Ever After (Rachel Morgan)

jerked to a halt, so close the circle hummed a warning.
    Trent’s eyes met mine, and slowly we stood. I felt ill looking at the grim hatred in his expression. I didn’t think it was the rings that had saved our skins. We just knew what to do.
    “Curious,” Ku’Sox said, walking the edge of our circle like a lion in the shadows. “Both of you together? Unexpected.” His eyes slid to the ley line. “And potentially troublesome.”
    Satisfied, I stood straighter. A drop of sugar-coated anger slipped through my fear. “We can prove you did this,” I said, and he rolled his eyes. “I’m going to Dali and—”
    My words cut off as a wash of energy made Ku’Sox flicker. Trent moaned when it melted away to show Ku’Sox holding Lucy on his hip. The fair-headed little girl was only a year old, innocent of the monster who held her and happy with the world. Her little mouth curved up in a smile when she saw me, and then she cried out when she saw Trent, reaching with her hands for him to come take her.
    “Rachel, I can’t,” Trent said, ashen. “She’s my daughter.”
    “You’ll go to Dali and what?” Ku’Sox said as he held her on his hip, his arrogant expression mocking. Beside me, Trent’s breath quickened. Shit, he might do anything, I thought, and I grabbed his arm, refusing to let go lest he walk through his circle and break it. This was what had happened in the clearing with Quen and Lucy, and I vowed it would have a new ending.
    “Down!” Lucy demanded imperiously when she saw Trent, then, “No! No!” when Ku’Sox tightened his grip.
    “She’s my godchild. You broke our agreement,” I said as the little girl’s pout drifted into the realm of a tantrum, and the clean-shaven demon in his three-piece charcoal suit smiled a perfect, evil smile.
    “File the paperwork.” Frowning, Ku’Sox jiggled Lucy, but she wouldn’t be distracted, her hands extended to Trent and pleading for him to come get her. I didn’t think I could hate Ku’Sox any more. Trent’s hands were fisted, his breathing shallow. Bis’s ears were down in indecision, and Jenks hovered at the top of Trent’s circle, waiting for instruction. I didn’t know what to do. Ku’Sox might hurt her.
    Seeing us frozen, Ku’Sox turned the magic wreathing his hand inward. Making a fist, he opened it to release a dozen tiny winged horses, pink, purple, and red. “Love is such a fine weapon when utilized fully,” he said as Lucy caught sight of them and was predictably distracted.
    I stiffened when he set the wildly wiggling toddler down, but then he gestured, and the horses galloped into the dark, down the broken path and away from me. Shouting in delight, Lucy wobbled after them, her little riding outfit making her a darling of wealth and privilege.
    Trent jerked, catching himself before I had to. If we broke the circle, Ku’Sox would have us at his mercy. Still within our sight, Lucy lost her balance and plopped backward onto her butt. Laughing at her own mistake, she crawled to a retaining wall and regained her feet. My teeth clenched, and my heartache turned to hatred. “I’ll kill you if you hurt her.”
    “And then I’ll kill you again,” Jenks said, his dust an eerie black.
    “If either of you touch her, I will eat her soul alive,” Ku’Sox said mildly, brushing nonexistent dust from his shoulder. From somewhere in the dark, Lucy giggled.
    “This could all be over if you agree to come with me, Trenton Aloysius Kalamack,” he said as he stood before us. “Ceri is no good at fixing things,” he added, looking scornfully at the small gargoyle when Bis hissed at him. “You need to learn some respect, goyle.”
    Lucy toddled up, the newly risen moon making her hair a silver halo. Shouting in glee, she threw herself at Ku’Sox’s knees, a purple winged horse in her grip. Trent groaned, and my stomach twisted at Ku’Sox’s fake smile. “Aren’t you a love!” he said brightly as he took her in his arms and rose, giving me an empty black stare when the little girl looked away. Trent was beside himself.
    “As you can see, I’ve not hurt little Lucy,” Ku’Sox said, smiling. “I think elf children are sweet, actually. I don’t have that grudge against the elves that my kin do. The new world wouldn’t have that ugliness.”
    “Genocide is not a viable path to world peace,” I said, seething. “I can prove you broke my line.”
    Seeing my anger, Lucy began to frown. The horse in her hand was dead, but