Double jeopardy. I knew it would come to this. "I've got your stinking aura all over me," I said as Ceri quivered. "I'm your familiar. If you think there's been a breach in contract, then you get someone out here to judge what happened before the sun comes up. And take one of these damned demon marks off me!" I demanded, holding my wrist out.

My arm shook, and Algaliarept made an ugly noise, deep in its throat. The long exhalation set my insides to quiver, and Ceri ventured to peek at the demon. "I can't use you as a familiar if you're on the wrong side of the lines," it said, clearly thinking aloud. "The binding isn't strong enough—"

"That's not my problem," I interrupted, legs shaking.

"No," Algaliarept agreed. It laced its white-gloved hands behind its back, its gaze dropping to Ceri. The deep fury in its eyes scared the crap out of me. "But I'm making it your problem. You stole my familiar and left me with nothing. You tricked me into letting you slip payment for a service. If I can't drag you in, I'll find a way to use you through the lines. And I will never let you die. Ask her. Ask her of her never-ending hell. It's waiting for you, Rachel. And I'm not a patient demon. You can't hide on holy ground forever."

"Go away," I said, my voice trembling. "I called you here. Now I'm telling you to leave. Take one of these marks off me and leave. Now." I had summoned it, and therefore it was susceptible to the rules of summoning—even if I was its familiar.

It exhaled slowly, and I thought the ground moved. Its eyes went black. Black. Black, black, then blacker still. Oh, shit.

"I'll find the way to make a strong enough bond with you through the lines," it intoned. "And I'll pull you through, soul intact. You walk this side of the lines on borrowed time."