Ritual Magic

currently caught by a sleep charm. The man holding it to him is one of those who can’t move. Li Lei Yu isn’t here now.”
    “I’m unsure how to proceed. I was given a way to identify myself to Isen Turner or to Li Lei.”
    “Hey, I know you!” Cynna cried. “Rule, I know them both. They helped us in Edge. They’re cool.”
    “If you’ve come to destroy the knife,” Rule said dryly, “you’re welcome. But I was expecting a hellhound.”
    “I am the Queen’s Hound. Do you accept my authority to deal with Nam Anthessa?”
    Rule hesitated, but only for a second. “I do.”
    “Then—”
    “Nathan,” the woman said, her voice strained, “Nam Anthessa is reaching for me, and I can’t—”
    Just like that, chat time was over. The man launched himself as fast as any lupus, drawing a dagger the color of bleached bones as he raced forward and leaped from the upper deck to land on the bare ground below. Right next to the black knife.
    He didn’t look ordinary now. His face contorted in a snarl. His eyes blazed, shedding color until they were as pale as the blade he raised overhead, gripping it in both hands as he growled—words, there were words in that loud growl, but none Lily knew, nor were they spoken in a man’s voice—and plunged his bone white blade
into
the black one.
    Nam Anthessa shattered.
    The sound of its breaking was small, like the crunch of a cracker. The feel of it . . . Lily reeled as shards of power stung her face, her hands, every bit of exposed skin.
    All around them, lupi staggered. Some went to their knees. Some moaned. “It’s gone,” Pete whispered. “It’s gone. Oh, God, oh, God . . .”
    The woman came forward then and jumped onto the lower deck. “We didn’t finish introducing ourselves,” she said apologetically. “He’s Nathan. Nathan Hunter. I’m Kai Tallman Michalski. I think you have need of me, too. I’m a mind healer.”

FORTY-THREE

    T HERE weren’t that many places to hold a really large wedding in San Diego. Tres Puentes Resort, slightly outside the city, was the poshest and one of the most beautiful. It was named for the three bridges crossing the artful little creek that wandered through the large, open lawn and lush gardens, any or all of which could be reserved, along with the banquet hall, ballroom, smaller dining rooms, and one or more rooms to get ready in before the ceremony. Tres Puentes was usually reserved for over a year in advance, but somehow Rule had booked the place anyway. Part of the deal was that the resort wouldn’t provide the food or serving staff, due to having a smaller event that had already booked the kitchen . . . hence Philippe and the
feuilles des pommes et grenades.
    And she was not, Lily told herself firmly, going to think about what it cost. Not today.
    “Hold
still
,” Beth said—not for the first time.
    “I am.”
    “No, you aren’t. You’re as fidgety as I’ve ever seen you. Twice as fidgety.” Her sister yanked on the hair she’d brushed back from Lily’s face. “I could almost think you’re nervous.”
    “I’m supposed to be nervous—”
    “That’s right,” Susan said. “It’s traditional.”
    “But I’m not.” A bit jittery, maybe, but not nervous. They weren’t the same thing at all. “What time is it?”
    “Five minutes since the last time you asked,” Cynna said. “Which proves what a puddle of amazing calm you are. If you were nervous, you’d be asking every minute instead of every five.”
    “Don’t complain. You’re the official timekeeper. It’s your job to tell me what time it is.”
    “There.” At last Beth released Lily’s hair. That was her third attempt. “All done but the orchids, and you need to have your gown on before I put them in.”
    Lily studied her reflection. Her hair was pulled back from her face and fastened in a deceptively simple way at her crown. It hung down in back, long and perfectly straight—at least that was what Beth told her after wielding the straightening iron. “You don’t think it’s too severe?” she said in sudden doubt, raising one hand to touch it.
    Beth swatted her hand. “It’s perfect. Don’t touch.”
    “Lily,” Aunt Deborah said, “I brought my diamond drops, in case you needed them.”
    Lily touched one bare ear. The hairstyle called for earrings, but . . . “No. Thank you, but no.”
    “She’ll be here,” Aunt Mequi said. “There’s still time. She’ll be here.”
    “Of course she will.” Lily