Everyone in our party heard her-her voice echoed through the yard like she was using a megaphone. And then, she closed her eyes and I heard her whisper, "For Henry . . ." and a whirlwind of energy rose around her, a vortex of blue and white mist, and she pushed it forward with a terrible cry.

The wall of energy rolled over the demons and piercing shrieks echoed from their midst. I couldn"t see what was happening, and then, as the energy began to vanish, I could see. Iris had fainted and as I knelt by her side, I looked up at the yard.

"Oh, Iris . . ." I fell silent, staring at the chaos. The Tregarts had been turned inside out. They were so much muscle and bone and raw, pulsating flesh. Without a word, I turned to the side and vomited.

"Iris . . ." Delilah dropped her dagger to her side. She looked around. "Is anybody else hurt? Chase? Chase?" A frantic light came into her eyes and she whirled around. "Where"s Chase?"

"Smoky took him to see Sharah. He"s been wounded, Kitten. He"s still alive, but he needs medical care." I didn"t dare tell her how badly he was hurt. We needed her in one piece-and not a kitten.

Her lower lip began to tremble, but she didn"t go any further because at that moment, Iris groggily came to. As we helped her to her feet, there was a shout from the door. There stood a man-or at least, at first glimpse it was a man.

Vanzir jumped up, striding forward. He looked furious. "Trytian, what the f.u.c.k are you doing here, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d?"

Trytian! We were right. It was the daemon"s son. I forced myself to march up beside Vanzir.

"Where is she? Where"s the Bonecrusher?" I knew I sounded slightly hysterical but couldn"t help myself. My emotions were riding high.

Trytian, who looked a little like Keanu Reeves in an eerie, h.e.l.lish way, gave me an insolent smile. "Gone. Our guards bought her time enough to evacuate. We"re moving operations."

I leapt forward. "She murdered my friend and destroyed my shop!" As I brought one hand around, hard, to slap him on the cheek, Vanzir stopped me, catching my wrist. He nodded for me to move back. He spoke in low tones to the daemon, who at first shook his head and then, with a shrug, nodded.

Trytian stepped forward. "Listen, we want the same thing. Shadow Wing-dead. The Bonecrusher wanted your help. My father and I wanted your help. You prefer to work from another angle. I"ll make you a promise-and Vanzir will vouch for me. If you leave the Bonecrusher alone, don"t hunt for her, don"t try to find her, she"ll leave you and your friends alone. But make no mistake: We mean to find the seals and when we do, we"re marching on Shadow Wing."

"What makes you think I won"t let the information leak that she"s a traitor?" I hated his smug smile, his arrogant stance. He had helped kill Henry. I knew it; in my gut I knew he was one of the men in the shop.

As I stepped forward, Vanzir grabbed me around the waist.

Trillian let out a shout, but Vanzir called over his shoulder, "Don"t move. Don"t even think about it."

He laughed roughly. "Oh, Camille, I not only know it, I"d guarantee it to a bookie. You"re a sure bet. Because you know, in your heart, that you aren"t prepared to fight Shadow Wing. And you know my father and Stacia can take him on and have a chance of winning. I know you"ll still be looking for the seals, but I warn you: Don"t get in our way. Because if you cross our path again, you"ll lose more than a broken-down old man. You"ll lose everything everything."

I broke out of Vanzir"s hold then, rushing forward. I grappled with Trytian. He clearly wasn"t expecting my attack but managed to grab my wrists and rolled me over as he held me down, straddling me.

"You"re lucky you have friends here right now, woman. I may be out for Shadow Wing"s blood, but I"m still a daemon, and some things are just too tempting to resist." His whisper was too low for anyone else to hear; he snorted. Then he let go and jumped up.

"We"ll find you! We"ll search the house and find something you overlooked." Oh, to land a good kick to his b.a.l.l.s, but I had the feeling it wouldn"t hurt him in the least.

"Go ahead-in fact, I expect expect it of you. You"re so obvious." it of you. You"re so obvious."

Morio lunged forward, but Trytian danced back out of his reach. "Youkai, leave this alone. It"s none of your business. And the rest of you, remember what I said. You won"t get a second warning. Stacia will put off Shadow Wing"s orders to kill you long enough for us to make our move, but only if you don"t interfere. Stick your noses in our business, unless you want to turncoat, and you"re so much burnt toast."

