Demons of Good and Evil by Kim Harrison

            “Thanks, Jenks?” Jenks mocked me, but I could tell he was pleased. “I pull your lily-white ass out of Alcatraz, and all I get is a ‘Thanks, Jenks’?”

            “Yep.” Tired, I pushed into motion. I should talk to the coven before they decided to do something stupid. “Elyse?” I called as I got closer, and they froze, their sudden silence and fear striking me cold. “Um.” I slowed, wondering if Bis and Jenks on my shoulders helped or hindered my case. “Guys?” I whispered. “Could you check on Trent for me?”

            “Tink’s a Disney whore, Rache,” Jenks grumbled as he lifted from my shoulder, his dust again a warm gold. “If you want to be alone with the coven, you only have to ask.”

            Bis’s feet gave me a comforting pinch, and then he was gone, the wind from his wings sending my hair flying until he found the air. As Bis did barrel rolls around Jenks, they flew over the plaza, gathering stares in their wake.

            Elyse and the coven hadn’t moved, and I bowed my head, trying to look innocuous and wondering if this was a mistake. “Elyse, I am so sorry about Vivian,” I said as I scuffed to a halt, an awkward eight feet between us. “I have a white spell that might bring her back for a night. It would give you a chance to—”

            “Rache!” Jenks shrilled as someone pulled on the ley line. Hard.

            “Trent?” I spun, my expression emptying.

            It was Lee. He’d gotten free of his charmed silver. I.S. agents at his feet, he stood by the car, his dark robes snapping as he swung his arm and the ley line roared into him. Snarling in anger, he threw dark magic at us.

            “Fire in the hole!” I shouted, aghast as Lee’s spell sped through the air. It’s not aimed at me, I suddenly realized. “Elyse! Get down!” I called, but she had frozen, shocked into immobility.

            “Down, down, down!” Doyle shouted, and three agents fell on Lee, smothering him.

            His magic, though, had been loosed, and Lee watched from the pavement as it sped toward us, his anticipation and delight disgustingly obvious.

            “Corrumpo!” I exclaimed, directing the energy at Lee’s blast even as I flung myself at Elyse. Eyes clamped shut, I collided with her, slamming her to the pavement. She shrieked as we hit the ground, pain a sudden shock racing up my hands and arms as we slid.

            Elyse’s sudden struggle under me pulled my eyes open. Flustered, I rolled to sit beside her with my hands to my middle. Damn it all to hell, that hurt.

            And then Lee’s deflected magic hit Carew Tower. A collective gasp rose as everyone looked at the old building. Purple and green sparkles rained down, pitting the sidewalk and sending everyone running for safety.

            “That was Lee. I only deflected it,” I said as Doyle frowned at me from across the square. Trent was already jogging across the plaza, but Jenks and Bis were quickly outdistancing him. Feeling sheepish, I rolled to my knees to stand up, only to jerk my hands away when they hit the pavement. I sat back on my heels as I hissed in pain. My hands were scraped and bleeding. Worth it, I thought as I saw Elyse being helped to her feet.

            “Rache, he’s gone!” Jenks said, and I winced, breath held when the pixy dusted my hands to stop the bleeding. “He knocked the I.S. on their cans and ran off!”

            “Swell.” I had been hoping we could finish this all with a nice ribbon and go home, but nooooo, Lee was going to make me sweat a little.

            “Leave her alone,” I heard Elyse say, and then louder, clearly annoyed, “I said leave Morgan alone! Are you deaf or just blind? She saved my life, you idiots!”

            But my snicker petered out into wonder as she extended her hand to me to help me rise. “Ah,” I said, reluctant, and she grabbed my arm instead, hauling me to my feet in an ungraceful lurch.

            “Thank you,” she said, glancing to the car where the I.S. agents Lee had downed were still sitting, shaking their heads and trying to focus. “That would have killed me.”

            “Yep.” I sighed, realizing it wasn’t as over as I would have hoped. “If he can’t use you anymore, he’d rather see you dead.”

            Suddenly tears threatened as Trent closed the distance between us, his love and worry pouring from him. “Could you excuse me?” And then my throat turned into a lump as Trent yanked me to him. I couldn’t breathe as his arms wrapped me tight, pulling me into a painful squeeze until I gasped.