She, as did the others, glanced at the portrait Brad had hung over the mantel. Another of Rowenas works, it showed the Daughters of Glass, after the spell that had taken their souls. Each lay pale and still in their crystal coffin.

“Brad bought that at auction, without knowing what was going to happen here, just as Jordan bought one of Rowenas paintings, the young Arthur on the point of drawing the sword from the stone, at the gallery where Malory used to work. Also years before we knew what we know now. So… this, in turn, connects all of us with Rowena andPitte and the goddesses.”

“And Kane,”Zoe added. “I dont think its smart to leave him out.”

“Youre right,” Dana agreed. “And Kane. Hes messed with most of us already, and its pretty clear hell mess with us again. We know hes bad. We know hes powerful. But those powers arent without limits.”

“Or someone or something limits him. He took a slice out of me,” Jordan continued. “Then Rowena sends a little potion home with Dana. You guys saw this yesterday.” He opened his shirt. The cuts were now only fading welts. “They started healing minutes after we slapped the stuff on them. The point is, whatever he did couldnt hold up against Rowena. And whatever she did to counter it couldnt erase it completely.”

“To which we conclude,” Dana finished for him, “that theyre pretty evenly matched.”

“He has weaknesses.” Absently Jordanrebuttoned his shirt. “Ego, pride, temper.”

“Who said those were weaknesses?” Dana wandered over, sat on the arm of the chair Brad had taken. “Anyway, its more. He doesnt really get us—the whole human or mortal thing. He doesnt get us as individuals. He skims the surface, picks up on our little fantasies or fears, but he doesnt really get to the core—or hasnt. Thats how Malory beat him.”

“Yes, but when he has hold of you, its hard to see clearly, hard to know.” Malory shook her head. “We cant underestimate him.”

“Im not. But up to now, I think, he has underestimated us.” Thoughtfully, Dana studied the portrait. “He wants them to suffer, simply because part of them is mortal. Rowena talked of opposing forces: beauty and ugliness, knowledge and ignorance, courage and cowardice. How without one the other loses its punch. So hes the dark, and you cant have light without dark. I figure hes essential to the whole deal, not just an annoyance.”

She hesitated, then took a drink. “Its no secret that Jordan and I were intimate. I dont think its any secret that were… intimate now.”

Jordan waited a beat. “Ive never known you to get flustered talking about sex, Stretch.”

“I just want to make it clear to… people. To you, that Im not sleeping with you as a way to find the key. Even if that has something to do with it,” she continued quickly, “because as somebody told me recently, sex is powerful magic—”

“If you do it right,” Jordan interrupted.

“So lets see what we know,” Brad said, trying to get back on track. “None of this would have happened—past— without Kane.” Brad tapped his index fingers together, “His presence and manipulations influence the search for the key. Present.” He held up a second finger, “And theres no finish to the spell without him.” And a third. “Hes a necessary factor. Theres no reward without work, no victory without effort, no battle won without risk.”

“Its another traditional element of a quest,” Jordan added. “An evil to be overcome.”

“I understand all this,”Zoe said. “And its important. But how does it help Dana find the key?”

“Know your enemy,” Brad told her.

“Thatnutshelled it,” Dana agreed.

“But theres more,” Flynn noted. “Blood has been shed. Another traditional quest element. I can read, too,” he said. “Why was it Jordans blood? Theres a reason for it.”

“Might be because Jordan pissed him off, which hes really good at doing,” Dana said. “But more likely its because I need Jordan to find the key.”

“Stretch, you need me for so many things.”

“Lets ignore the ego burst and stay focused.” Dana gestured with her glass. “The keys knowledge. Something I know, or have to learn. A truth that has to be sifted out from lies. Kane mixes his truth and lies. What is it hes said or done thats truth? Thats one of the angles Im playing. Then theres the last bit of the clue. Where one goddess walks another waits. Thats a stumper so far. Malorys goddess was singing, and she re-created that moment, and the key, by painting it. Following that, my goddess,Niniane , should be walking. But where, why, when? And which goddess waits? Would that beZoes ?”

“Maybe youre supposed to write it,”Zoe suggested. “Like a story, I mean. The way Malory painted hers.”

“Thats not bad.” Dana considered. “The thing is, I never wanted to write, not like Malory wanted to paint. But maybe its something Im supposed to read, and God knows Im not hitting on anything in the six million books Ive gone through so far. So maybe I have to write it myself, first.”

