I had never been more furious at Dani than that moment. She had already made my life hell, but she'd crossed a line. Simone had nothing to do with this. Not a single goddamn thing. I'd already seen Dani kill one person and try to kill three others, not including me or Tate. She'd kill Simone without a care.

   Simone was a line that if Dani crossed, the storm that had been coming her way would turn into a hurricane. And it would be the worst hurricane the world had seen.

   "We need to go," I said roughly. My voice was strained. Tate kept my hands in his grip, knowing how close I was to exposing magic. His lips parted and he asked, "Simone's in Carson City, isn't she?"

   My nod was stiff. Erlan raised an eyebrow. "Who is Simone?"

   "She's my best friend," I forced out. "And Dani's going to kill her. We have to move." I tugged at my hands and Tate only released one. I practically dragged him towards the door. He refused to let go, probably knowing that I was about to Linewalk and didn't want to get left behind.

   As soon as we were outside and around the corner, I grabbed my staff. With the anger coursing through my veins and the power amplifying my power, I was no longer able to smother the swirls of crimson that coiled down my arms and rustled my hair. Since Tate still had my hand, they brushed his arm and his skin tensed.

   "Why would Dani be going after this woman?" Jennifer caught my arm before I could leave. Her eyes pierced my face. "What does she matter?"

   "She matters to me," I snapped. "And that's the entire reason why Dani wants her dead. She tried to make me hand myself over and when I didn't, she found the only person I care about more than my father. Now, I'm about to Linewalk directly to her house, so you can keep holding me and come along, or you can let go and go to wherever Dani was seen. Your choice."

   Jennifer's face hardened and she tightened her grip. "I'm coming with you. I trust that you know what you're talking about. Can Simone defend herself?"

   "No. She's human." I locked eyes with Erlan accidentally. He bowed his head. "Then go. We'll catch up and find you later."

   I didn't wait another second. My hand reached into the nex line and I grabbed ahold of it with a vise grip. Normally, that only served to drop me into some random location, but I was too angry to be nice. The current tried to yank me apart, tear my arm off, but I tightened my grip and snarled under my breath. The nex gate shifted and my vision turned red. A moment later and I was flashing across the country and appeared in record time. The nex line had obeyed and taken me right where I wanted to go.

   The Nevada sun slammed down onto my flesh and seemed to slide off. I didn't bother putting away my staff before I marched up the sidewalk. Tate stumbled, releasing my hand, and Jennifer realized that I'd gone straight to Simone. Her body dissolved as she turned invisible. "I'm checking the perimeter," she said, her voice echoing. I didn't acknowledge her.

   There was no sign that Dani had been here yet. The door was closed, the curtains shut. Tate followed behind me as I banged on the door. My fingers were white around my staff. Panic rushed through my blood and pumped through my heart. What if Dani already found her? Simone can't protect herself against a magick, much less Dani. Dani could have already killed her. What if she's dead and I'm too late?

   When I didn't get a response, I banged my fist on the door much harder. "Simone!" I shouted. "Answer the damn door!" I'd only visited her house once, but it wasn't big enough to warrant her taking this long to answer it.

   Tate leaned down to whisper in my ear. His chin brushed my shoulder. "I can hear footsteps. They're staggered. I can't hear anyone else nor did I scent any others beside a human female and a dog."

   I nodded. About a minute later, the lock on the door fumbled. Considering the person hadn't looked in the peep-hole, it was Simone. She was stupid about not checking doors before opening them. Always had been. I felt a wave of relief before the door opened. A sleep-dragged face squinted through the light. 

   A Hispanic woman shied away from the sunlight. Dark brown eyes seeped to suck in all color around them. Her hair was dark with faint brown highlights streaked through it, making her hair look like a piece of layered chocolate cake. Dark brown freckles covered her dark skin. Her eye darted towards Tate before she looked down. It widened. "No freaking way."

