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Dark figures melted away into the rocks surrounding them, only to loiter, red eyes watching from the shadows. Regan tore free of Sardi’s grip and crawled backward, staring around her. They were in some sort of deep gorge between steep cliffs and, above them, a sullen moon hung crimson in a black starless sky. The air held a bitter coldness, and she hugged her jacket around her.

Sardi lay unmoving in the serpent’s claws. For a moment, she thought he was already dead. Then his head rolled to the side, his eyes opened, and he looked straight at Regan. His lips parted as if to speak, but the words never came. The serpent’s head reared back, and it struck, the fangs sinking deep into Sardi’s throat. He lifted his hands trying to tear free, but the jaws locked in place. Finally, it released its hold and drew back. Sardi swayed, toppled to his knees, then to his back, and he lay still.

For a minute neither moved. The serpent looked straight into Regan’s eyes, and then Caleb was back.

He stepped closer and nudged the body with his toe.

“Is he dead?”

Sardi’s eyes flew open, and his whole body convulsed, his back arching from the rock floor as he clawed at the open wound on his throat. Regan stared in fascination, unable to look away as the white foam frothed from his mouth and nostrils.

Within minutes, he was motionless, his face a rigid mask of agony as the light of life faded from his eyes.

“He is now,” Regan said.

She stared at the dead demon. It was over. The knowledge was fizzing in her blood. She crossed quickly to Caleb, wrapped her arms around his waist, and burrowed her face against the soft hair of his chest, breathing in the scent of him.

She raised her head. “You did good.”

He grinned. “I did, didn’t I?” He looked around them. “Where are we?”

“Hell, of course.”

“Hmm. It’s not as warm as I expected. Can you get us out of here?”

She stepped back, nodded and closed her eyes. Her magic was almost drained, but she dredged up enough power and spoke a word. The air shimmered, and the portal formed. They passed through back into the clearing.

Caleb’s wounds were healed, the blood cleaned from his body. He was perfect. She couldn’t believe it. They were alive and Sardi was dead. A wave of joy washed through her.

She looked around, and her joy dampened; the surviving hellhounds had vanished into the forest; only the bodies remained. She moved across the clearing and crouched down beside Diablo. The huge body was already cold and stiff, and she stroked her hand over the coarse fur of his muzzle, blinking back the tears.

“They died fighting,” Caleb murmured from beside her. “It was a good way to go.”

She nodded, straightening and rubbing her hand over her eyes. Then a movement at the edge of the forest made her turn. It was Catrin. She walked toward them, arms wrapped around her middle.

She came to a halt beside Caleb and gestured to the pendant that circled her throat. “Please,” she mouthed the word.

Caleb lifted the necklace over her head, and Catrin sagged with relief. “Thank you,” she whispered.

He dropped the pendant to the ground, and Regan crushed it with her boot. Turning to Catrin, she regarded her sister through narrowed eyes. “Why aren’t you still running?”

Catrin managed a weak smile. “I thought I would come back and help. Is Sardi dead?”

Regan nodded. “For good, this time.” She glanced around. “I suppose we’d better call the Council, get them to come and clear this mess up and round up the rest of the hellhounds.”

“Then can we go home?” Catrin said.

It sounded wonderful. “Definitely.”

“So,” Catrin asked. “Do you want that spell now? Just in case I get kidnapped again before I get a chance to tell you.”

Regan frowned. “Which spell?”

Catrin rolled her eyes. “The one to reverse the werewolf bite.”

Regan glanced up at Caleb. His whole body had frozen at Catrin’s words. Now he caught Regan’s gaze, held it, a question in his eyes. Regan smiled at him and shook her head.

“No,” she said. “You know, I think I quite like being a werewolf after all.”

Caleb stepped toward her, wrapped her in his arms, and pulled her against him. It was like coming home and, inside her, wolf awoke and howled her approval.

Caleb tightened his hold. “Quite like?” he growled in her ear.

“Okay, Ilovebeing a werewolf.”

And he kissed her.