Page 51 of Cold Curses

Petra’s cousins were famously and variously successful. One, Dr. Anderson, was an ER physician with training in supernatural biology and a very steady hand with magic.

“Good,” I said. “That’s good.”

I pulled out my screen and stared at it for a moment, preparing for the call I didn’t want to make.

* * *

It was horrible. There was no other word for it.

Aunt Mallory and Mom, who were still at the warehouse with Hugo, were both crying after I told them what had happened. But Aunt Mallory’s eyes cleared when I apologized for failing to keep Lulu safe. And her expression went fierce.

“No,” she said, pointing a rainbow-colored fingernail at me. “Don’t take away her agency, and don’t diminish how much you do. She was working because that work is in her heart. You went to her because she’s in yours. Put the blame where it belongs—with the demon who took the shot. May he char in the fires of hell until the heat death of the universe.”

“Specific and creative,” Mom said, her arm around Aunt Mallory’s shoulders. “And she’s right. We’ll go to the hospital, and maybe we can figure out how to wake her up. You investigate, because you’re damn good at it. And figure out what you can.”

I nodded, wiped away my tears, and wished Mom were here to give me a hug.

“Let me know if anything changes,” I said, and promised I’d update them when I could.

When I put the screen away, Connor was there in jeans and a snug T-shirt, looking significantly less furry than when I’d last seen him.

Wordlessly, he wrapped his arms around me, drew me close, rubbed circles on my back, just as I’d done for him the night before. “She’ll be okay,” he whispered. “She has an entire support system, including you, to make sure she comes out of this. But if you need to let it out, you can.”

I let myself have one long and haggard sob. “Thanks.”

“Of course,” he said, and didn’t let me go. “The world has always been dangerous. But it feels like we’re entering a new era. We aren’t cowards, but I’d still like to take you home and lock the door.”

“Hard same,” I said, then pulled back, searched his face. He looked a little more tired than usual, but not horribly so. “You’re okay?”

He nodded. “It wasn’t the fight I’d expected, but it’s the fight I got. And I beat his ass anyway.”

“Good,” I said. “I’m not going to ask what happened to him. But I am going to find out what happened here. And I’m going to fix it.”

“Of course you will,” he said as if that were the most obvious thing in the world. And that comforted me down to my bones. “I’m here with you”—he gestured toward Theo, who stood with Gwen near one of the still living demons—“and so are they.”

I nodded. “Then let’s get this started.”

* * *

The demons, their wrists glowing from the magical cuffs, sat in the middle of the street, surrounded by CPD officers with weapons. At least the cuffs were working.

Two of the demons sat together; a third was ten feet away and staring daggers at the other two. Parties from opposite sides of the battle, I bet. Which could be handy.

I walked up to the pair. “The demon with gold skin,” I said, and rested a hand on the handle of my sword, “what was his name?”

Neither answered.

I had my katana at the heart of the one on my right in seconds. He looked mostly human, but for the crimson fur that sprouted here and there. Demons were a rainbow of villainy.

“Name,” I said, “or I force your sigil out of you and bind you to my command for the rest of our natural lives.”

“She’s immortal,” Theo said, voice terribly casual. “So consult your calendar if you need to.”

With my free hand, I pulled a handful of salt from my pocket. “I’m the one who commanded Andaras,” I said, and let the salt trickle slowly to the ground. “You won’t like what I do to you.”

“His name was Alarahn. Doesn’t matter now. He’s dead.”

“How do I reverse his magic?” I asked.