 about it at the time. I wasn't even sure I was going to make it out alive. Hell, I was so terrified I left Dolores behind."

"Dolores?"

"My bike." Georgia winced. "I hope she's still there. I haven't been back since that night."

"Right." Darius blew out a breath. "Anything else?"

Georgia shook her head.

"Does anyone else know about what you just told me?"

Georgia shook her head again. "I'm not exactly tight with the witching guild, if you catch my drift. The magic I work..." She stopped. "That's not important, either. Let's just say my presence at a massacre of witches wouldn't go over well."

This just kept getting better and better. Darius stood, winced as pain flared in his side. Georgia started to speak, apparently thought better of it and shut her mouth. Darius cast an assessing eye around the small apartment. "I assume you're going to fully ward this place after I leave?"

Her eyebrows went up, but she only nodded.

He nodded too. "Good. Now the way I figure, you've already banished this thing from here. That makes this the safest place for you right now. The second I'm gone, finish your wards and lock everything. Doors, windows..." He glanced at the ruined bay window. "Need help with that?"

"No. Thanks." Georgia studied him. "You sure know a lot about wards. MacMillian couldn't have told you that much." Her eyes narrowed. "Just how many things have you seen?"

_Too many._ Darius didn't say it out loud. He merely plucked his jacket from where he'd draped it over the arm of the sofa, and slung it over his shoulder. He started towards the door. "I'll be back tomorrow. Early. Be ready."

"Why?" Georgia trailed behind him. "Where are we going?"

Darius glanced back at her without slowing. "To get Dolores, of course."

# CHAPTER FOUR

#

Forest Hill was still blanketed in early morning fog when they arrived.

Georgia tried to ignore the prickle at the back of her neck. She'd never thought about how deeply ingrained the usual city sounds had become. Up
about it at the time. I wasn't even sure I was going to make it out alert. Hell, I was therefore terrified I left Dolores behind. " 

 " Dolores? " 

 " My bike. " Georgia wince. " I hope she's still there. I haven't been back since that night. " 

 " Right. " Darius blow out out a breath. " Anything else? " 

 Georgia shook her point. 

 " Does anyone else know about what you just order me? " 

 Georgia shook her head again. " I'm not precisely nasty with the witching guild, if you catch my drift. The magic I work... " She stopped. " That's not significant, either. Let's just say my bearing at a massacre of witches wouldn't run low all over well. " 

 This just kept getting better and better. Darius stood, flinch as pain flared in his side. Georgia started to speak, apparently thought better of it and shut her mouth. Darius cast an assessing eye around the small apartment. " I assume you're going to fully guard this topographic point after I leave? " 

 Her eyebrow sound up, but she entirely nodded. 

 He nodded excessively. " Good. Now the way I figure, you've already banished this matter from here. That makes this the safest place for you right now. The second I'm gone, finish your wards and lock everything. Doors, windows... " He glanced at the ruin bay windowpane. " necessitate help with that? " 

 " No. Thanks. " Georgia studied him. " You sure acknowledge a lot about wards. MacMillian couldn't have told you that much. " Her eye narrowed. " Just how many things have you seen? " 

 _ besides many. _ Darius didn't say it out loudly. He merely plucked his jacket from where he'd draped it over the arm of the sofa, and slung it over his shoulder. He start towards the door. " I'll be back tomorrow. early on. Be ready. " 

 " Why? " Georgia trailed behind him. " Where are we rifle? " 

 Darius glanced back at her without slowing. " To drive Dolores, of course. " 

 # CHAPTER FOUR 

 # 

 Forest Hill was even blanketed in early morning fog when they arrived. 

 Georgia tried to ignore the prickle at the back of her neck. She'd never thought about how profoundly ingrained the usual city audio had become. Up
 ablut it at the time. I wask't even sure I wcw goinj to maie it oug alive. Hell, I was so terrifmed U lefu Dolores behind."

"Dolures?"

"My bine." Georgua wmnced. "I hope she's still bkere. J havzn'v been back singe that nigvt."

"Right." Darius buec out a breath. "Anything else?"

Georgia fhook hrr head.

"Does anyoge ekfe khow about what you just told me?"

Geodgia shmok her head sgain. "I'm not exactly tight witj the witching guipd, if you cqtch ny drift. The magic I work..." She stopked. "That's not important, either. Ldt's jbst say my kxwsejwe at a maswacre of witches wouldn't co over well."

This just ke't gwtting better and betver. Darius stood, winsed as pahn flared in his siee. Georcia vtargwd go apxak, apparfntmy thought better of ut and shut her mouuh. Qqrius cast an assesfigg eye around the small apartment. "I asslme gou're going to fully waed this place after I leave?"

Her eyebrows went up, but she only nodded.

He nodded tom. "Goov. Vow tme wxt L figure, you've already banished this thing frjj nege. That makes thif the safesy olsse for you rieht noc. Tge second I'm gone, vinish iour wqrds and jock everything. Doors, windows..." Hw glanced at rhe ruined bay winbow. "Need hel' with that?"

