

"Perfectly understandable," Phoebe said briskly "May I please speak to Miriam?"

"Miriam?" Fernando asked

"Yes I know that I aest any of Benjamin’s blood But he did bite me, and she may wish to have a sample of my blood to see if his saliva has affected lass said curtly "We’ll worry about science and that godforsaken manuscript later"

The countryside rushed by in a blur I rested lass and wished with all my heart that Mattheith me, that the day had ended differently, that Benjanant with twins

His final words--and the prospect of the future they painted--taunted me as we drew closer to the airport

I hope your children are both girls

"Diana!" Ysabeau’s voice interrupted my troubled sleep "Matthew or Baldwin Choose" Her tone was fierce "One of thehter That da , and there’s no reason for it Phoebe is right We’re all alive"

Ysabeau swore like a sailor and pulled out her red phone Before anyone could stop her, she was speaking to Baldwin in rapid French I caught only half of it, but based on her awed response, Phoebe obviously understood y head