He turned to Vanzir. "My debt to you is over . . . this more than pays you off." And with that, he vanished as if he"d never been standing there.

CHAPTER 24.

I mutely stared at the empty place on the porch. Just then, Rodney came shambling out of the house. Morio moved up beside me, and Trillian flanked my other side.

"What"s going on in there?" Morio said.

The flame in Rodney"s eye sockets flared. "Not much. They scrammed but fast. b.i.t.c.hes didn"t even take all of their zombies. A few bone-walkers in there, too. But-what the h.e.l.l is that?" He c.o.c.ked his skull, as if he was listening to something.

I frowned. There was a low humming coming from inside the house. It reminded me of the whine of a jet engine. And then, instinct guiding me, I shouted, "Get the f.u.c.k out of here-run toward the trees!"

n.o.body questioned me; they all just turned tail.

We all managed to reach the tree line before there was a low rumble and then a loud explosion. The shock wave blasted us forward, but we were out of range of the flames that shot up. I hit the ground hard, landing on my knees and hands.

As I gasped, choking on the smoke, Vanzir muttered, "c.o.c.ksucker . . . he meant meant for us to be there when that happened." for us to be there when that happened."

Delilah coughed and struggled to her feet, then helped me up. "But he said-"

"Forget what he said. Forget what I ever suggested about working with him. He"s a daemon. He was trying to kill us to make sure we don"t interfere. My guess is that they decided to shift their headquarters. They must have found out we were coming and planned this little b.o.o.by trap."

"How? How did they find out?" The house was engulfed in flames and the sound of sirens echoed in the distance.

"I dunno. I think we have a leak somewhere," he said slowly. "Somebody . . . someone told them. Who did you tell about this?"

"It could be any number of people. Chase"s FH-CSI officers knew we were coming, Nerissa knew . . . who else?" Something tickled at the back of my mind but I couldn"t wrap my thoughts around it; I was so shaken.

"Then we have a lot of thinking to do." Morio motioned toward the ravine. "Come on, let"s get out of here before the cops arrive."

Delilah let out a low sob. "Chase-I need to know how Chase is."

"Yeah, and Iris . . ." I glanced at the Talon-haltija, who was staring at the flames, her mouth pinched. Her expression was one of haunting and pain. It was then that I understood that she hadn"t realized what she was going to do-or that she had even been sure she could still cast that spell. Too close to her memories of her fiance for comfort.

"Come on. Let"s go," I whispered, wrapping my arm around her shoulders as we headed back into the trees. "We aren"t going to wrap this one up tonight, guys."

As we slipped under the cover of the rain-drenched leaves, I wondered just what the h.e.l.l we were going to do now. We had an informant somewhere-it was the only way to explain that they knew we were coming. We had the Fae Queens on our back from both realms. And I knew that Stacia wouldn"t hesitate to come after us once she realized we"d survived the explosion.

I had no idea what we were going to do about any of it, but I knew one thing for sure: We"d find the Bonecrusher, and when we did, we"d rip her to shreds.

We arrived at the FH-CSI headquarters, soaked through and covered with mud and ash. Sharah was waiting for us. Delilah moved forward, her face a blank slate. Menolly and I flanked her sides.

"Chase . . ." Her voice was faint, her back rigid.

Sharah stared at her for a moment, then slowly said, "He"s in critical condition. I don"t know if he"ll make it. We"re doing everything we can."

"No . . . no . . ." Delilah wavered and Menolly pressed her hand against her back, steadying her. "There has to be something you can do to help."

I closed my eyes, not wanting to breathe, not wanting to speak. I knew the answer, but dreaded being the one to suggest it. But if it might help . . .

"I know what might heal his wounds. But it could destroy him in the long run," I blurted out. Enough heartache for one night. If it could save him now, we"d deal with the future later.

"What is it? We can"t lose Chase. I can"t lose him I can"t lose him!" Delilah grabbed me by the shoulders. "Tell me!"

I sucked in a deep breath. "You were going to have him drink the nectar of life. The potion will also heal extreme injuries. Without the proper rituals, it might also drive him mad in the long run, but it will save his life now now." Turning to Sharah, I asked, "Does he stand a chance otherwise?"