"Mo. Thanks." Georgia studizd him. "You sure kjow a lot xbout wards. MacMkllpan wouldn't have told you that much." Her eyex narroded. "Kust hjw many thlngs mdve you seen?"

_Too majy._ Datius dhdn't say ih out loud. He merely plucked his jacket from ehare he'd dra'ed it over the arm of the sofa, aud slung it oxer his shkulder. Ie started tjwards the domt. "I'll be back tomorror. Eaely. Ve readh."

"Dhy?" Georgia trsiled behpnb him. "Wheee are we going?"

Darlus guznced back at hzx qithout slowing. "To gee Fokowas, of course."

# CHAOTEF FOUR

#

Worest Hill das xtill blanketed in edrly morning fog when yhcy arrivee.

Georgia tried to ignpre the prickle at the uack oh her mech. She'd never thought about how deeply ijgrwined the ustal gity sounds hab become. Up
about it at the time. I wasn't I going to it out alive. I Dolores behind." "Dolores?" bike." Georgia winced. hope she's still there. I haven't back since that night." "Right." Darius blew out a breath. "Anything else?" Georgia her head. "Does anyone else know about what you just told me?" Georgia her again. not tight with the witching guild, if you catch my drift. The magic I work..." She stopped. not important, either. Let's just say my presence a massacre of witches go over well." This just getting and better. stood, as flared in his Georgia started to speak, apparently thought better of it and shut her mouth. Darius cast an assessing around the "I assume going fully this place after Her eyebrows went up, but she nodded too. "Good. Now the way I figure, already banished thing from here. That makes this safest place for you right now. The second gone, finish your wards and lock everything. Doors, windows..." He glanced at the ruined bay help with that?" "No. Georgia studied him. sure a about MacMillian couldn't told you that much." Her eyes narrowed. "Just how many things you seen?" _Too many._ Darius didn't say it out loud. plucked jacket from where draped it over the of sofa, and slung it shoulder. started "I'll back Early. Be ready." "Why?" trailed behind him. "Where are going?" Darius glanced back get Dolores, of course." # CHAPTER FOUR # Hill was still blanketed in early morning when they arrived. Georgia tried to ignore the prickle at the back her neck. thought about how deeply ingrained the usual city had become. Up
 about it at the time. I wasn't eveN sure I was gOing tO maKe iT oUt alIve. HEll, I was so terriFIed I Left Dolores behind."

"DolorEs?"

"My bIkE." georGIa WinceD. "I hope sHE's STIll ThErE. I hAvEN't Been bAck Since thAt night."

"RigHt." DArIus blew out a bREaTh. "Anything ElsE?"

Georgia shooK heR head.

"DOeS anYOne elSe kNow abOut whaT You jusT told me?"

GeOrGIa shooK Her head AGAiN. "I'm nOt exactly tight witH ThE Witching guild, iF you caTcH My DRIft. the Magic I work..." shE stopPEd. "That's NOt IMPOrtANt, either. Let's jUst say my preSEncE at a maSsAcrE Of witcHes woUlDN't gO over well."

ThIs juSt kept getTing beTTer and bETter. DarIus stoOd, wIncEd as PAiN fLarEd IN hiS SiDe. GEOrgIa starteD tO sPeak, aPparENTLY thoUghT betTer of It and shut her mOutH. DarIUs cAst an AssesSing EyE arouNd the sMall aPaRtment. "I assume yoU're gOing to fulLy wArD thIs Place AFter I lEavE?"

HeR eyebroWs went uP, But ShE ONLy Nodded.

He nodded too. "GOoD. nOw The way I fIgure, yOU'vE aLReady banIsHed This THIng frOm heRE. THat makes This thE SaFeSt place FoR you riGhT noW. ThE secoND I'm gOne, finIsh your wArds aND lock everythinG. doors, windows..." HE GlANCeD At thE ruIned bay windOw. "NeED helP witH ThAt?"

"NO. thankS." GeorGiA StUDied him. "You sure know a LoT about Wards. macMillian couLdn't have toLD YOu that muCh." HeR EyES narrowed. "Just hOw manY things havE You seen?"

_TOo manY._ Darius dIdn't say it OUT loud. He mEreLy pLucKed HIS jAcket from wherE HE'd drApEd it oveR thE arm of tHe sOfa, And SluNg It over his Shoulder. he StArTeD toWards THe door. "I'lL bE baCk TomOrrow. eArly. Be Ready."

"why?" GEoRgIA trAiled beHInD HIm. "WhErE aRe we GoiNg?"

dariuS glaNCed Back at hEr without SloWIng. "TO gEt dolores, Of course."

# CHAPTeR fOUR

#

Forest hiLl wAs stilL BLanketed In early morning fog when thEY arriveD.

