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"It’s just hard yet I think she’ll co?"

I nodded, ood at this stuff, but I think it’s supposed to be happy tears, though that always sounded stupid toto that, but I could sh and cry at the same time "Okay We need to talk business," I said

"Good This was a little touchy-feely for s One: I’d like for you to listen to Rick’s spell He nearly turned on the first night of the full et stuck in his cat form Can you tweak his spells?" Evan nodded, and I went on "Two: The vae that Soul told you about? It ad present when Bryson Ryder and his fa he was the va to be Ryder, a priames with feant, Southern If so, then he was the one who gave Misha to Lotus, Silandre, and Esther"

"So you killed hi he’d becoly face, and all"

Evan’s beard curled into a s that much money musta hurt"

I sh his head was still attached And it orth the loss of the rest to keep youtypes happy

"And three: I know you and Molly offered to show your healing spells to Misha for Charly I know you’re going to ith her as soon as she’s able to travel But I want you to consider what ht happen to your spells if you added a va time he didn’t seem to breathe Slowly he turned his head to me "No witch has acquired access to a vampire’s blood in my lifetime Use of it is nearlyhis chain "There are spells and workings froo that show the efficacy of vaet Leo to order a scion to donate?"

"Leo owes me one A boon, sorta"

"A vaood I had astounded Evan several times today and it wasn’t even lunchtime yet I quoted, "‘In recompense of your debt and in honor of your service, youmine Choose wisely’ Sounds like a boon to me"

"Yeah That isstellar" Then his face twisted into a frown so dark it looked like a stor inside him "Let the other shoe drop"

"Well, there’s just one problem Somewhere around here is the spike from Calvary, used to make amulets It was probably the focus for all the power from the circle of witches, and with it, it’s possible to do transforic And Hieronymus, Master of the City of Natchez, wants it for his very own"

Big Evan groaned "It just never ends with you Does it?"

EPILOGUE

Bobby stood straight and tall, his red hair brushed and shining in the noonday sun, his new suit sharp and neat Misha and Charly stood to his sides, dressed to the nines Misha still looked drained, pale, and wan, but she was alive and writing and working on her book’s deadline Charly looked better than I had ever seen her, her hair growing back out and her skin pink and healthy I knew the iood health was only skin deep She still had leukeic, and cheht angle to the three, wearing ear, at Bobby’s request He wanted me to look like a va full-dress military uniforht ahead, his every movement cereether, and slowly, so slowly, saluted Bobby My old friend’s blue eyes followed every er slid a box from the crook of his left arainst Eli giving Bobby his own ot two athered in my eyes as Eli lifted the medal from the box and carefully pinned it over the left side of Bobby’s chest

Bobby’s eyes swelled with pride He stood straight and tall, his eyes never leaving Eli’s The Ranger stepped back and saluted Bobby again Bobby raised his hand and touched the ht me out "I’m a hero too now, Jane"

"Yes, Bobby Bates You really are You always have been"