“Maybe Jordan does.” Flynn played absently with Malorys hair as he thought it through. “Hes the writer— not to diminish my own considerable talent, but I report. He just makes shit up.”

“Really good shit,” Jordan reminded him.

“Goes without saying. Im thinking here that if for nothing other than the cohesion and the exercise, Jordan could write all this out. In story form. Maybe when Dana reads it, the scales will fall from her eyes, shell pull out the key, and we can all have a party, with cake.”

“Its not an entirely stupid idea,” Dana decided.

“I think its great.”Zoe shifted in her seat to beam at Jordan. “Will you do it? I just love reading your books, and this would be even more fun.”

“For you, gorgeous?” He picked up her hand and kissed it. “Anything.”

“Im feeling a little queasy.” Dana patted her stomach. “How soon will you have something I can see?” she asked Jordan.

“Okay, now you sound like an editor. It could force me to have a creative tantrum and slow everything down.”

“Do you? Have creative tantrums, I mean.” ToZoe , the idea was fascinating. “Ive always wondered how it works, with artists and all.”

“Oh, God, now shes called him an artist.” Dana got to her feet. “I must go home and lie down.”

Ignoring her, Jordan gaveZoe his attention. “No, not really. Its a job, just happens to be a really great job. My editor—my real editor,” he added with a glance at Dana, “is a woman of discerning taste, skill, and diplomacy.”

“Your editors a woman? How does it work? Do you work with her all the way through a book, or does she tell you what she wants you to do, or…” She trailed off, shook her head. “Sorry. Way, way off topic.”

“Its okay. Do you want to write?”

“Write? Me?” The idea had her exotic eyes going wide before she laughed. “No. I just tike knowing how things work.”

“Speaking of work, weve got a full day of it tomorrow.” Malory gave Flynns hand a pat. “Thats my cue. Ill go round up Moe for you,” Flynn told Dana.

“Im running low on dog food. He eats like an elephant.”

“Ill drop some off.” He caught her face in his hands. “Keep him close, okay?”

“He doesnt give me a lot of choice.”

“Flynn, would you round up Simon, too?” Automatically,Zoe began stacking dishes. “Hes probably attached to Moe at the hip, so he shouldnt give you any trouble.”

“Sure.”

“Wed better cut out too. Im going to see if I can get this one started on his homework.” Dana jerked a thumb at Jordan. “Any tips for that,Zoe ?”

“Bribery. Thats my method.”

Brad stepped over, laid a hand onZoes . And made her jump like a rabbit. “You dont have to bother with those.”

“Sorry.” She instantly set the plates down. “Habit.”

It seemed to Brad that the woman deliberately misinterpreted every second word out of his mouth. “I just meant you dont have to pick up. Anybody want coffee?”

“I do.”

“No, you dont.” Dana gave Jordan a nudge toward the doorway. “Its work for you, pal. You can have coffee when youve gotten a couple of pages done.”

“Bribery.”Zoe nodded approval. “It never fails.”

Moe bounded into the room, a wild blur of fur. In his delight to see everyone, he leaped, licked, swept glasses off the coffee table with an exuberant tail, and nosed his way into a plate of cocktail shrimp before he could be controlled.

“Sorry, sorry.” With one hand hooked in Moes collar, Flynn dragged the dog, or was dragged by him, toward the door. “Ill put him in Jordans car. Bill me for damages. See you. Oh,Zoe , Simon needs a few more minutes to finish a game. Jesus Christ, Moe! Hold up!”

“This is my life now,” Malory said happily. “Its kind of great. Thanks, Brad, sorry about the dishes. See you tomorrow,Zoe , Dana. Night, Jordan.”

“I have to go save my upholstery.” Jordan grabbed Danas arm and pulled her toward the door. “Later.”

“Stop yanking me. Smooches, Brad. See you in the morning,Zoe .”

The door slammed behind them, and there was absolute silence.

It had all happened so fast, was allZoe could think. Shed never intended to be the last one to leave. It was horrible. Horrifying.

She considered running into the game room and grabbing Simon, but she wasnt exactly sure where it was. And she could hardly stand where she was and shout for him. Still, she needed to do something .

She bent down to pick up the glasses Moe had knocked to the floor. At exactly the same moment, so did Brad.

Their heads bumped. Each of them straightened quickly, then stood taut as bows.

“Ill get them.” He crouched, gathered up the glasses, set them on the coffee table. He was close enough to catch her scent now. It was always different, sometimes earthy, sometimes light, always very female.