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Connor and I took a bottle of wine upstairs. We only had twenty minutes before dawn broke, but I needed the momentary distraction.
I poured while he lit the fire in the master bedroom’s fireplace, then brought him a glass.
“You’ve made a decision,” I said, watching him.
He nodded thoughtfully. “I just sent a message to have relayed to Cade.”
“Damn,” I said with a grin. “Not even telling him directly. That sends a message, too. And the message is?”
“I do not accept his challenge. I’m not the Apex of the North American Central Pack, so it shouldn’t have been directed at me, anyway. And I certainly can’t accept it on my dad’s behalf.”
There was something more there. “But?”
“But,” he said, “tomorrow is another day entirely.”
And he refused to tell me anythingelse.
TWENTY-ONE
Get out of my house.”
Lulu, still in pajamas twenty minutes after dusk, sat at the dining room table with paper and pens and glared at me.
“So that’s a no on the waffles?” I asked.
“Get out of my house,” she said again.
“Technically,” Connor said, “it’s my house. In that I own it, and you’re all squatters.”
“For right now, it’s my house. We only have a few hours, and I’m ninety-eight percent done. I need quiet, and no magic, in order to finish the last bit. Could you all just scurry away to the office and maybe get everyone assembled?”
“Youareclose,” I said.
She rubbed her tired eyes. “So close. Go. Please get out of my house.”
“We’re getting,” I said, pushing the guys toward the door before Connor could get into the finer points of mortgages and property ownership.
***
Alexei stayed with Lulu, although he waited in the SUV outside, ready to transport her when the time came. Connor borrowed another Pack SUV and drove us to the Ombuds’ office. I stared at the moon while en route, willing the nearly invisible sliver of shadow to hold, to remain in place for a little longer.
I sent messages to everyone, arranging for our rendezvous at the office and bugging them until I had confirmations. And when I got to the office, I paced the floor and checked the time until my screen beeped again.
I lifted it, found the message we’d been waiting for.
i’ve got it, Lulu said.we’re on our way.
***
Less than an hour later, we were assembled: me, Petra, Roger, Theo. Connor and Alexei. Lulu, Ariel, and Gwen.
We were the demon-catching dream team. Or so we hoped.
“Power Rangers,” Lulu began, walking in front of us like a commander preparing to lead her troops into battle. Which wasn’t far off.
She’d even dressed the part in black military-style boots (found on consignment), black leggings, and a black hooded vest over a black tee. Not the usual garb for an artist, but she was playing a different role tonight.
If she had any remaining qualms about using her magic, she wasn’t showing it. Honestly, it seemed like I was the only one having trouble adjusting to how well she was adjusting. Maybe that’s because she’d been holding her real self back for so long.
