“And my guess is he’s hoping she’ll pull his string as well.” Frank chuckled, a little removed from our party but no less intrusive. “Don’t worry, Alexis honey, men just need a little room to sow their wild oats. Once he gets it out of his system, he’ll be fine—”

I flung my hand and Frank went flying, tumbling across the grass and through the fence. Hopefully he’d get lost and not be able to find his way back.

“Daisy had some really good points. I’m not so sure you can trust whatever tutor she offers up,” Bria said, spreading out a brightly colored square of fabric at my feet. She dug in her backpack for more Necromancer supplies, including stinky incenses, candles, and even a strangely off-pitch bell I absolutely hated. She was pulling out all the stops for this one.

I traced my thumb across the surface of the pocket watch in my hand, wishing Kieran would call. Or maybe text. I trusted him implicitly. I did. But everyone had gotten into my head, and I just wanted to see his face. To read his eyes. To hear that my misgivings were ridiculous and I had nothing to worry about.

“Even if Demigod Nancy offered someone up, it wouldn’t be the right someone,” I said softly. “I need one of my own kind, or a Demigod of Hades. Daisy was right: I need to learn to wander, not have my destination controlled.”

“No worries, we’ve got this.” Bria sat back on her haunches with her hands at her hips, looking over her setup. “Even the most powerful spirits lose their might when they lose their bodies.” She touched the center of her chest. “I’m a strong level five with my tools and enhancements, trained to control spirits.” She put her finger up, as though pointing at the sky. “Lexi is nearly beyond a level five with Kieran’s bump, in a league of her own, and a natural at controlling ornery spirits. Together we can handle this, no problem.”

“Except he’s a spirit who knows his craft. For all we know, he might be able to yank Lexi’s soul out before she can defend herself,” Boman said, shifting his weight uneasily.

“I have enough safeguards to block him if he goes for my soul,” I lied, wishing it were true. I didn’t have any safeguards. I didn’t even know how I’d know an attack was coming. Hopefully Bria’s equipment would help.

“We’re good.” Bria slid her thumb over a lighter and held the flame to a stub of incense. “You ready, Lexi?”

“I still think we should talk to Kieran about this first,” Boman said, scratching his chest and looking at Jack. “This could be bad news, setting this kind of spirit loose.”

“We tried to talk to Kieran, remember?” Bria’s voice was hard. “He was still in a meeting with Nancy and could not be disturbed.”

“We should have Lexi call, just real quick,” Boman said.

“I did. His cell phone went straight to voicemail and I got the same response from his assistant.” I rolled my shoulders, trying to work out the worry. It wasn’t like him to ignore my calls. “It’s fine. We have two level fives, my boost, and plenty of combined knowledge. I don’t even know why we’re worrying about this.”

“But you could use Kieran’s power to help,” Jack said.

“Never mind. Leave it.” My voice was a whip crack. It was now or never. If I waited any longer, I’d lose my nerve. That’s what I was telling myself, anyway.

I slipped into a light trance, welcoming the Line to drift into view, nearly beside me. Its power throbbed in my middle. Around me. I sank deeper, feeling the pocket watch in my hand. Tracing the grooves on the top, and remembering the look of it inside. I let the feeling vibrate beyond the Line. Beyond the veil. Deep into the spirit world, drifting, following the call of the owner. Still firmly rooted in the world of the living, I couldn’t help but wonder how different it would feel to step out of my body entirely, like in those dreams.

My consciousness bumped up against something in the vast emptiness. A smooth something. It felt like a wall. Behind it, I could feel another consciousness move. Spin. Wake up?

Suddenly, something rammed against the other side of the smooth thing. Thrashed against it, like a prisoner trying to get out of a cell. Perhaps it wasn’t a wall but a door, because it trembled and then pushed open a crack. Vileness oozed out toward me. Deviancy. Corrosion. It sucked at me, hooks scrabbling for purchase, trying to pull me in with it.

Trying to use me to pull itself out.

I jerked back, and then I was falling. Or running? Back-pedaling, trying to get away. Trying to leave that place.

I slammed into reality and staggered backward, a divot in the grass catching my foot. I was falling again, but this time strong arms wrapped around me. Kept me from hitting the ground.

“Alexis? Alexis!” Boman set me on the grass gently, leaning over me with worried eyes. “Alexis, are you okay?”

“He’s here!” Bria shouted.

Boman turned, shielding me with his body. I pushed out from under him and backed away, eyes wide, shivering with the remembered feeling of the vile ooze from behind that door. I’d never felt anything like it.

A shape had materialized in the smoke of Bria’s incense. The broad shoulders and defined arms pegged him as a man. He walked across the plane of the Line with a swagger, not drifting aimlessly like most of the spirits I’d called. This spirit was accustomed to crossing into the world of the living.