Page 35 (2/2)

She didn’t want to be alone She couldn’t call Zane She didn’t have anyone else

Zane had been keeping an eye on Ruby’s house allfor her to return It was after three when a strange car pulled into the driveway The blonde he had seen at Ruby’s shop stepped out of the driver’s side door Ruby, not instantly recognizable with the white bandage on her head, stepped carefully froer side

He was tempted to rush over there to ask what had happened, but she’d er wanted him around He wasn’t sure why, but he suspected it had so to do with the er trusted hione to sleep in his arms and had awakened afraid of him

What if he couldn’t save her? She was the ninth, the last, and he could not allow her to become a part of the demon The males of his faenerations Stopping II Colletore was a purpose he had lived with since the age of fifteen Twenty years devoted to research, training, and waiting for this moment No matter how much he liked Ruby, he could not allow the demon to live

He waited for the blonde to leave, but she didn’t

The car remained in Ruby’s driveway The curtains to the cheerful yellow house rehts came on, and still the blonde re crept down Zane’s spine This was it It had started

For a few moments he hesitated, his hand on the telephone receiver, his heart physically heavy as if it eighing him down Not Ruby, please He would not wish for anyone to be taken as a sacrifice for II Colletore, but of all the possibilities in the world-- why her? She was good and fragile and had only begun to live her life If the situation were different, he h

But his ti the situation could be different was done He lifted the receiver and dialed, and snapped out a crisp "This is Benedict It’s here"

The older ue with hi of known members of the Order north of London, near a particularly powerful vortex Many warriors of the Brotherhood were gathering there

"I’ you, it’s here," Zane said "The UK assembly is a distraction"

Still unconvinced, the dispatcher reluctantly agreed to send a few men to assist, just in case When that was done, Zane closed his eyes A moment later, he threw the phone across the room

Chapter 6

Ruby was not surprised to see the jade cat sitting on her bedside table when she crawled into bed She hadn’t slept well in two days, her head hurt, and Marielle had prepared a very nice chicken soup that had really hit the spot Now Ruby could barely keep her eyes open, and for the first time all day she didn’t feel as if she needed to run as if the devil were on her tail

Marielle had been very attentive since arriving at the clinic, and Ruby was thankful to have such a good friend When the younger woht, Ruby hadn’t protested Maybe if someone else was here, the walls wouldn’t purr

With her blond ponytail dancing, Marielle walked into the diht She even straightened the covers

Ruby didn’t mind

"Take that damn cat out of here," Ruby said, her eyes barely opened as she pointed to the night table

"Throw it in the trash" It wouldn’t stay, but there was soe

"This?" Marielle lifted the jade cat and studied it casually "It’s pretty, and it looks kinda old and expensive Why would you want me to throw it away?

Shoot, if you don’t want it, sell it on eBay Or I can just keep it"

"No!" Ruby tried to get up but couldn’t Her head was so heavy "Stay away fro to protect her friend froetting the original request, Marielle placed the figurine on the bedside table

Ruby thought about reissuing the order to take the thing away, but she didn’t have the energy to speak, and besides, if the cat wanted to be there, watching her, it would find its way back Her fear was no less sharp than it had been when she’d tried to flee, but somehow Ruby felt safer than she had earlier in the day She was not alone; Marielle was here There was no et anywhere near her

She heard the front doorbell ring, and thought nothing of it Marielle went to answer and was back shortly, wearing a big grin on her pretty face "Souy in a tie-dyed T-shirt wants to take me to a concert on Thursday I think he wanted to ask you, but I told him you were under the weather He won the tickets and is desperate for a date"

"Todd wins everything," Ruby said, her tired voice slurred

"He really wanted to come in and check on you, but I wouldn’t let him" She shuddered "What a loser"

"Yeah" Ruby closed her eyes, aware that Marielle reuard

There was snow all around Trey a felt cold, but that cold was the least of her worries Her hands and wrists were tied, and she had been staked to the ground A full ht white, and the icy cold cut to the bone as surely as the fear that gripped her