"Yeah, Aphrodite," Jack said. "We're not being judgmental about you being a human and all. We just need to know if your spirit mojo works."

I had a sudden thought. "It doesn't really matter whether Aphrodite can conjure the element outside a circle casting, because I can. Spirit," I said softly, "come to me." As easily as drawing a breath, I evoked the element and felt its wonderful presence. "Now go to Aphrodite. Protect and serve her." I flicked my fingers wearily in her direction, and felt spirit rush away from me. An instant later Aphrodite's big blue eyes widened and she smiled.

"Hey! It works," she said.

"How long can you keep that up?" Erik asked me.

Annoyed at the total lack of emotion in his voice, I snapped, "As long as I have to."

"So the circle stays intact," Damien said.

"Yeah, we all go with Z back to school," Erin said.

"Together. The five of us," Shaunee said.

"I feel like one of the dorky Mouseketeers," Aphrodite said, but she was smiling.

"We're agreed, then," Darius said. "The five of you and I will return. Stevie Rae, Erik, Jack, and Heath stay here."

"Hell no, he doesn't stay here," Erik said, finally showing some emotion.

"Dude, you don't have shit to say about it. Anyway, I'm not staying. I'm going with Zoey."

"You can't, Heath. It's way too dangerous," I said.

&ld to say [email protected];Aphrodite's human and she can go. So can I," he said stubbornly.

"Moron football boy, first, I might be human, but I'm also special, so I go. Second, you can't go because they can use you to get to Zoey. You're Imprinted with her again. They hurt you; they hurt Zoey. So show some sense and take your butt back to suburbia."

"Oh. I hadn't thought about it like that," Heath said.

"You have to go home, Heath. We'll talk later after things have settled down."

"Shouldn't I stay here, where I'm close to you? So if you need me you can get to me fast."

I wanted to say yes, even with Erik watching me all dead-faced and even knowing that the best thing for Heath was if I never saw him again. Our Imprint was incredibly strong, even more so than it had been the first time. I could feel him, so close and sweet and familiar, and even though I knew it was wrong and knew I shouldn't, I wanted to keep him beside me. But then I remembered how Kramisha had looked at him, like she wanted to take a chomp outta him. I knew that his blood would taste funny to any other fledgling or vampyre because we'd Imprinted, but I couldn't be sure that would stop them from wanting to sample it. Just thinking about someone else drinking from Heath made me feel seriously pissed.

"No, Heath," I insisted. "You have to go home. It's not safe for you here."

"I don't care if I'm safe or not. I care about being with you," Heath said.

"I know, but I care if you're safe or not. So, go home. I'll call you as soon as I can." "Okay, but I'll be back here the second you call," he said.

"Want me to walk him outside?" Stevie Rae asked. "The tunnels can be kinda confusing if you're not familiar with them."

Plus, I can stop any red fledgling who has a mind to take a bite out of him. The thought was there, but unsaid in the air between us.

"Okay, thanks, Stevie Rae," I said.

"Erik, hold Zoey up. Aphrodite, finish wrapping this Ace bandage around her. I better go out there with Heath, too," Darius said.

"The Raven Mocker was in the tree above his truck, kinda perched on the roof of the depot," I told Darius.

"I'll be vigilant, Priestess," Darius said. "Come on, boy. You need to go home."

"We'll be back in a sec, Z," Stevie Rae said.

Instead of following Darius and Stevie Rae from the room, Heath came to me. He cupped my cheek with his hand and smiled. "Stay safe, okay, Zo?"

"I'll try. You, too," I said. "And, Heath, thanks for saving my life."

"Anytime, Zoey. And I mean that. Anytime." Then, like we were alone and not in the middle of a room with my friends (and boyfriend) gawking at us, Heath bent and kissed me. He tasted like Doritos and brown pop and Heath. Through it all I could smell L) me. t him, the distinct scent of his blood that was Imprinted uniquely to me and, because of that, literally the most fascinating, delicious smell on this earth.

"I love you, babe," he whispered. He kissed me one more time. As he was leaving he waved at my friends. "See you guys around," he said. I was only half surprised when Jack and Damien called bye and the Twins made kissing noises at him. I mean, Heath is cute. Totally cute. Right before he ducked out the blanket door he glanced back at Erik, who was standing beside me. "Hey, dude, I'm holding you personally responsible if anything hurts her." Then Heath gave Erik his charming, lopsided grin. "Oh, and how about you make my job totally easy and try to boss her around a bunch while I'm gone?" Chuckling to himself, Heath finally left the room.