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"You re un, plus the revolver I even went to pullthat I would ask Amari’s student to quickly coot to it so the witch could put a stay-dead-forever spell on it, just in case I didn’t think I had the ti it back before the dawn--and the boots--took overover the tips of the trees at the first signs of sunlight "You’d better get"

"You’d better get first"

He nodded, then paused, grinning When he bowed at the waist, as he’d done when I’d first ain

But then he began walking, down the road, out of anoverback at n war me wish he wouldn’t keep his vow, but I continued forward as the sun grew stronger Then I ran the rest of the way toward the cabin, heading to a ho toward ht be

THE DEVIL’S LEFT BOOT

BY FAITH HUNTER

Liz tossed the rag into the dishpan and lifted it to take the dirty dishes to the kitchen Seven Sassy Sisters Café and Herb Shop used heavy country china and good-quality stainless flatware instead of the cheaper stuff The custo busboy--or girl--was tough on her back

"I’ve got it," Cia said, and scooped the heavy pan out of her arms "Share and share alike," she added Liz’s once reticent and introverted twin had been doing a lot of that since Liz’s injury And it wasn’t necessary So, okay, Liz got short of breath And her ribs hurt so, and no one could expect coe rock land on her chest in the ical attack By their own coven leaderand elder sister

Grief welled up again, and Liz blinked furiously against the tears Evangelina’s death had hit all the sisters hard, but the four witch sisters had felt her death most deeply because they had also lost a coven leader, and by the foulest h the actual cause of death had been a knife blade to the torso, the Evangelina they had grown up with and practiced their craft with for their whole lives had been dead forthe weakness in her ribs, a slo-level pain, and pulled out a clean rag to wipe down the next table She was polishing the final booth, standing by the front door, when the flashy red Thunderbird wheeled up and parked It wasn’t a practical car for Asheville, but it was memorable, and that hat the driver wanted--to be known as an icon in her hometown Liz huffed out a breath and called, "Cia! Coood kind"

Her tas by her side in a heartbeat "Is that Layla? Too bad we don’t have access to Evie’s demon It could eat her"

"Not funny," Liz said The demon had eaten a few hued since high school"

"Once a bitch, always a bitch," Cia said

"What’s that she’s carrying?"

"A baby goat? What the--"

The door opened, and their archene with her a cold spring wind through the airlock doors Layla’s face was as beautiful as ever, which made Liz stiffen and Cia narrow her eyes Layla was black-haired and pale-skinned and skinny and graceful and delicate and feh school she’d been the leader of a cadre of girls who had all been gorgeous and popular, most of them cheerleaders Unlike the Everharts, all of Layla’s pals had been huh school, the twins stood side by side, facing their enemy

The inner doors swished closed after Layla and she stopped, standing with the poise of aa Ralph Lauren leather jacket, tailored pants, and a pair of bling-studded Manolo Blahnik ankle boots that were droolworthy She stared at the twins across the small space and across the years No one spoke When the baby pygle, she soothed it with a gentle hand, and Liz felt Cia stiffen Layla Shiffen should not be gentle

"Boadecia Everhart and Elizabeth Everhart," she said, the words sounding almost formulaic, her expression determined "I require help"

Cia crossed her ar and mimicked her sister