Shell-shocked, I dropped into the nearest chair. I stared up at them, unable to say a word. Camille knelt beside me, taking my hands. Delilah, Rozurial, and the rest were also there, waiting for news.

“I didn’t mean for her to get killed.” I stared at Camille, clutching her hands in mine. “I didn’t mean for her to die.”

“I know…I know…” She glanced up at Smoky.

He let out a long sigh. “Charlotine gave her life to destroy the Demon Gate. It was stronger than any of us realized.” Quietly, without embellishment, he explained what happened in the cave.

“I didn’t mean for her to sacrifice herself.” I grimaced, remembering the look on her face when she’d shouted for us to run.

Shade quietly knelt beside me. “She knew what she was doing. She knew the risks and she took them because she worked for Queen Asteria and she understood the dangers of letting the Demon Gate stand.”

“She didn’t expect to die.” I gazed into his eyes, watching the remnants of the purple flame sparkle in them.

“None of us expect to die. Not really. We think we may not survive, but deep inside, we don’t really believe it will happen. She could have fled and left the gate standing, but she chose to take it down. She’s one of the fallen heroes of this war.” He reached out, brushed the braids out of my face. “Remember her on Samhain, honor her memory, and you do her justice.”

Swallowing my shock, I slowly nodded. “She didn’t want to die…that’s why she became a vampire. She chose the life. I thought her selfish, but now…I’m glad I didn’t tell her how I felt.”

Nerissa motioned for Shade to move out of the way and, as he did, she pulled me to my feet and kissed me gently. “You’d do the same. You’d give your life if it meant taking out something that dangerous. We all would.”

I nodded, resting against her shoulder. She kissed the top of my head, rubbing my back gently as I collected myself. When I was able to focus again, we went into the kitchen.

Smoky, his clothes still white as snow in that bizarre natural-detergent way he had, quietly asked Hanna if she could supply a snack. Shade and Vanzir, who were both covered with dust and demon guts, went to take showers. I was pretty mucky myself, so Nerissa and I went to my lair, where I took a shower and she laid out my clean clothes for me.

“She sacrificed herself.” I slipped into the jeans and turtleneck, then sat on the bed, staring at my feet.

Nerissa nodded. “Yes, she did. As you would, for the greater good. You, Camille, Delilah—you’ve all gone into battle more times than I want to think about. You go, knowing each time it may be your last. You go because you have to, because it’s the right thing to do. You go because you can’t not go. Give Charlotine the credit she deserves. Don’t think she was ignorant of the dangers. You told her exactly what you were facing. She knew what she was getting into.”

I slipped on a pair of ankle boots, zipping them up. “We are so far from taking out Gulakah. He scares me in a way the other demon generals didn’t.”

“That’s because he’s a god. He’s powerful, and deadly, and he’s playing for keeps. The others…they were dangerous but not like this. I have a feeling things are going to get worse before they get better.” She paused. “You don’t think he has one of the spirit seals, do you?”

I shook my head. “No, I don’t think Shadow Wing would entrust him with one. Gulakah could probably face him down and maybe win, with one of them. But Telazhar has one.” I looked up at her.

“We won this battle—we put a stop to him using the bhouts to control the magic in the area. But we aren’t anywhere near winning the war. I dread his next move. He’s pissed out of his mind, Nerissa. And when a god’s pissed at you…” I let the words hang. I didn’t want to finish the thought.

“Yeah.” She snuggled beside me. “I know. But for now…at least the gate is broken and I doubt if he’ll try the same thing twice. He’s not stupid.”

“More’s the pity that.” I stood and stretched. “Come on, let’s get upstairs. We’ve got a lot of planning to do. And a lot of research. Next step: finding a way to kill a god.”

Nerissa looped her arm around my elbow. “No, actually the next step—we get married. Have you thought of a place yet?”

I smiled then. At least I could give her some good news on that front. “Would you believe it? I have. How would you feel about making a trip to Otherworld?” And, as we ascended the stairs, I began to describe the lake and the falls, and how beautiful it all was.

