Magic Rises

- Kate fighting with Hugh
- Barabbas almost challenging Curran
- Doolittle (*tears*)
- Aunt B (*cry harder*)
- meeting Christopher!!!
- Desandra, who knew the powerhouse she was going to become
- and the Shepard. I do wish we could see what that old magic is up to now

In summary
action – check
romance – check
heartbreaking moments – check
the WTF moment – check
snarky banter – check, check

In my twenty-six years, I’ve held many jobs. Teaching wasn’t one of them. Mostly I killed people in bloody and creative ways.

“Kate is just Kate and you belong with us. That’s all that matters.”

“Curran’s whore comes to visit us,” Jarek said in accented English.
The three men laughed as if on cue.
I glanced at Mahon. “You really shouldn’t let him talk to you like that.”
Mahon’s bushy eyebrows came together.

“You being safe is more important to me than having you.”

“Great,” Curran said. “Another fine addition to your collection of uncanny misfits.”
“I take offense to that,” Barabas said.
“Don’t worry, I count myself in, too,” Curran told him.

Inside me a small voice told me that in his place I would’ve done the same thing, no matter the fallout I had to endure at the end. Having him alive and mad at me was infinitely better than having him dead. But loving someone and being with him were two different things.

“You’re taking a nap? Come on, Kate, I need you for this fight. Stop lying around.”
You sonovabitch. I rolled to my feet and grabbed my sword. “You must think you’re funny.”

“Just saying, you have to pull your own weight. A hot body and flirting will only get you so far.”

“So this is what it’s about? This is your mature response—to go off into the mountains rather than talking about it and have s’mores with a gnome and a mountain man.”
“Yep.”

“I crossed my arms.
“I thought you were dead! And you’re here, sitting around the fire, eating and . . .”
“Listening to fairy tales.” Helpful, that’s me. “We’re about to have s’mores and you’re not invited.”
Curran opened his mouth. His gaze paused on Atsany. He blinked. “What the fuck?”

“Tell Hibla we need maid service,” I said. “We could handle trash in our room and an odd smell, but now we have a dead body. If this continues, we won’t be able to give your hotel a decent rating.”
“Yeah,” Derek said, his voice completely deadpan. “The continental breakfast better kick ass or we’ll complain to the manager.”

“He insists that he used to know how to fly, but he forgot. He occasionally tries, so I have to watch him closely in high places.”

“Big talk,” Hugh said. “But can you back it up?”
I stood up and held my arms out. “Ladies, you’re both pretty. We still have a job to do. Last I checked, we were still guaranteeing Desandra’s safety.”