"There"s always a chance . . . but the odds are low . . ." Her voice trailed off and I saw the glimmer of tears in her eyes.

"Then, that"s it," Delilah said. "Give him this." She pulled the bottle out of her purse and slammed it into Sharah"s hand. "Do it." "Do it."

"But-but, are you sure?" The elf looked at me and I nodded.

Menolly stepped forward. "We don"t have a choice. If he"s going to die anyway, you might as well give it a shot, because I"m not interested in siring a son and that"s our only other option."

Sharah let out a long sigh and then whirled, marching down the corridor. "Follow me," she called.

We followed. As we entered Chase"s room, we saw that he was hooked up to numerous IV drips, and he was on a ventilator.

"He was stabbed four times, and sustained heavy damage to his internal organs," Sharah said. "The knife went in at precisely the wrong spots. Whoever attacked him knew just how to inflict critical damage."

Delilah flinched, but Sharah didn"t notice. She just pulled a large syringe out of the drawer. "The nectar of life will work when it"s injected, as well as when it"s swallowed." As she slowly filled the syringe, she glanced up at my sister. "You know this is on your your head? I know we need Chase, I know you love him, but I"m doing this against my better judgment. Without the rituals, this could create major changes in his personality as well as his body." head? I know we need Chase, I know you love him, but I"m doing this against my better judgment. Without the rituals, this could create major changes in his personality as well as his body."

"Do it," Delilah said, growling. Delilah said, growling.

I saw the flicker in her aura that presaged a transformation and hurried over to Sharah"s side. "Unless you want a very angry black panther in here, you"d better do what she asks. We"ll take responsibility."

Sharah nodded and slowly began to inject the drug directly into Chase"s jugular vein. When the sparkling liquid had all disappeared, she stood back. "We"ll know in a minute if it"s going to save his life or not."

Delilah dropped to her knees. "Great Mother Bast, I implore you. Please save Chase. I need him. I don"t know why you brought us together, but we"re not through yet. We"re not finished yet."

n.o.body said a word, as the seconds ticked by. And then, just as I thought it wasn"t going to work, Chase gasped and Sharah carefully removed the ventilator from his mouth. He wasn"t conscious yet, but he was breathing on his own. Another minute and the wounds on his side started to pull together. She hurried to slather a healing cream on him, then turned to Delilah.

"He"s going to live. And he"ll live far longer than most any other human ever will. You have one h.e.l.l of a lot to help him adjust to, once he regains consciousness. I hope you"re up to the job because his life is now in your hands. Humans who drink the nectar of life usually have no concept of what it means to live a thousand years."

As she began to check his vital signs, Delilah broke down in tears and Menolly led her over to one of the nearby chairs. I turned to find Smoky by my side. He slid his arm around me and we just stood there, silent, as the steady hum of the machines monitored Chase"s life.

CHAPTER 25.

That evening, we were still trying to comprehend what had happened. It was too soon to figure out everything we"d need to do, but when the shock wore off, we had to make plans. We needed help, and I knew that I"d be paying a visit to Aeval, to enlist her aid, whatever the cost to me.

A knock on the door rattled me. Smoky went to answer it and came back with an odd expression on his face. "You"re wanted in the living room" was all he"d say.

As I peered around the corner, I got the surprise of my life. Standing there was Derisa, the High Priestess and emissary of the Moon Mother.

Derisa was tall, edging six five, and her hair was braided, hanging to her knees. With chiseled features, she looked fashioned from pale porcelain, with ocean blue eyes. Dressed in a long robe somewhere between black and indigo and covered with moons and stars embroidered in spun silver, she broke into a smile when she saw me. It was Derisa who had taken my oath the night I pledged myself to the Moon Mother, and Derisa who had taken my hand and led me onto the astral during my first Hunt.

I knelt by her side, feeling more tired than I ever had in my life, wishing only for rejuvenation, for some relief from the stress.

She leaned down and touched my shoulder. "Rise."

I stood, silent, soaking in her radiance. Derisa didn"t just wield magic, she was was magic. Her energy spiraled around me, pulling me close as she embraced me. She smelled like lilacs and narcissus, like white gardenias on a summer night, and I reveled in the scent as it washed away the tears on my heart. magic. Her energy spiraled around me, pulling me close as she embraced me. She smelled like lilacs and narcissus, like white gardenias on a summer night, and I reveled in the scent as it washed away the tears on my heart.

