DO.

Georgia bowed her head. "I ask you to leave, Mistress." She swallowed hard. "If it be your will. Take your familiar and go home."

The Cerberus growled. The Goddess took a step forward. The air shimmered around her.

PERHAPS IT IS NOT MY WILL.

Kristof sucked in an anxious breath. Georgia's mind raced. She plucked the athame from his hand, and drew the edge of the blade across her palm.

" _Abullu, naptû_."

Kristof stared at her like she'd lost her mind. Georgia ignored him. She squeezed her bloody fist around the base of the burning cypress. Flames licked at her skin. She ground her teeth and didn't let go.

" _Abullu, naptû_." The Akkadian rolled off her tongue a little easier. " _Abullu, naptû. Abullu, naptû._ "

Shadows rushed towards them from all cornerscommitted.

He was going to a tea shop. At close to midnight. Looking for a girl.

It was hands-down the most ridiculous thing he'd ever done.

Asher quickened his pace. He couldn't even say what it was that had made him notice Grace Alan in the first place. She wasn't overly attractive, hadn't spoken more than two words to him each time he saw her. And she worked at a place called Cross Your Teas. Cross Your Teas. That by itself should have sent him running in the opposite direction.

In fact, he might not have noticed her at all except for the single, fascinating thing she'd done the first time they met.

She'd looked at him. In the eyes.

People didn't look him in the eyes. If they weren't too afraid of him,