Demons of Good and Evil by Kim Harrison

            “No.” Trent in the kitchen, Al in the garden, Doyle at my curb, the coven on my front steps. Damn, couldn’t I catch a break? “Ah, Jenks, give Trent the heads-up and let her in. I’ll be right there.”

            “ ’Kay,” the pixy said, then darted off.

            Al was beaming as if it was all a great joke. “Don’t get comfortable,” I said. “You are not staying.”

            “I’m surprised they waited this long,” he said as he sat on Pierce’s stone and threw a charm into the fire pit. A blue and gold fire whooshed up, burning who knew what. “But they are young,” he mused aloud. His brow furrowed, his amusement gone. “You may have been cleared of that murder charge, but you’re still wanted for questioning concerning practicing illicit magic. That’s not going to change.”

            I hesitated as I took in the church, worried. It was beautiful with all the light spilling out into the night, and I stifled a shudder at the memory of Alcatraz. “No, it isn’t,” I said softly, wondering if this was why he had dropped into my garden. Trent, eh? “Thank you,” I said, and he closed his eyes as if he hadn’t heard me, settling back against the stone as if to go to sleep.

            Head down, I began walking to the church, my arms wrapped around myself from more than the cold.

            “Rache . . .”

            It was Jenks, and I flicked my hair from my shoulder. “Trent and the girls know she’s here?” I said, and he landed to press his cold wings to my neck.

            “Yeah. Can’t you make him leave?”

            “How?” I said, not sure I wanted to. “Besides, he’s right. Until Lee is in custody, we could use the extra security.”

            “Tink loves a duck,” he muttered, and I took the porch steps two at a time. “I gots a demon in my summerhouse.”

            A faint smile quirked my lips. I knew it was still there when I went in to find Trent, desperately trying to keep the girls quiet with a box of cereal. Bis was atop the fridge, and his ears pricked as I came in, his red eyes hopeful.

            “Everything okay?” Trent asked, a hint of worry in his voice.

            “Ask me tomorrow,” I said. “Jenks, you want to watch the girls with Bis?”

            “Sure,” the pixy said, dropping down to stand on the cereal box, hands on his hips. “You going to be quiet for me, right?”

            Mouth full, Lucy nodded, and Trent stood to follow me into the sanctuary, tugging his lightweight shirt down as if it was a dress coat.

            “Hold up, there,” I said, blocking his path. “I got this. You are going out into the garden and work things out with Al.”

            Trent’s brow furrowed. “Ah . . .”

            “Neither one of you is staying here,” I whispered as I leaned in and gave him a kiss. “My insurance won’t cover either of you.”

            “Damn! I mean, darn,” Jenks said, glancing at the girls and their cereal. “She got you there, Cookie Man.”

            “I mean it,” I added lightly, my hand trailing from his jawbone as I left him and went down the hall. Elyse. Not what I need tonight.

            My pleasant expression froze as I saw Elyse standing at the broken pool table. Her fingers resting on the burnt felt made me wonder if she sensed the magic I had once twisted on the slate underneath.

            “Hi, Madam Coven Leader,” I said, and she spun.

            Cheeks flushed, she touched her smooth black hair in what was probably a nervous tic. Black jeans and a gold top showed past her long cashmere coat, and a small clutch purse sat on the table’s bumper. “Elyse is fine,” she said, her eyes going from me to the floor where the shadow of that dark curse still lingered. “So this is what a paranormal shelter looks like.”

            I came in and gestured for her to sit down. “On a good day,” I said, my thoughts winging to Al and Trent in the garden, then Doyle at my curb. “You’re not here to arrest me, are you?”

            Elyse’s gaze dropped from the open rafters. “I’m honored to entertain whatever agreement you had with my predecessor. Besides, I’d need a warrant to arrest you, and we can’t issue one until we have a full forum. You’re safe until June, when I will likely deem the curse you used on Welroe illegal unless you can prove to me it isn’t or that you truly were ignorant of its origin.” She smiled as she took her purse and came over. “But that’s not why I’m here.”