"It"s been a long time since we"ve met," she said, her lips close to my own, her gaze locked on mine.

"I never expected to see you here," I whispered, unable to look away.

"Neither did I," she said, then leaned in and pressed her lips against mine, her tongue playing gently over my own. I melted into her embrace, letting go of my aching heart. We were sisters under the same G.o.ddess, pledged to the same order, connected by a force far stronger than either of us, and her kiss melted away my tension and sorrow, leaving a luxurious and heady sense of relaxation in its wake. I could smell her fragrance, sense her power, and it made me want to give her anything she might ask of me. After a moment, she slowly pulled back. I tingled, my weariness drained away.

"I"ve brought your priestess robes." She handed me a suitcase.

I caught my breath. There they were-filmy spider-weave robes that only the priestesses of the Moon Mother were allowed to wear. Sheer to the point of see-through, they sparkled with silver and gold threads running through material the color of royal peac.o.c.ks: a swirl of blues and purples and greens. The robe consisted of two parts-a kimono over a halter dress with a built-in bra. I lifted the dress out of the valise. Beneath it was a silver belt and a headband of silver and bronze, with a crescent, horns pointing up, atop a round moon.

All my life I"d wanted to be a full-fledged priestess. And now my wish had come true, at a cost paid with blood. So much blood.

Lifting my head, I gazed into Derisa"s eyes. "I had to sacrifice the Black Unicorn"s life to earn this, you know."

She smiled, kindly this time. "Do you think any any priestess was just handed her robes? We all earned them, and earned them the hard way. What you did was not just a sacrifice, Camille. You gave the black phoenix his rebirth. Even now, he runs free, reborn as a foal the moment you struck him down, to a unicorn within the heart of the Deep. The King is dead. Long live the King." priestess was just handed her robes? We all earned them, and earned them the hard way. What you did was not just a sacrifice, Camille. You gave the black phoenix his rebirth. Even now, he runs free, reborn as a foal the moment you struck him down, to a unicorn within the heart of the Deep. The King is dead. Long live the King."

And then I fully understood. The cycle was more than metaphorical. The Lord of the Dahns had to die in order to be reborn. He"d been growing weak and a weakened King must be sacrificed in order to live again in a younger, stronger body. Trembling, I licked my lips.

"What do I do now? Teach me. I need so much help in the battle we face. There are so many enemies, and we"re starting to lose friends."

She laughed. "War isn"t easy. War should be b.l.o.o.d.y. It should cost lives and bring pain It should cost lives and bring pain-if it doesn"t, it"s too easy to take up arms without good reason. But yes, I bring you instructions. You"ll train for your duties here, Earthside, since there"s no way you can come home for any length of time right now."

"Train here here? Who can teach me what I need to know?" And then a whisper in my heart shook me to the core.

"You know, my dear. You know who your teacher will be."

"No . . . not Morgaine."

Derisa gave me a sly smile. "She is a trained priestess and one of the original members of the Coterie of the Moon Mother."

"But . . . will she teach me? Queen Asteria will be furious-"

"The Moon Mother cares nothing for what the Elfin Queen thinks. You will learn from Morgaine. And you will offer your service to Aeval"s Court; the death magic you are learning needs the power of the Night to be fully realized. You are truly a priestess of the Dark Moon, my dear. Not the light."

She handed me a book. "Here is your book of rituals and shadows. Show it to Morgaine so she can ascertain what she needs to teach you. And when you are done with your training, you will take your place as the first High Priestess of the Moon Mother that the Earthside realm has seen in thousands of years." Derisa turned to leave.

Stunned, unable to comprehend what she was actually saying, I was suddenly afraid. What if I botched it? What if I couldn"t meet the Moon Mother"s standards?

She stopped near the door, but did not turn. "Silence your fears. They steal your power. The Moon Mother chose you you. That is the only thing you need to know for now. Everything else is immaterial."

And then she swept out of the room, out of the house, and like a living shadow, vanished into the night.

I entered the bedroom, wired from the meeting with Derisa. My world had been turned upside down so many times in less than a week, and now I faced another milestone: the meeting of my three lovers together, in my bed. And I had no idea what to expect. I just prayed they wouldn"t stage a war over me.