Over the next few days, we kept a close lookout for signs that Gulakah had started up anything new, but all was quiet. The ghostly activity in the Greenbelt Park District was still jumping, but a return visit to the Galaxy club and a talk with the owner about warding the place put a stop to the rogue bhouts—which were no longer under Gulakah’s control. The patrons were back to their usual lively selves.

We warned Lindsey’s coven about the spirits, and they were able to ward against them, too. Chances were, there were hundreds of the rogue magic-feeders around, but when they couldn’t find a good source for energy, they’d scatter off to other parts. It was far easier to deal with a single bhout than with a thriving community of them.

Carter got in touch with the Oregon psychic community, and they, too, put up wards and were having no further problems. Camille was still trying to run down information on the Aleksais Psychic Network and the strange man who had followed Nerissa, but so far, we hadn’t discovered anything about them, and the network itself seemed to vanish from sight after the Demon Gate was broken.

We were sitting around the table a couple of nights later, discussing what to do.

“Chances are, this Halcon Davis has gone underground for now,” Camille said. “But we keep our eyes open because I imagine he’ll be back, along with the Aleksais Psychic Network, and we don’t want to assume the problem’s over. Because we all know it isn’t. Tomorrow’s the equinox and we all know the holidays are volatile times in the spirit and psychic world.”

“My guess is that Gulakah will take a while to regroup and plan. And whatever he’s got coming next will be as bad as or worse than the bhouts.” Shade was straddling one of the benches near the table.

“That’s my fear, too,” Roz said. “We need to find out as much as we can about him during the next few weeks.”

“I can make a trip back to the Netherworld and see what I can dig up there,” Shade said.

“And I’ll talk to Carter and go hunting through the Demon Underground.” Vanzir leaned his elbows on the table, staring at the cookies he’d stacked in front of him. Delilah reached over and snagged one and he smacked her hand, gently.

“So your powers have come back?” Smoky stared at him. He was still hostile toward Vanzir, but there had been no outright spats over the past month, and I hoped things were calming down between them.

Vanzir glanced up at him. “Go ahead and finish what you’re thinking: And I have no soul binder around my neck. Right?”

Smoky pressed his lips together but kept his eye on the dream-chaser. Camille poked him in the side and shook her head. I knew that look. It said, Quit being an ass, my love.

“Speaking of the equinox,” Nerissa broke in. “Tomorrow night’s coming quickly. When do we leave for Otherworld?”

“We go at sunset—the minute I wake up. Father will be waiting for us, along with Trenyth. I wish everyone could come, but Shamas has to stay and help Chase. And Hanna…”

“I will stay and watch the house. There will be guards here, and all will be safe. Besides, I am not ready to return there. Too many memories.” She waved a dish towel at me. “Do not think of trouble.”

Camille was opening mail, and she looked dejected. “The wetlands next door? The owner has told our lawyer somebody’s already put down an offer and he’s taking it. This sucks.” She looked crestfallen. “Want to make a bet we’ll get stuck with lousy neighbors?”

The disappointment must have showed on Delilah’s and my faces, because Hanna immediately brought over another batch of chocolate chip cookies. “Here, sugar is good for disappointment.”

“Thanks,” Delilah said, dejected. “I really wanted to buy up that property. Over five more acres, along with four acres of wetlands and the pond? We could have done so much with the area.”

“Cheer up.” A tendril of Smoky’s hair rose up to stroke Camille’s face. “I know the owner. I think you’ll like her.”

“Who? Hotlips?” She gave him a withering look.

“Heavens preserve us from that. No, love. You.” And he began to laugh as the rest of us stared at him. The room erupted as Iris began dancing around with Maggie. “I bought the land and had it put in your name, my love.”

Camille jumped into Smoky’s lap, covering him with kisses. “Do you really mean it? Thank you! Oh, bless you.”

“Well, I have not yet bought you a wedding present and it was time. We’ve been married for almost a year. This will do?” The big galoot of a dragon looked up, winking at Delilah and me. “And I do not mind if you share with your sisters. Or the rest of our family.”

