“I have a better idea.” I gave him a slow smile. “Why don’t the two of us take a shower.”

His eyes widened and his body immediately began to react. “What a wonderful idea.”

It was a long shower. I’ve seldom felt so clean or so satisfied. We didn’t get out until the hot water gave out and we were both completely sated and famished for breakfast.

Bruno dried off quickly and headed for the kitchen while I put on some makeup. One thing about the new hair, it was definitely easier to manage. No muss, no fuss, ready to go. A girl like me could get used to that.

I was feeling pretty good by the time I was ready to get dressed. Back in my bedroom and wrapped in my fluffiest robe, I found a shopping bag on my bed. It hadn’t been there before.

“Bruno?” I called.

As he so often did, he knew what I was asking from just a single word. He called back, “I was at the hospital with Isaac yesterday when Dom Rizzoli stopped by. He gave me your things. I meant to bring them in before; I just got sidetracked.”

Yay, the rest of my best gear! Before I had a chance to put it on, Bruno yelled that breakfast was ready.

I raced down the stairs. Bruno had not only made food, he’d straightened up—a lot of the flowers, which had begun to die, were gone. I assumed he’d taken them out to the trash when he’d gone to get my gear from his car.

A huge chunk of sapphire sat in the middle of my kitchen table as we ate.

“What’s that?” I asked. I thought I knew, from some reading I’d done back in college, but I wasn’t sure.

“It’s a vosta, a focus stone. You can use a good-quality crystal in a pinch, but unflawed gemstones are better. Diamonds are best but damned hard to come by and very expensive. This was the best I could come up with on short notice. And I wouldn’t have been able to get my hands on this if Isaac hadn’t made some calls for me.”

“Do I even want to know how much that cost?”

He looked at me soberly. “More than my house.”

Oh, hell.

“It’ll be worth it,” he promised. “Using the vosta we can combine our magics better, turning them into a single, flawless whole.”

I didn’t doubt he was right. But more than his house? Damn.

I steeled myself, looking from the rock to Bruno and back again. “Seriously, how hard is this going to be for you?”

“It’s probably the hardest thing any of us will ever do,” he said quietly. “Combining magic is never easy, even when there’s a strong connection between the mages; controlling a node is so dangerous nobody sane does it if there’s any other choice.”

“But you’re still going to do it.”

“We have to. We can’t let Connor Finn have access to the power of a node and we’ve got to get the prison sealed up again. I know I could die and that scares me shitless, but this is something worth dying for. I have to do it.”

I’d risen from my seat without thinking about it. I moved around behind him and wrapped my arms around him as I kissed the top of his head.

“I know you’re right. But I hate it.”

“I hate it, too.”

It was nine o’clock by the time Bruno left. But having him around had helped—I almost felt like my usual self.

I spread sunscreen over my skin then stood in front of the closet trying to decide what to wear. Ultimately, I went with my most comfortable black jeans, a sapphire blue blouse, and my beloved black blazer. I also wore a Colt in a shoulder holster, a Glock in the back of my waistband, and anything and everything else I thought I might possibly need tucked into the pockets, loops, and compartments of my jacket. I was a walking armory, and damn, I looked good.

I finished off with my black Nikes, the ones with the white swoosh and the blue layer in the sole. You never know when you’re going to have to make a run for it, and I wanted to be prepared. That was my motto for the day. Me and the Scouts.

When I put on my ring, I could feel the power of it augmenting my meager natural siren abilities. Good. I’d need the advantage of telepathy. Which reminded me … I went back into the bedroom, opened the safe, and took out some other very special jewelry. Then I grabbed the sniper rifle I’d liberated from Jack Finn during the previous day’s confrontation and went outside.

My timing was excellent—Dawna had just reached the gate. I was surprised that she wasn’t driving das Humvee. As I climbed into the car I started to ask whether everyone was in place and everything ready … then I got a good look at her.

She looked grim. Her makeup was minimal, her hair pulled back severely and tucked into a simple bun. She was wearing all black—black jeans and a black silk shell under a black suit jacket not unlike my own. Her jewelry was tasteful, just earrings and a matching bracelet. She wasn’t wearing a ring.

Oh, crap. She wasn’t wearing her engagement ring.

“Dawna?” I turned to her, not sure what to say or how to say it.

Driving, she spoke without looking at me.

