Page 56 of Cold Curses

He went back to the sofa. Sat. Crossed one leg over the other. “Your defenses,” he said, and snapped his fingers. “Poof.”

It might’ve been the magic or the anger or the fear, butsomething made my back go slick with sweat. “What does that mean? What defenses?”

“The only ones you have, little girl. Didn’t you feel it? When the bell was rung? When the magic”—he mimicked running legs with two fingers—“ran away? All of it gone.”

“The wards aren’t gone,” I said.

He clucked his tongue. “For a vampire, you’re awfully slow.” He moved his gaze to Connor. “Cops and canines, I guess. You’ll come running back to me for help before it’s all said and done—the devil you know and all that. So I’ll give you a hint.” He paused for obvious effect. “The quarry,” he said, then gestured toward the door. “Get out.”

“We aren’t leaving,” Theo said. “Not without you. Your demons hurt humans, destroyed property.”

Dante’s gaze was flat. “I’ve been here for several hours, as I’m sure the security video will confirm. And you said all the demons burned. Where’s your evidence?”

When we said nothing, he nodded like we’d proved his point.

“Get the fuck out. Next time, bring a warrant.” His laughter was big and rolling. “If you can manage that much.”

* * *

We were silent as we walked back to the car, and not just because we were followed by “loyal associates” who wanted to ensure we left their master alone.

We were all contemplating what he’d said, trying to wrap our minds around the possibility thatallthe wards were inoperative. And that Chicago was completely vulnerable to any demon who wanted to enter.

When we climbed into the SUV and locked the doors, we gave ourselves another moment of silence. Then I made myself put voice to the fear, as if saying it aloud would diminish its power.

“Is he telling the truth?” I asked. “Are all the wards down?”

“I don’t see how,” Theo said. “Only two were triggered, and no one has touched the others.”

“ ‘When the bell rang,’ ” I repeated. “Did Dante mean the magic pulse? Is he saying that took down all the wards?”

“That’s not possible,” Theo said. “Wouldn’t the city be inundated with demons?”

“There were more than a dozen demons at tonight’s fight alone,” Connor added, voice solemn. “And that was just one incident.”

Theo said a curse, or a prayer, or some version of both. An appeal to whatever might be watching over us.

“Let’s not panic yet,” Connor said. “Let’s find the facts.”

So we drove to the quarry.

It was a former quarry, technically. A place in Chicago where stone had been dragged out of the earth, abandoned, and then turned into a park. The quarry was now a pretty pond, and near it were a meadow and a tall hill with a great view of the city.

We’d thought it might’ve been a ward location. We’d found no ward there, but we’d managed to lure Rosantine out of hiding—just before she’d animated a set of terrifying animal sculptures that attacked us before meeting their disturbing ends. Mostly in pieces at the bottom of the hill after a very long tumble down the stairs, their vacant eyes staring…

I shivered the thought away.

Theo made contact with Roger and Gwen, told them where we were going and why. He also inquired about any unusual activity in the park; none had been reported.

The park was quiet. But it was late, and it was dark, with only streetlights throwing circles across the ground. As we stepped into the grass, Theo turned on his flashlight, moved the beam in an arc over the spots where the remaining animal statues hadbeen; they’d been taken to storage by the city. Which was fine by me.

“Is it just me,” Connor asked, “or do demons smell like old cheese?”

I wasn’t sure if he was seriously asking or trying to lighten the mood. But the question was less terrifying than the threat we were currently facing, so I ran with it. “Chemical fire and vinegar,” I said.

“Sweat and chlorine,” Theo said.

So we experienced demons differently.