"Most beings use human forms these days," Amelie explained. "Some have been in human form so long, they have lost the ability to change back to their true form."

I made yet another mental note, this time to ask Drake if he was stuck in a man shape. Not that I was complaining—

I was just curious. Such trivial thoughts were quickly dis-missed as we approached the club.

"I am confident," I said softly to myself as I slipped a hand into my pants pocket to touch the Eye of Lucifer I had placed there earlier. "I am a professional. I have power. I can do this."

"Talking to yourself is a sign of mental instability," Jim said helpfully.

I shot it a thin-lipped look.

"Just trying to break the tension a little. Sheesh."

As they had done before, the mass of people flowing into the club parted before me, people stopping to whis-per as we passed through the narrow channel of bodies.

"You know," Jim said, looking from side to side as we walked the gauntlet, "I'd say this was really cool except I have a nasty suspicion we're all going to end up dead."

"One more crack like that, and you'll find yourself in solitary confinement with no hope of .parole," I breathed in an undertone I knew it could hear.

We walked up the steps to the club, the mass of people closing behind us. I stopped at the door, confused by the invisible net that seemed to be strung across the doorway.

"What is it?" I asked, pushing against it. The net held for a few seconds, then reluctantly gave way and allowed me through it. It was like pushing myself through a dense mass of air.

Rene pushed his way through it without too much dif-ficulty, Amelie on his heels. "It is a ward, a powerful one, intended to keep out all creatures of Abaddon."

I looked back through the door at where Jim stood, fifty or sixty people behind it. "Jim?" I asked.

It tried to step forward. For a fraction of a second an intricately drawn symbol glowed black on the air, then disappeared.

Jim shook its head. "It won't let me in."

I went back through the door, feeling no resistance as I left the club. "Here, let me help you. Maybe if I push, we can get you through it. I need you in there with me."

As I approached the door again from the outside, I could feel the power of the ward filling the door.

"I don't think this is going to work," Jim complained as I shoved him into the doorway. Its black body distorted as if a sheet of glass blocked its path. "Ow. Ow. Ow."

"Oh, for heaven's sake," I muttered, glaring at the door. "I donot have time for this."

I pulled the Eye out from my pocket, held it so it faced the door, and mentally envisioned a crack in the ward. The lodestone grew hot in my hand, drawing an answer-ing heat from deep within me—Drake's fire, the fire that never entirely left me. I let the two blazes join together into one conflagration, then directed it toward the ward at the same time I shoved Jim through. There was a crack like thunder; then we were inside.

Amelie stared at me in horror. "Aisling … you should not… you should not have been able to do that! The ward, it was most strongly drawn!"

The crowd outside the door went absolutely dead silent at her words. Every hair on my head stood on end at the look people were giving me. I imagined it was the same sort of look the guys running the witch trials gave the convicted.

"Just warming up, folks," I said with a weak smile, trying to diffuse the situation.

"Oh, that's gonna make everyone feel better," Jim muttered.

"Come on, let's get this over with. The sooner every-one has Ophelia to focus on, the quicker they'll forget about me." I marched forward, my little gang of three fol-lowing close behind.

The inside of G & T was packed, but still people poured into the club, squishing together like sardines. We pushed our way through to the dance floor, which had been cordoned off. At one end Drake stood with Pal and Istvan. All three were wearing knee-length dark green silk tunics and black leggings, Drake's tunic embroidered with an intricate gold-and-black dragon on the chest. He looked incredibly handsome and absolutely dangerous. I stopped at the edge of the dance floor, aware that some-one had squeezed forward to unsnap the black velvet rope to allow us onto the parquet floor. The surrounding crowd was so dense, it was almost impossible to see how deep they were, but I scanned them nonetheless.

I didn't see Ophelia.

Drake smelled the air, his eyes glittering black with anticipation. I knew without him even saying it that he was aware I had more than just the talisman with me, proving my suspicion that the talisman had indeed done well to hide the presence of the Eye. "You come to meet me in challenge. Guardian?"

I stepped forward two paces and spoke the formal words per instruction from Amelie. "I come to meet you in challenge, wyvern. Who are your seconds?"

Pal and Istvan stepped forward. "Pal Eszes of the green dragons, known as the wise, and Istvan Vadas of the green dragons, also named the hunter. Name your sec-onds, Guardian."

Uh-oh. Ophelia was supposed to be my second. "Um… I call a time-out." I turned to face Rene and Amelie. "Guys, this is probably going to get ugly later, so why don't you both find yourself a good place

to watch and let Jim be my second."

Amelie spoke as she shook her head. "A demon can-not serve as second. It will be the greatest honor for me to serve you."

Rene nodded. "Me, as well. I do not understand it all, but I know you need me."

"You guys are just the best," I said, giving both their hands a little squeeze before turning back to Drake. "Team Aisling consists of Rene Lesueur, taxi driver, and Amelie Merllain, healer."

"I'm the mascot," Jim said, pushing itself forward. "And our cheer is 'Aisling rules, others drool,' so you can just stick that in your pipe and blow it out your—"

"Thank you, I think that will be enough." I glared Jim into silence.

I swore one corner of Drake's mouth twitched as he in-clined his head toward me. "You are the challenger, Guardian; by what means will you meet me body to body to prove your superiority and claim control of the green dragon sept?"

Rene came forward at my gesture, holding out a dark blue canvas bag. I pulled out a round sisal and metal ob-ject, holding it up to show him, turning so the crowd could see it as well. "I, Aisling Grey, challenge you, Drake Vireo, to a game of darts' Winner takes all."