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He screa to rip off so the swinging knife, and let go with ers into his eyes, ja them into his eye sockets I didn’t blind him permanently – he jerked away too quickly for that – but he wouldn’t be able to see much for the next few minutes There was still hope

He flailed around, still clinging on to that daer I danced round, lunging for his hands and trying to grab the knife handle so I could wrestle it fro and slashed the weapon atto cut rabbed a hank of ed me over

‘You little bitch,’ he hissed ‘You thought you could fool ht well die this day but I’ to take you with e’

There was a loud thud For a moment, Blackbeard stood stock still then he keeled over, knocking round in the process Behind hi a bloodied rock in both hands

‘I did it,’ he breathed ‘I’m a hero’ He looked atsmile ‘I saved your life and saved the day’

Arsing hell I scrambled away from both Blackbeard and Tarquin and rolled over Maybe that dalass had been a real mirror after all

‘I saved everyone!’ Tarquin shouted ‘I killed the serial killer!’

I lay onFroroan ‘What the hell?’ she said ‘What happened?’

‘I won!’ Tarquin shouted ‘I’m the best!’

Warm, sticky blood coated my skin where Blackbeard had cutto live More ih rab hold of Blackbeard’s knife and slide it into Tarquin’s ribs when no one was looking

A shadow fell across my face and I squinted upwards When I saw Winter’s faave hie ‘Ipsissiet up but I’ht’

He put his hands on his hips ‘You bloody idiot What the hell did you think you were doing taking on Blackbeard single-handed?’

‘Eve helped I wasn’t on my own’ From the side, Tarquin continued to crow ‘Besides, the real hero is over there’

Winter rolled his eyes and snorted ‘Dragging Eve into your foolish schemes is not likely to help your cause At the rate you keep flinging yourself into danger’s path, I’ to have tie you up to keep you out of harm’s way’

‘I’m sure we’ve had this conversation before,’ I said ‘I quite like being tied up You must have spotted ; it was a lot of fun abandoning yourself to someone else Especially if they were Raphael Winter and they were going to do all the hard work So to speak

Winter sighed but there was a glint in his eyes at my words Then he looked around soberly ‘You shouldn’t have done this It’s not your job to save me, Ivy’

‘It wasn’t Ivy who saved you It was me!’

Before Tarquin received a sharp slap, someone had the sense to pull him away I breathed out and raised ot to try and rescue you, Rafe Especially with all these young witch wo themselves at you like you’re some kind of rock hero I need to stamp my mark Unfortunately, Tarquin beat me to it’

A look of exasperation crossed Winter’s face ‘Can you stand up?’

I pretended to roaned ‘I don’t think so You’ll have to carry me’

‘Fireman’s lift it is, then’

Whoa ‘I’ reat deal of blood Andto bill me for this, are they?’

‘Don’t worry,’ he said drily ‘We have insurance’

Just as well I stuainst hian

‘We’ve found hiht’