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Trsiel stepped back, blinking. "I'm not "
"You're not doing a damned thing, Trsiel. That's the problem. Eve just went to hell and back to get you
this information. Now you're telling her that it was for nothing?"
"I'm not saying that. I'm just saying that if there's another way "
"There are other ways," I said. "Of course there are. But none that stand a better chance of us catching
the Nix without killing Jaime."
"You don't need to convince me, Eve," Trsiel said. "I get it. I really do. I'm not telling you that I disagree.
But the fact remains that Jaime is an innocent, and therefore, no angel's sword can strike that fatal blow."
"But Eve isn't an angel," Kristof said.
Trsiel threw up his hands. "Which is why she can't even use the sword to touch Jaime. And if she can't
touch her, or cast magic on her, she can no more attempt to kill her than I can."
"Do you still have Dantalian's Amulet?" Kristof asked.
"The soul-transference one? Yes, but it only works on " Trsiel stopped and looked at me. "Someone
with demon blood."
Two days ago, I'd have jumped at this chance. It was everything I'd wanted, everything I'd dreamed of.
But now, after I'd come to a decision about moving forward with my life, about breaking away from
Savannah& ?
I looked at Kris, and I knew it wasn't a matter of whether I should risk it. You don't test your swim
strokes by sticking to the shallow end. Kristof studied me for a long minute, then scooped me out of the
deep end& and plunked me down into the center of the shark-infested ocean.
"She should transfer into Paige," Kris said.
"Oh, hold on," Trsiel said. "That's not "
"It has to be Paige," Kris continued. "She's right there, on the scene. She can get next to the Nix easily,
without arousing suspicion. She's a witch, which means Eve should be able to use her own spell-casting
skills through her. And Eve knows Paige. Knows her well enough that she should be able to, temporarily,
fool Savannah and Lucas." Kris's eyes met mine. "Because that's what she'll have to do. She can't tell
them what's going on."
I swallowed, then nodded. "Or I triple the chance that one of us will screw up, and the Nix will know
something's wrong. So I can't& I can't reveal myself to Savannah."
"Are you going to be able to do that, Eve?" Trsiel asked softly.
I lifted my chin and looked at him. "If it means saving her from spending her life thinking she killed Paige
and Lucas? Absolutely."
Next we had to discuss a more detailed plan of action. As for the "killing Jaime and bringing her back to
life" part, we were leaving that for now, knowing it was better to let me suss out the situation first, and
build a plan of action on the fly rather than preplot when I didn't yet know all the variables involved.
Instead, we discussed what could go wrong and backup plans. Although I knew CPR having learned it
when Savannah was young I'd never had any opportunity to use it. Not that I'd never seen anyone in
need of it, but, well, let's just say I never felt inclined to reverse the process. I could try CPR with Jaime,
but I'd also make sure that Lucas was close enough to help. As for whether Lucas knew CPR, that was
a given. CPR, first aid, Heimlich maneuver this was a guy who'd know it all. Saving people was his
business.
It was far from a complete plan, but before we went a step further, we needed to subject it to the acid
test.
"That might work," the middle Fate said slowly.
"Might?"
"There are many variables to consider, Eve, not the least of which is the danger posed to Jaime's life."
"We "
"You will take every precaution to avoid endangering her. Yes, I know that, and I believe that you will
carry through with that intent. Given the danger the Nix poses to the living world, we have agreed that
some slight risk to Jaime, however repugnant to us, is unavoidable. Even if you do nothing, and the Nix
attacks Lucas and Paige, Jaime's life would still be in danger, assuming they would fight back."
"Good, so I can "
"The other concern is that Trsiel may not be able to capture her."
Trsiel stepped forward, eyes blazing. "I'm perfectly capable of doing that. I'll be there, waiting, the whole
time she's on the other side."
"I'm not questioning your competence, Trsiel," the Fate said. "However, consider the circumstances. Had
the Nix entered Jaime by demonic possession, or through the spell she used with the Marquise, then I
have no doubt you could capture her. But necromantic possession is different. The Nix has entered
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