“I am harmless, believe me.” She paused. “He’s tied in knots?”

“I’ve never seen him like this. Mind you, I’ve only known him a few months, but he always seemed cool-headed. Intense, but coolheaded. Definitely the sort you want at your back in a fight. The only time I can remember him getting hot was when Kamen first came here, and I have to say I know the feeling.” He paused and absently rubbed a hand over a spot on his chest. She didn’t think he realized he was doing it, but for some reason she knew it was connected to what she was saying to him.

“I’m going to guess and say you were part of Kamen’s former damage path as well. I have to say, I don’t see … That is, he doesn’t come off as this evil person.”

Leo paused a beat, but only a beat. “I don’t trust him, if that’s what you mean. I don’t think he deserves trust. But he does seem genuinely repentant for what he’s done. I think he wants to right his wrongs. But I also feel once he’s done that … he’ll either go back to what he was doing before or just disappear off the face of the earth.”

“What he was doing before?”

“Being one of the main leaders of the Templar faction. One of the reasons why they’ve been at war so long. He brought a lot of power to bear against the Politic, as I understand it.”

“What’s it like for you?” she asked. “Being human among all these immortals.”

“I hold my own,” he assured her. “And there are things I can do for them that they can’t do for themselves. And my girl is a Nightwalker, too.”

“Really?” she looked back to the house as if she could see his girl. “Where is she?”

“Visiting her brother,” he said. “She’s a Night Angel.”

“Black skin, yellow eyes,” she said softly.

“Yeah. Ahnvil told you about that?”

“He told me a lot of things. But there’re also a lot of things he hasn’t told me.” She lifted the Amulet into her hand, running it absently up and down the chain. As she did so she headed back toward the house, walking in step with Leo. “And what’s it like, being the lover of a Nightwalker?”

“You mean you don’t know?” he asked with an amused gleam in his eye.

“Well …” She blushed. “Is he a Nightwalker? I mean, I thought he was just a weapon a Nightwalker devised.”

That seemed to give him pause. “You know what, I never looked at it that way. I suppose in a way you are right. They’ve only been around a few hundred years or so. I thought there was seven Nightwalker breeds, but that would make it only six, if I looked at it that way.”

“Six? I forgot who they all were. Djynns, Bodywalkers, Night Angels …”

“Wraiths.”

“Oh yeah! Them.”

“Trust me, you don’t want to know them. Mysticals are another, though I’m not sure what they are. And Phoenixes. Never seen one of those, either.”

“Phoenixes! I think I’d love to see one of those.”

“I hear it’s very rare. They’re a bit reclusive. But they are going to have to get over it because if this god Apep is getting as powerful as I think he is, we’re going to need help from every corner.”

“I see.” She shuddered. “It’s so fantastical. Gods and monsters and such. Now that I know they are real, I want to meet all of them. I’ve already got a phantom of sorts following me around.”

“You mean besides the dog?” he asked, giving a purposeful look at Karma.

“Yes, besides the dog,” she laughed.

“I heard about that. I’m really curious to see …” He trailed off just as they were coming up on the porch. “Can I help you?” he asked, sounding a little stunned.

Kat looked in the direction he was staring and saw nothing. Then she heard the sound of a gun leaving its holster and for the first time she realized he was armed.

“What is it?” she asked tensely.

“A man, and a woman. They just came around the corner of the house and onto the porch but they came out of nowhere. I was just looking that way a moment ago and there was nothing.” Then, speaking to the invisible people he said, “You might want to rethink getting closer to that house, mister.” He raised his gun and drew a bead.

And that was when she realized what was happening.

“No! Don’t!” she cried. “It’s her! The phantom. Ask her what her name is.”

“What’s your name?” he asked dutifully.

“Bella,” Bella said from around her husband, who had stepped in front of her to protect her from the gun being aimed at them. “I’m looking for Kat.”

“She’s standing right beside me,” Leo said, nodding in her direction.

“She can’t see me, and I can’t see her,” Kat said. “You say there’s a man with her?”

“Yeah. Kind of looks like me. Same build, same coloring … a little taller,” Leo said.

“Ask her who she is. Tell her … tell her …” She floundered a moment, thinking furiously. “Tell her magical people live here. Nightwalkers.”

“I am not telling her that!” Leo bit out to what seemed like nobody, from Bella’s and Jacob’s perspectives.

“Tell her!”

He grumbled. “Magical people live here. Nightwalkers.”

Bella’s jaw dropped and, frankly, Jacob looked just as stunned. He stepped forward and narrowed his eyes on the Hispanic male. “What kind of Nightwalkers?”

“We’re Nightwalkers,” his wife piped up from behind him. Her husband turned to glare at her. She shrugged, put up her hands and said, “What? Like any of this is normal? Like we’re dealing with the average mortal or something? It’s a leap of faith.”

“He’s mortal. I can tell,” Jacob said, his preternatural senses making it clear.

“All kinds,” Leo said finally. “You’re right. I am mortal.” His brow furrowed. He looked at Kat. “But so are you. Why can’t you see them?”

She shrugged.

“We can’t see her, either. But Bella and Kat are able to write to each other.”

“I know. I heard,” Leo said, slowly lowering his weapon. “So now what?”