   The door was wrenched wide open. She took a step forward and her hand swung for my face. I caught her wrist out of reflex and she gaped. A grin broke her face and she wrenched my arm forward. Her hug was so tight that I coughed. A smile slowly formed on my face and I wrapped my arms around her, my heart thundering in my chest. She's okay. Simone's okay. 

   "Bitch, what the hell are you doing here?" Simone pulled back and her hands held my biceps. Her attentions shifted and she squeezed. "Damnnn. I didn't remember you to be this buff."

   Training with Alexie had forced me to get stronger. It just figured that Simone would notice. I'd also forgotten how much she cursed. I shook my head and smacked her her hands. She let go, but she was still grinning. "What brought you to Nevada? Your dad told me you were staying with family up north."

   "Can we come inside?" I asked. "I'd rather tell you there. It's hot out here."

   "Pah! Only about seventy. Oh, what's this stick thingy?" Her eyes focused on my staff. Tate cleared his throat. She switched targets and I put my hand around the doorframe, out of her sight, and gently tossed the staff away. It vanished. Distracted, Simone dragged me inside. Tate closed the door and she finally realized he was there. "Hot damn, who are you?"

   Tate's cheeks pinked. Simone grinned. "Shy, too. How'd ya find this hunk o' meat, Roxie?"

   "Long, long story," I told her. The hall was too cramped for the three of us -- especially considering Tate was pretty stinkin' large -- so I walked into the living room. Simone followed, whistling. "Fritz!"

   Claws scratched against the floor. A grin suddenly overtook my lips as a German Shepard came skidding around the corner. Laughing, I sat down and offered my hand. He obviously recognized me because his tail wagged. His nose nudge my hand and instantly, his ears flattened against his skull. Fritz backpedaled. Tate shifted out of the way and the noise made Fritz yelp.

   "Fritz?" I frowned, hurt. I'd helped Simone raise him when she adopted him during middle school. Did he not realize it was me?

    "What's that about?" Simone stared, confused. "He's always loved you."

   "It's like my hands are stinky." I looked down at them, almost as if I could see a stench.

   Tate sat down gingerly. "It makes sense, Roxie. You've  . . . ah . . . changed since you met him last."

   The only difference was that I was an active mage. That must've been what Tate meant. Since he'd avoided Tate too, he must've had a fear of magicks. I grimaced. Simone pointed at Tate. He pointed at his chest in question. "Yes, you. What's your name?"

   "I'm Tate."

   "And are you dating or hooking up with my bestie? Or just stalking?"

   Color flushed into his cheeks. I stared, stunned. Tate just blushed. Tate had blushed. A grin spread across my face. God, I missed Simone. She had a way of being so bold that no one really knew what to do with her.

   "N-Neither. None of those."

   "Uh, huh," snorted Simone. "I know that look on your face. Like you can't see anything but her. So are you just being a coward and not saying anything?"

   Tate gawped at her. I whacked her arm, snickering. "Easy. He's fragile."

   She rounded on me. "Since when do you defend people?" My gut sank as her eyes sparked with malice. If I hadn't known who she was, I would have been worried she was about to punch me. "Oh, my god, you like him too. This is like some cheesy romance novel! Now we just need an antagonist. I call dibbs on the badass side character!"

   I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Look, I did not come here to get yelled at about fake romance novels."

   Simone grinned. "You act like you don't know me. Also, you didn't deny that you like him."

   Heat seeped up my neck. Damn it. Simone was probably the only person on the planet that could embarrass me, but she'd managed it. Wait a second. Why am I embarrassed? Ack, what the hell?

  I shook my head rapidly. Simone smirked, sitting onto the couch. "When's the wedding? I call Best Man."

   "I don't think that's how it works."

   "Sure it is."

   "I really don't think so."

   "Oh, shut up." She waved a hand. Her face was alight. "So, why did you come by? You dad had told me you were visiting family up north. I got the impression you'd be there a while."