I shook my head. “Oh, good gods. You, Smoky, and Morio’s anniversary will essentially be the same day as Nerissa’s and mine.”

“You’re right,” Camille said, laughing. “Shade, when you and Delilah get married, make it on October twenty-second, so Trillian and I can share our anniversary with you guys.”

After the celebration following Smoky’s announcement, I glanced at the clock. “I’m going downstairs to pack. And to meditate.” I kissed Nerissa good night—she was sleepy and needed to rest up for the trip tomorrow—and headed down to my lair. In the midst of sadness, it seemed strange to be celebrating, but I was grateful for the respite.

But as I arranged myself on my yoga mat, I couldn’t help but send a silent prayer Charlotine’s way. She’d helped us win the battle. We wouldn’t allow her death to be in vain.

Chapter 20

The trip to Otherworld went smoothly. Even Iris had no problems with the portal—it didn’t seem to affect pregnant women, except to make them terribly dizzy. We’d gone through the one in the Wayfarer, which led directly to Y’Elestrial.

Father was waiting for us, and Trenyth with him, as we arrived just after sunset. As Trenyth came forward, holding out his hands to me, I took them and smiled softly.

“I’m so sorry about Charlotine. But she…she saved our butts.”

He ducked his head in acknowledgment. “As you said when you talked to us through the Whispering Mirror. Not to discuss business on your wedding day, but I thought you’d like to know that Darynal and the caravan are safe. So far, all things are going as planned. We should know more in a few weeks, once they’ve established themselves in Rhellah.”

The thought that, to the south, the sorcerers were grouping like a pack of feral wolves hit home. For the first time, I realized there was no safety—anywhere. Oh, if we moved to the Dragon Reaches, we’d be safe. The demons weren’t stupid enough to take on the entire world of Dragonkin, but we couldn’t just leave Otherworld and Earthside to the hands of Shadow Wing.

“Good,” I said. “We need to be kept abreast. We’re working on the reorganization for the new Earthside headquarters of the OIA. It will be housed at the FH-CSI, but properly this time. Now that we’re in charge, we can do so much more with keeping the lines of communication open.”

Trenyth gave my hand a little squeeze. “That’s a good thing. Now, put talk of business away. It’s time to focus on your celebration.”

Hard as it was—the future loomed dark and dreadful, like a gathering storm—I turned my attention back to Nerissa. She had never seen Otherworld, and now I saw it again through fresh eyes—through her vision.

We’d left Shamas, Bruce, and Vanzir at home—they’d volunteered to stay and watch over Maggie and the house. As much as I wanted our little munchkin with us, we felt it was safer to leave her at home. But Chase—with his broken thumb—and Rozurial, Shade, Morio, Smoky, and Trillian had come with us. And, of course, Iris and my sisters.

The carriages were waiting, and as we climbed in and began our trek through the crowded, bustling city, Nerissa laughed with delight.

“It’s so beautiful, and so different. As noisy as the crowds are, it’s quiet. No planes, no cars, no buzz of electricity…”

“But the magic hums brightly here,” Camille said, laughing with her. She, Delilah, and Iris were in the carriage with us.

Eye catchers lit the streets, and I noticed the roads were actually clean. Apparently the usual beggars had been put to work sweeping the cobblestones, picking up litter, and cleaning the stables and streets of the manure left behind by the horses and animals. Tanaquar had instituted a work-for-food program, and even though she’d used our father and tried to cause trouble with us, I had to give it to her—taking the homeless off the streets and giving them jobs for food and simple shelter was genius.

We clattered along, the horses’ hooves beating a staccato tattoo against the cobblestones, and as we went, Nerissa kept pointing out the unfamiliar trees and flowers and the architecture that was unique to Otherworld. I let her ramble, loving the animation in her face and the delight in her voice.

“I wish you could see this in the daylight. But you will. I’ve arranged for us to stay a couple days. Father has rented a safe house for us, with a lair for me, and I’ll be safe while you explore the city with Camille and Delilah.”