Demons of Good and Evil by Kim Harrison

            The young woman took a slow, steadying breath. “Maybe,” she finally admitted even as she turned to the door. “It’s a shame you didn’t say yes,” she added as the door opened and the sounds of the night filtered in. “The spell you have is good, but it’s a bastard spell. The original is so powerful it can return even the undead for more than a single night. If I couldn’t bring back Vivian with that, then nothing will.”

            My reach for the door faltered, and I stared at her, the confident woman now standing on my front steps. “You have a spell to recover the undead?” My God . . . Kisten.

            Eyes on the night, she pulled her coat closed. “Yes, but you will never see it.” Her expression became mocking. “Coven business.”

            “Elyse.” I reached after her, but she was already flouncing down the stairs to a little white car parked behind Doyle. It had been Vivian’s. I recognized it.

            “Good-bye, Rachel Morgan,” she said with such smugness that I began to wonder if all her melancholy and shock had been an act. “I’m sure we will be in touch.” Her brow lifted. “Don’t leave Cincinnati without telling me.”

            “What a moss wipe,” Jenks said as she gave Doyle a little wave and got in her car, but I couldn’t speak, my thoughts tumbling as my knees suddenly felt like water.

            Unseeing, I stumbled backward into the church and shut the door. From outside, I heard Vivian’s car start and Elyse drive away.

            “How dumb do they think you are?” Jenks said as I took out my phone. “Trying to lure you into becoming their muscle when you got everything you need here.”

            He was almost right, and my fingers shook as I hit an icon and waited.

            “Ivy?” I said when the line clicked open. “There’s a way to bring him back.”