I felt that keenly, but I swallowed my anger. I'd been trying to talk to him for months to clear the air, but he wouldn't take my calls, wouldn't let me talk to Ceri. This might be my last chance to explain myself.

"You just don't get it, do you?" I said, leaning close since my words were barely above a whisper, and Jenks took off. "I did what I did to save your life. Laying claim to you was the only way to get you out of there, and to do that, I had to agree to a very tight tie to Al."

"Tight tie?" he mocked under his breath. "You're his student."

"I did it to save your damned freaking life!" My knees were shaking, and I locked them. "I don't expect any thanks from you, as you're so irritatingly unable to thank anyone when they do something you're afraid to do, but stop taking your guilt or shame out on me."

I was done, and kissing good-bye my chance at getting a Pandora's charm or him to understand, I turned my back on him and stomped to the window. The restaurant had shifted, and I was looking right down at the square. Damn it, why wouldn't he at least listen?

The familiar wing hum of Jenks brought my head up, and I wiped an eye an instant before he landed on my shoulder again. "You have a way with him, don't you," the pixy said.

I sniffed, wiping my eyes. "Look at that," I muttered. "The bastard made me cry."

Jenks's wings made a cool spot on my neck. "Want me to pixy him?"

"No. But now I don't have the chance of a ghost's fart in a windstorm to get that Pandora charm." That's not really what was bothering me, though. It was Trent. Why did I even care what he thought?

The soft scuff of a shoe on flat carpet and Jenks's soft oath brought me around, shocked to see Trent. He had a glass in his hand, and he extended it. "Here's your water," he said loudly, his jaw clenched.

I looked him up and down, wondering what the devil was going on. Behind him, Quen was doing his security thing, arms crossed and expression severe. It was obvious that Quen had made him come over. Sighing, I took the glass, turning to look out the window in the attempt to divorce myself from everything. I needed to find a quiet place, out of the way. "Jenks, could you see if the bathroom is clear?"

The pixy's wings buzzed a warning, but he lifted from my shoulder. "Sure, Rache."

In an instant he was gone, leaving in his path delighted coos of sound from some of the older ladies. "I don't have anything to say to you right now," I said softly to Trent.

Trent shifted to stand shoulder to shoulder with me. Together we looked over the edge to the mass of people down below. I should have just taken my chances in the parking garage as I had originally planned. This was starting to have all the signs of one of my famous backfires.

"I don't have anything to say to you either," Trent said, but tension was showing. I could play this game. I'd already lost, so it didn't matter.

"You need a Pandora charm?" the man said casually, and I jerked. Cripes, he heard me?

Pretending indifference, I breathed on the glass to fog it up. "Yes."

Trent put a shoulder against the glass and faced me. "That's a rare branch of magic."

Why does he have to be so insufferably smug? "I know. Elven, my mother says."

He was silent while the band took a break. "Tell me what you need to remember, and maybe I'll look into it."

I'd been down this path with him before and had gotten burned every time. I didn't want to owe him anything, but what harm would it do if he knew? Sighing, I faced him, thinking that leaning against the window like that looked really dangerous. "I'm trying to remember who killed Kisten Felps."

Trent's jaw unclenched. It was a small move, but I caught it. "I thought you'd want to remember something from the make-a-wish camp, or your father," he said.

I looked out the window again. They had a band down there. Ivy was probably having a lot more fun than me. "What if it was?" I whispered.

"I might have said yes."

Behind us, the party continued, excitement growing as the serving people started distributing champagne for the upcoming toasts. My eyes searched the ceiling for Jenks. I had to move. No one would be in the ladies' restroom when the clock ticked over.

Nervous, I tightened my grip on my bag. "What do you want, Trent?" I asked, trying to hurry this up. "You wouldn't offer if you didn't want something. Other than me dead, that is."

He smiled with half his mouth, then became serious. "How do you figure I want something? I'm just curious as to what makes you tick."

My head tilted, and for the first time all night, I felt in control. "You've approached me twice. You've touched your hair three times. You had a drink in your hand when we had our picture taken. That will be a first if it goes to press. You're nervous and upset, not thinking clearly."

Trent's face lost all expression. He dropped his head as if in irritation, and when he pulled it back up, there was a new tightness to his eyes. He glanced at Quen, and the older man shrugged.

"Is it Ceri?" I asked. Mocked almost.

His brow furrowed, and he looked out the window.

"You want to know what she really thinks of you." Still he said nothing, and I felt a sloppy smile come over me. Hiding it, I took a sip of water and set it on the tiny railing. Slowly it started to move away as the restaurant turned. "You won't like what I say."

"I don't like a lot of things."

I sighed. I couldn't do this to him. I really couldn't. Much as I would like to see Trent hurt, betraying Ceri's trust was not going to happen. I didn't think he had a Pandora charm anyway. "Ask Ceri. She'll tell you a pretty story that will save your pride."

Okay, so I wasn't above a little dig.

"Rachel."

He was reaching out, and I pulled back a step. "Don't touch me," I said coldly.

Jenks flew up, the glow of his dust reflected in the black glass. He hovered uncertainly, and he tapped his wrist like he'd seen Ivy do when we were running late. He had his sword bared, and though it looked like a shiny olive pick, it could be deadly. My pulse jumped. It was almost time.

"If you will excuse me," I said tightly. "I have to use the little girls' room. Happy New Year, Trent."

Without a backward glance, I walked away, my head high and my bag in my grip. Jenks landed on my shoulder almost immediately.

"Get on the elevator," he said, and curiosity filled me. People were getting out of my way with whispers and stares, but I didn't care.

"Elevator?" I echoed. "Why? What's wrong?"

He took off, flying backward so I could see him grin. "Nothing. There's a maintenance floor where they store the tables. I wouldn't have been able to find it if they hadn't left the key wedged atop the frame holding the inspection notice." He grinned. "I sat on it when I took Ivy downstairs."

Arms swinging, I smiled at the elevator man as I entered the lift, and with no regret, shoved him out with a well-planted foot. The poor guy hit the carpet face-first, his loud complaint cutting off as the doors shut. Excited, I held my hand out, and the key dropped into it.

"Thanks, Jenks," I said as I keyed the panel and hit the button he indicated. "I don't know what I would do without you."

"Probably die," he said, grinning.

Maybe I could pull this off yet.