She looked at the glove, then his eyes, then the glove. Slowly she removed the material, and...he let her. He couldn’t bring himself to stop her. Then, she studied the hand that hadn’t seen the sun in decades and gulped.

“Mari?”

“I agree.” She placed her palm against his, twined their fingers, and shook.

His response embarrassed him. His body instantly reacted, as if preparing for the dirtiest kind of sex. His skin tingled as if brushed by living flame, and his blood turned molten.

Must. Have. More.

* * *

CAMEO PACED THE confines of the office. It was weird. Visually, no part of the room was off-limits. She could see everything. The desk, the chair, the bookcases, the glass shelves. But she couldn’t walkeverywhere.

Anytime she approached the shelves, she would experience a moment of vertigo, blink and find her nose in the far corner of the room.

The same had happened to Lazarus, but only once. After that, he’d given up. Now he reclined against the far wall, watching her with sardonic amusement.

“Is the guy still there?” she asked. “And you never told me who he is.”

“Yes, he’s still there. But he’s more of a monster than a guy. And his name? No. I won’t give it.”

Why not? “What’s he doing?”

“Watching you.”

The thought irritated her on every level. “Why can’t I see him? Why can’t I get to him?” And where was Viola? What had happened to her? Was she still trapped inside the Rod? “You led me to believe I would be involved in a dangerous battle.”

He waved her words away. “I was wrong. It’s happened once before.”

“Well, stop lazing around, and help me figure out a solution.”

“No. I understand why the monster is having so much fun. Watching you use the same methods every time, and failing the same way, just to try to reach him is highly amusing.”

So. Irritating. “I hope you choke on your own tongue.”

“Why, so you can dig it out with your own?”

Argh! “Are you flirting with me?”

“How cute.” He looked past her. “Pretty warrior woman doesn’t know the difference between an informed question and flirting.”

Was he speaking to the invisible beast? His supposed enemy?

She marched to the wall where he sat and sank beside him. “I’m done being the night’s entertainment.”

“Too bad.” His dark gaze swept over her at a leisurely pace. “You’re quite attractive, female, but your voice needs work. A lot of work.”

“Insults from you?” She drummed her nails against her thighs. “I remember you, you know. A few months back, you attended the Harpy Games with Strider and Sabin. You’re the consort of the Harpy in charge.”

Fire crackled in his eyes—literal fire. “I am no one’s consort.”

Hit a nerve, had she? “I wonder what your consort would say about that. I met her. Juliette was her name, yes?”

His nostrils flared, a testament to the fury brewing inside him. “When I get out of this office, and I will, she’ll be too busy being dead to say anything.”

“Because you plan to kill her?”

“Yes.” Simply stated, leaving no doubt he meant what he said. “I once chose death over her companionship. I will again, no problem—only this time, I’ll do it in reverse.”

“Maybe I’ll kill you and gift her with your head,” she replied pleasantly.

“Maybe I’ll cut out your tongue and do the world a favor.”

She gritted her teeth. “Maybe I’ll gut you just for giggles.”

“Maybe I’ll stab the life out of you and do myselfa favor.”

Enough! Cameo jumped to her feet and motioned him over. “You want to do this, warrior? Because I’m ready. Anytime. Anyplace.”

Lazarus unfolded his big body and straightened. “You don’t want to take me on, little girl. You’ll lose.”

She went chest to chest with him. “I think differently. On both counts.”

He squared the wide width of his shoulders, standing his ground, not the least bit intimidated. A mistake many men had made. “Do your worst then. But have no doubts, I’ll then do mine.”

No. She wouldn’t do her worst. That’s what he expected, maybe even wanted. She’d just have to go another route and surprise him.

Like a child, she shoved him with all her might. His startled expression was priceless as he stumbled backward and into the wall—no, throughthe wall?

Gasping, Cameo rushed to the space he’d last occupied. One second she stood inside the office, the next she was outside. Trees swayed in a gentle breeze. A river rushed and trickled over smooth rocks. Birds sang as they flew across the sunny skyline. White clouds drifted past, serene and flawless.

“What did you do to me?” Lazarus demanded, striding from the shade of one of the trees to get in her face.

“Me? You went through the wall, and I must have followed.”

He spun, seeming to take everything in at once. He stiffened. “I think we’re moving between the dimensions,” he muttered, clearly talking to himself. “That would mean the Rod spit us out in another dimension, the office was another, and thisis yet another.”

This was the first she’d ever heard of different dimensions. “Care to explain what you mean to the rest of the class?”

He scrubbed a hand down his face. “There are two realms. Natural and spiritual. Between the realms are dimensions—pockets of life caught between the natural and the spiritual.”

Dread wrapped hard fingers around her heart. “What does that mean for us?”

His eyes were dead as he said, “We’ll never go home.”

CHAPTER THIRTY

New York

KANE’S FURY PROVED limitless. Tink’s abduction had been caught on a nearby security camera, allowing him to watch the way Red, Black and Green had cornered and grabbed her. She’d put up a fight, the way Kane had taught her, and she’d even managed to bust Red in the eye, but she’d been no match for the strength of the immortals, and they’d put her to sleep with pressure on her carotid and carried her away, soon disappearing from view. He’d hunted as if his life depended on success—worse, Tink’s life—but the three had covered their tracks too well.

I should have killed those hellhounds when I had the chance.

Kane tossed and turned on the lumpy motel bed. He needed to relax, and concentrate. He planned to summon Tink, somehow, through their link, and force her to project her image into his mind. They would talk. She would tell him where she was.

He forced himself to close his eyes. Lucien had refused to leave his side, and was now resting comfortably on the other bed, Anya draped across his body. “I’m a living tramp stamp,” she’d said laughingly before drifting off.

Lucien hadn’t wanted to spend the night without her. Actually, Lucien couldn’t function a few hours without her. It was disgusting. It was embarrassing.

That’s what I feel with Tink.

Disaster chuckled. Too bad you’ll never see her again.

The fiend was in the best mood of his existence. Though Kane had hoped to provide zero nourishment, he’d unwittingly prepared another feast—and was still serving seconds. The darkness of his emotions had become an internal IV for the demon, offering strength and contentedness, no matter what happened around him.

“Tink,” Kane inwardly shouted. “Tink, I need you. Need you so much.” Even when she’d been ticked at him, she’d never been able to resist aiding him.

There was no response.

Time for another tactic... “Tinker Bell. Josephina. Wife! You have five seconds to appear or the next time I see you I will put you over my knee.”

Still no response.

“One. Two. I’m serious, I mean it. Three. Four. Last chance to save yourself from the humiliation of my wrath. Fi—”

Fog rolled in, surrounding his bed. Then Tink was standing over him. “You will not put me over your knee, you...you...caveman!”