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“If we don’t hold it,” Lulu continued, “general chaos of the demon variety. Death, destruction. I can’t be more specific than that, because part of her magic is related to improbability.”
“And what if she refuses to return the House?” Roger asked.
“If she’s properly commanded, she can’t refuse. We’ll be in djinn territory—you make the wish, they obey.”
“If we can’t command her,” I said, “we negotiate. The House is the number one priority, because that has the time limit.”
That put a grim cast over the room, but it couldn’t be helped. Getting Cadogan back was life or death. Just like stopping Rosantine.
***
The sky was indigo, the moon just near full. The clouds were bright white shards—thin and jagged—against the sky. It was a nightmare sky, like an ominous background for a horror movie.
And we were preparing to call a demon.
“Look,” Theo said, putting in the earbuds that would keep us all connected during the fight, “I’m not excluded from this because I’m a guy, right? Or because I have a cast?”
“Of course not,” I said with a grin. “You’re excluded because you’re human.”
“I’m... not sure how to take that.”
“You could be glad the city’s survival doesn’t depend on your magical performance under severe pressure and time constraints.”
After a moment, he nodded. “Yeah, that works.”
“You are the clock,” I reminded him. “That’s a crucial job. Alarms and alerts ready.”
Then he reached out with his casted hand, squeezed my fingers. “We’re going to get them back.”
“Thank you. And why is your hand so clammy?” I held it up to see it better in the (ever-growing) moonlight. I’d feared to see spectral ooze, but they looked like normal fingers.
“Demon wrangling makes me sweaty,” he said, and wiped his fingers on his jeans. “Don’t tell anyone.”
I snorted. “Anyone who isn’t a little sweaty hasn’t been paying attention.”
Petra walked toward us—stumbled, really, since her gaze was on the sky. “The sky is garbage. But I saved a little from the Peony Park lightning.”
“Wait,” I said. “You’ve been storing lightninginsideyourself?”
She lifted a shoulder. “My sparkling—or should I say sparking—personality can take it.”
“Obligatory sad trombone sound,” Ariel said. “Because that was truly awful.”
I looked at Lulu. “Do you have what you need?”
“I do.” She blew out a breath. “And I’m nervous.”
“Good,” I said. “You should be.” Pep talk time! “We should all be nervous, because we’re about to do some big magic. But we’re going to do it, and we’re going to handle whatever comes at us, and we’re going to get Cadogan House back. Let’s rock and roll.” Then I held up a hand. “Strike that last thing. I want a redo.”
Petra snorted. “Too late, and all the good catchphrases are taken anyway. Let’s just proceed with the mission,” she said, and put a fist in the air.
“And how are we going to do that?” Lulu asked.
“We’re going to hold the circle,” we said simultaneously.
Because we made good little soldiers.
***
