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abstinence made for a very anxious vamp. I didn t want to know what Ivy had been before going cold
turkey to try to remake herself. All I knew was she was much easier to live with now that she was taking
care of business, though it left her hating herself and feeling she was a failure every time she succumbed.
I d found Kisten to be on the other end, with a laid-back temperament to begin with and no issues about
satisfying his blood lust. And though I wouldn t feel comfortable napping in the same room with Ivy, I
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could snuggle up to Kisten, provided he took care of things beforehand.And I didn t do jumping jacks in
his sweatshirt, I thought sourly.
Rachel, love, he said again, louder, with a hint of pleading. I could feel his muscles tense and his
breathing quicken. I think Ceri is ready for you to kindle Jenks s spell, and as much as I d love to pull
blood from you, it might be better if you did it yourself.
My eyes flew open and I stared at the bank of Ivy s electronic equipment. She finished it? I said, and
Kisten grunted when my elbow pushed off his gut when I sat up. My sock feet hit the rug, and my eyes
shot to the clock on the TV.It was past noon?
I fell asleep! I said, seeing our pizza-crust-strewn plates on the coffee table. Kist, I complained, you
weren t supposed to let me fall asleep!
He remained reclining on Ivy s gray suede couch, his hair tousled and a content, sleepy look to his eyes.
Sorry, he said around a yawn, not looking sorry at all.
Darn it. I was supposed to be helping Ceri. It was bad enough she was doing my spelling for me. To
be sleeping when she did it was just rude.
He lifted one shoulder and let it fall. She said to let you sleep.
Giving him an exasperated sigh, I tugged my jeans straight. I hated it when I fell asleep in my clothes. At
least I had showered before dinner, thinking it only fair I get rid of the lingering scent of wearing his
sweatshirt. Ceri? I said, shuffling into the kitchen. For crying out loud, I d wanted to have Kisten s
borrowed van packed and be on the road by now.
Ceri was sitting with her elbows on Ivy s antique table. Beside her was a pizza box, empty but for a
single slice and an untouched container of garlic dipping sauce. Her long, wispy hair was the only
movement, floating in the chill breeze from the window. The kitchen was cleaner than I ever managed
when I did my spelling: copper bowls stacked neatly in the sink, the grit of salt under my feet from where
she had made a circle, and a scattering of ley line magic paraphernalia and earth magic herbs. A demon
book was open on the center counter, and the purple candle I burned last Halloween guttered even as I
watched.
The early afternoon sun was a bright swath of light coming in the window. Past the drifting curtains,
pixies shrieked and played, shredding the fairy nest in the ash tree with a savage enthusiasm. Jenks was
sitting on the table, slumped against Ceri s half-empty cup of tea. Ceri, I said, reaching to touch her
shoulder.
Her head jerked up. O di immortals,Gally, she said, clearly not awake. My apologies! Your curse is
ready. I ll have your tea directly.
Jenks took to the air in a clattering of wings, and my attention shot from him to her. Ceri? I repeated,
frightened.She called Algaliarept Gally?
The young woman stiffened, then dropped her head into her hands again. God help me, Rachel, she
said, her words muffled. For a moment&
My hand slipped from her shoulder. She had thought she was back with Al. I m sorry, I said, feeling
even more guilty. I fell asleep and Kisten didn t wake me. Are you okay?
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She turned, a thin smile on her heart-shaped face. Her green eyes were tired and weary. I was sure she
hadn t slept since yesterday afternoon, and she looked ready to drop. I m fine, she lisped faintly,
clearly not.
Embarrassed, I sat before her. Jeez, Ceri, I could have done something.
I m fine, she repeated, her eyes on the ribbon of smoke spiraling up from the candle. Jenks helped
me with the plants. He s very knowledgeable.
Eyebrows rising, I watched Jenks tug his green silk gardening jacket down. You think I m going to take
a spell without knowing what s in it? he said.
Jenks helped you make it? I asked.
She shrugged. It doesn t matter who makes it, as long as you kindle it. Pale face smiling tiredly, she
nodded to the potion and finger stick.
Moving slowly, I rose and went to Jenks s spell. The crack of the safety seal on the finger stick breaking
was loud.
Use your Jupiter finger, Ceri advised. It will add the strength of your will to it.
It made a difference? I wondered, feeling ill from more than lack of sleep as I pricked my finger for three
drops of blood. Kisten stirred in the living room when they went plopping into the spell pot and the scent
of burnt amber rose. Jenks s wings blurred to motion, and I held my breath, waiting for something to
happen. Nothing. But I had to say the magic words first.
Done, Ceri said, slumping where she sat.
My eyes went to Kisten s lanky form when he strode into the kitchen, barefoot and rumpled.
Afternoon, ladies, he said, pulling the pizza box closer and dropping the last stiff slice on a plate. He
wasn t the first guy to have a toothbrush at my sink, but he was the only one to have kept it there this
long, and I felt good seeing him here in his disheveled, untucked-shirt state, content and comfortable.
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