“Chris and I have broken up. I don’t know if it’s forever. I’m not sure, but I won’t live with him or any man ordering me around. I’m an adult and his equal. If we’re ever going to make it work, he has to treat me like one.”

“Dawna, I’m so sorry.” Funny, I didn’t feel at all responsible for my mother’s failed suicide attempt, but I blamed myself horribly for Dawna’s breakup.

“It’s not your fault.” She stopped at a red light and turned to look me straight in the eyes. “He keeps trying to make it about you, but it really isn’t. It’s about me, and what I want, and what risks I consider worth taking. And the fact that he refuses to recognize that, and respect it, is one of our biggest issues.” Her voice was tight with both anger and pain, and I could see the tears that filled her eyes, tears that she refused to let fall.

“I’m so sorry.” I knew I was repeating myself, but I just couldn’t think what else to say.

“I’m okay … I’ll be okay. I will. I know it’s better that we found out now, before we actually got married.” Her words cut off as her throat tightened too much for her to speak. She took a ragged breath, trying to steady herself. The light changed and she drove on. We said nothing further, but I tried to project I will support you in whatever you decide at her.

She drove to the airstrip, dropping me off at the curb, not even willing to pull into the parking lot for fear that she’d run into Chris.

“Be careful, Celia,” Dawna said as I climbed out of her car. “I need you to come back from this okay so that you, Emma, and I can have that trip to the spa.”

“Don’t worry. We will, I promise. Later.”

“Later,” she agreed.

I watched her drive away, then hurried across the lot.

Even though I’d arrived a few minutes early, Bubba and Talia were already waiting by the gate, in the shade. Talia was dressed in desert camo. Bubba was wearing khaki cargo pants and a matching polo. They waved in greeting and I hurried over to join them, grateful for a spot out of the burning sun.

I pulled a velvet jewelry box from my bag, then turned to my employees. “Talia, I want you to wear the bracelet and one of the earrings. Bubba, you get the other one.”

Talia looked at the beautiful diamond bracelet I was handing her with a mixture of lust and horror. Lust, because it was just freaking gorgeous. Horror, because, seriously, with camo? The look she gave me as she reached for the ornaments said more plainly than words that she was fairly certain I’d completely lost my mind. I didn’t blame her. It’s not every day that your boss asks you to wear a tasteful diamond earring and a matching bracelet into a possible firefight.

As she and Bubba took the jewels, I explained. “The bracelet is a microphone. It’s got good range, even without the reinforcing magics, so I should be able to hear what’s going on at your end no matter what happens. The earrings are speakers, in case I need to give you orders. I know they’re a little flashy, but they’re what I already had on hand, and I haven’t had time to pick up something more boring.”

“Ah, okay then.” Talia smiled, relieved that the boss wasn’t a complete nut job after all.

“Can’t you just use your telepathy?” Bubba asked. He looked at the delicate earring balanced on his palm the way I’d look at a cockroach.

“I don’t want to count on it. Finn was able to block my telepathy when they dumped me on the beach. I don’t want to risk us being out of contact.”

Bubba sighed and gave me a look that let me know in no uncertain terms that we would be discussing this later. Then he took out the simple onyx stud he usually wore and put the new earring on in its place.

He kept glowering until I passed him the rifle. The sour look vanished immediately, replaced by a toothy grin. I’d known he’d be happy about the rifle. “Would you look at this,” he purred, caressing it lovingly. “Isn’t this the one you—”

“Took from Jack Finn? Yes, it is. Spoils of war. You may not need it. But if you do, feel free.”

“Have you ever used a high-powered rifle, Bubba?” John Creede asked from behind me.

“Yes, I have.”

“Celia?” John was questioning my abilities and decisions. Again. I didn’t like it. Not even a little. But I didn’t want to piss him off. Then he might not let my people in on the operation. So I managed to be mostly polite when I replied.

“Why yes, John, I have used a high-powered rifle. I’ve also used a flame thrower and a grenade launcher.”

Talia’s eyes went wide. Bubba just grinned and said, “Tell him about the tank.”

I scowled at my longtime friend. The tank story was not one I cared to share. It was just too embarrassing. “That was a long time ago and we are not going to talk about it.”

Bubba laughed. John just shook his head in amusement. “Fine, fine. I doubt you’ll need it, but I’ve never regretted having extra weapons.”