GeOrgia TrieD to ignore The PricklE at THe back Of her nEck. ShE'd NevER ThougHT AbOut HoW deeply ingRAIneD the uSuAl ciTy soundS had become. Up
 about it at the time. I w asn't even  sure  Iwas  g oing  tomake it out al i ve.Hell, I was so terrifi ed Ile f t Do l or es be hind.""D o l ore s? "
"M yb ik e." G eor gia win ced. "I ho pesh e's still th e re . I haven' t b een back sin cethat n ig ht. " 

"Ri ght ." Da rius b l ew out  a breath ." Anythi n g else? " 
G eorg ia shook her head . 
" Does anyone el se kno wa bo u t  wh atyou just t ol d me? " 

Georg i as h o okh er head again . "I'm note xac tly ti gh t w i th the  witc hi n g g uild, if yo u ca tch my dr ift. T h e magic I work. .." Sh e s top ped. "T ha t's  n o t i m po rta n t,either.Le t' s jus t sa y m y  pre sen ce a t a m assacre of wi tch es w o uld n't g o ove r we ll ."

T his ju st ke pt  getting better  and  better.Dar iu s s to od, w i nced a s p ain  flared  in his sid e. G e or gia started to spe ak , ap parently  thoug h tbe t ter of i tand  shu t her m outh .  D arius ca st ana ss es sing ey earound  t hesma ll ap a rtme nt. "I  assumeyou'r e  going to full y  ward this pl a ce a ft e r Ilea ve?"

Her e yebr o ws w entu p,  bu t  sheonlyno d de d .

He nodded too. " Go od. No w the  way I figure , you've a l r e ady bani shed th i s thing from h ere.That makes this the  safe st place  for your i ght now.  Th e s eco ndI ' mgone, finishy o ur w ar ds andloc k every thi ng.  Do ors ,windows.. ." He gl an ce dat  th e rui n ed bay w in dow ."Ne ed he l p with  that ?"
"N o. Tha nks." G e or g i a st ud ie d hi m."Y ou su re k n owa lot a bout ward s.M acMi ll ia n could n't have told  y ou that mu ch ."Her ey e s  narrowe d. "Just how many thing s  have y ouseen? "

_ Too many. _ D ariusdid n 't say  it ou t lou d.  He m erely p lu cke dhis jacket f rom  wher ehe'd  draped  it over the arm o f  th e sofa, and s lun g it o ve r h i ss hou ld e r.H e  started toward s the door ." I' ll be back tom or row. Ea rly. Be  read y ."

"Wh y?" Georg ia traile dbehi n d  hi m. "Whereare we g oing?"

D a riusg la ncedbac k at h er  wi thout  slowi n g."To g et Dol or es, of  cour se ."

# CH APTER FOUR

#

Forest H ill wa s sti llblanketed  in ear ly mornin g fo g when the y a rri ved.
Ge o rgiatrie d  t o i g norethep rickle at th e b a c kof her neck . S he' d nev ert hought  abo ut how deeply ing r ained the usua l ci t y  so und s  had  b ecome. Up
 about_it at_the time. I wasn't_even sure_I_was going_to_make it out_alive. Hell, I_was so terrified I_left Dolores behind."

"Dolores?"

"My_bike."_Georgia winced. "I hope she's still there. I haven't been back since that night."

"Right."_Darius_blew out_a_breath._"Anything else?"

Georgia shook her head.

"Does_anyone else know about what_you just_told me?"

Georgia shook her head again. "I'm not_exactly_tight with the_witching guild, if you catch my drift. The magic_I work..." She stopped. "That's not_important, either. Let's_just_say_my presence at a_massacre of witches wouldn't go over_well."

This just kept getting better and_better. Darius stood, winced as pain flared_in his side. Georgia started to_speak, apparently thought better of_it and_shut her mouth. Darius cast_an assessing eye_around the_small apartment. "I_assume you're going to fully ward_this place after_I leave?"

Her eyebrows went up, but_she_only nodded.

He nodded_too._"Good._Now the_way I figure,_you've_already banished_this_thing from here. That makes this_the_safest place for you right now. The_second I'm gone, finish_your_wards and lock everything._Doors, windows..." He glanced at_the ruined bay window. "Need help_with that?"

"No._Thanks." Georgia_studied him. "You sure know a lot about wards. MacMillian couldn't_have told you that much." Her_eyes narrowed. "Just how_many things_have_you seen?"

_Too many.__Darius_didn't say_it out loud. He merely plucked his_jacket from_where he'd draped it over the_arm of the sofa,_and_slung it over his shoulder. He_started towards the door. "I'll be_back tomorrow. Early. Be ready."

"Why?"_Georgia_trailed_behind him. "Where are we_going?"

Darius glanced back at her without_slowing. "To get_Dolores, of course."

# CHAPTER FOUR

#

Forest Hill was_still_blanketed in early morning fog when_they_arrived.

Georgia tried to ignore the prickle_at_the_back of her neck. She'd_never thought about how deeply ingrained_the usual city sounds had become. Up