   I shared a look with Tate. He still looked awkward. "Well, there was an unexpected change of plans. I came to make sure you're okay. You're staying safe, right?"

   "Oh, please." She scoffed. "Like I wouldn't be. Still got that shotgun loaded and ready."

   A sudden grin split my face. "The one with bitch's favorite toy carved on the bottom?"

   "Yeah -- wait. How'd you know that?" I just smirked. Her jaw fell. "That was you? Josh kept complaining about how he wasn't my favorite anymore!"

   "How did you not guess it was me?" She'd gotten the shotgun as a present from her father. I'd snagged it and carved the phrase onto the bottom before she left for Nevada. Honestly, I was surprised she hadn't realized it was me. "Also, how did things go with Josh?"

   Simone's face fell and she scowled. "Exactly as you expected. I ended up using that gun to chase him out. Then he tried to put a lean on my house, the moron. And he got a restraining order." She glowered. "He made himself the victim. I was the one he was beating around."

   Josh . . . I'd met him once and he'd given me terrible vibes since. I had hoped Simone would come to her senses before it got violent, but she'd been entranced. Josh was a pretty damn good actor. I was glad he was gone.

   "Still got his address? I can still go--"

   Simone snickered. "As much as I'd like that, I'd get in trouble because you can be linked back to me. And don't forget, I'm not allowed to get close to him. So, who were you visiting? You must have really liked them, since you stuck around for so long."

   Oh, no. She was prying. I wasn't bad at lying, but Simone could read me like an open book. And I was not going to expose her to the truth. It was complicated and dangerous. "I actually had never met him before."

   "And what were you doing?"

   "Working, mostly. I had a strict boss."

   "Working?" Simone's eyebrows furrowed. She could tell that I was avoiding something. She was sharp enough to know I was telling half-truths. Tate opened his mouth to help me out but his voice never came. His cheek twitched and he looked at the window. Sharp eyes narrowed. "Roxie, we might have to go."

   My fingers twitched in anticipation. "Is it her?" If it was Dani, then I could get Simone out of the way and come back. I was ready to kick Dani's ass.

   Simone frowned. "Her who?"

   Tate shook his head. "Four others. Two from Boston." He was doing his best to give me details without tipping off Simone. His arms tensed. I grunted and stood up. Simone spluttered as I grabbed her wrist and dragged her up.

   "What's going on?"

   "Nothing you want to know about," I said firmly. Simone was incredibly level-headed, but I had a good feeling she would not react well if she figured out what I'd been up to. She was obviously human. She didn't know anything about the magick stuff. And when I was going to explain the truth, it'd be in a safe place where I could help her stay calm. But not here. I had to get her out of the way, too. Dani's goons were here for Simone, not me.

   "Uh, yes, I want to know," she snapped, jerking at her wrist. I pulled her into a bedroom just as there was a bang on the door. Tate headed that way, and I saw his hands flex as he prepared to battle someone off. My lip curled. I closed the bedroom door and turned around, pointing at the bathroom. "Get."

   Simone's nostrils flared. "I don't think so. You had better explain what your problem is."

   My eyes narrowed. "Simone, you know I'm just as stubborn as you are. And this time, I'm not budging. So move it."

   "Make me," she challenged. "You can't walk into my house and boss me arou -- what the hell?"

   The nearby desk was knocked into the wall. Everything on top of it scattered across the floor. An invisible body hit the ground with a grunt. Simone gawked. I swore, realizing there was a demon nearby. That was hella dangerous. He could slit Simone's throat without anyone being able to stop him.

   Simone shrieked. Her shirt crumpled itself into a fist and she stumbled backwards. Her hand swatted around her side. "Roxie--" I jumped forward, but a face appeared when Simone wasn't able to see. Jennifer nodded at me and vanished, yanking Simone back. Simone yelped. The bathroom door slammed shut.