The Omni Hotel and Resort in Dallas had its own restaurant. Probably not surprising, given how ritzy the place was. But it was still strange for me to sit down at what was essentially a five-star restaurant, after so many months of eating fast food and ready meals. I wished I was wearing something better than my bedazzled jeans and a rest stop T-shirt while doing it. Nothing says classy client like a bedraggled girl wearing a tee with groping laminated hands and a logo that says "these boobs are property of an Illinois Trucker."

I'm surprised we were even let within five miles of the building.

The appetizers cost more than a standard meal at most sit-down restaurants back home and the idea of a bargain was eighty dollars for a steak dinner for two. So that was what Anna and I ordered after being seated by a vaguely condescending waiter. I at least couldn't fault Lasciel for taste, because my medium rare Cote De Boeuf Bone-In Ribeye was huge and possibly the best thing I'd ever tasted. It was big enough to have fed at least three Carpenter children over a meal or two and came with a glazed carrot and skillet fried potatoes absolutely slathered with sauteed onions and gravy.

After demolishing the steak in about five minutes flat I moved onto the sides and began shoveling potatoes into my mouth at a speed that scandalized the blue-haired society woman who was sharing a medium red with a handful of friends. I ignored her hissed directive to show some class and chewed with my mouth open for a few seconds just for spite. Petty, yes. But it was draining to summon a demonic shade from a vault halfway across the world. I'd like to see how she'd fare if she'd had to live the last forty-eight hours of my life.

Anna picked at her steak, too absorbed in her own thoughts to chow down. Maybe the events of the previous day had stolen her appetite. I really hoped we'd be allowed to take the steaks in a box because it was a waste of cow if Anna couldn't get around her portion.

Finally, she blew out a breath and steepled her fingers, carefully propping her elbows up on the table on either side of her plate.

"We need to talk."

"You gonna break up with me?" I teased, my mood bolstered somewhat by the food. There was still a tight not of anxiety in my stomach but I'd stopped freaking out, at least for now. I'd probably resume worrying later. "Because that's a classic."

My brave stab at humor falls flat. Anna's bleak expression doesn't even flicker.

"We need to discuss what happened in the apartment with Torelli."

My stomach clenched, receiving my latest mouthful of food with less grace than usual. "What about it?"

Anna's eyes swiveled around the room for a few seconds. She caught our blue-haired neighbor leaning surreptitiously closer to listen to our conversation. She lowered her voice, barely speaking above a whisper.

"You used psychomancy, Molly. It's a violation of the third law. The white council will find out and they'll come for you. We need to discuss what you do from here."

"I wasn't trying to hurt him," I muttered. "Really. But he was trying to kill us. It was the only thing I could think to do at the time."

Anna Ash shook her head with another shaky sigh. "It's not a clear cut case of self-defense, I'm afraid. I don't think the council will accept it."

Lasciel, who's image had settled in one of the empty chairs and appeared to be drinking a glass of Dom Pérignon, nodded her agreement. "The White Council are a gaggle of old, inflexible fools. You cannot trust them. If you are taken before them you will be given a sham trial if you're lucky, then summarily executed."

I set my fork down, my appetite evaporating as I took that in. "So what? That's all she wrote? Off with her head?"

"I don't think so. Before you told me about the Fallen, I was pretty sure it was curtains. But her presence changes everything. It's obvious she's tampered with you. At least some of your actions could have been influenced by her. It's a solid defense and one I think they'll listen to."

Lasciel snorted into her glass. "It'll be a cold day in hell when that happens, my host."

"You'd know," I grumbled. Then to Anna I said; "Please tell me there's a Plan B? Because I don't think it's wise to trust the judgment of fusty old bureaucrats who have never learned the definition of the word leniency."

Anna frowned. "The White Council is not malicious, Molly. Warlocks have to be taken seriously. Black magic corrupts."

"And there's not much blacker than hosting a fallen freaking angel in my head. I don't think it'll help my case. So what are my other options?"

She picked at her dinner again, dropping her eyes from my face. "Well, as I see it, you have three other options. But all of them carry risks."

I wasn't sure if there was anything more dangerous than turning myself over the dubious justice of the White Council.

"Shoot."

She began ticking down on her fingers. "The first and most obvious is to join these...Knights of the Coin. I'm fairly sure that they must be signatories of the accords, or there'd be more challenges to them for the destruction they wreak. For the Council to claim their justice, they'd first have to win in a challenge against a chosen member of the Knights of the Coin. Challenges are rare. You'd be under their protection."

My mind instantly rebelled against the idea. Join the Fallen? Fight against the Knights, just to save my own skin? Hell no. I couldn't even fathom what that would be like. And even if I did decide to go to them, which was unlikely, who would I choose? Tessa always seemed to have the advantage of numbers, but she was incredibly destructive. Wherever Polonius Lartessa goes, there was chaos.

"Nicodemus would be the best route," Lasciel hummed, nodding along with my thoughts. "I so rarely agree with his agendas and dislike following Andariel's lead. But his methods are less objectionable to me. Tessa is short-sighted. I prefer the long game. Nicodemus also prefers quality over quantity. Tessa's schemes result in the deaths of hosts often. Were I to take you to her, you would be dead within a year. My coin would change hands multiple times after that. I won't allow it."

I couldn't help a jibe. "Why Lash, it sounds like you're actually fond of me."

"I am." She said simply. "I have never met a host whose talents were so suited to my own. It's refreshing really."

I couldn't come up with a quip or witty retort to that. I hated the thought of being compatible with her in any way, shape, or form. It meant it would be that much easier for her to use me.

"You're talking to her, aren't you?"

Anna's murmured question jerked me back to reality. She was staring at me intently, paler than usual, with a pinched look of concern plastered all over her face. I nodded weakly.

"Yeah. Sorry. I'm not keen on it and Lasciel is pretty ambivalent about it."

"She shouldn't have a say," Anna said sternly. "You shouldn't indulge her. She's a parasite."

A defense leaped to the edge of my tongue and I had to stop myself from letting the acerbic tirade spill out my mouth. I clenched my hands into fists. These weren't my thoughts, the words inside my head were not my words. I speared Lasciel's image with a glare.

"Knock it off."

She gave me a wounded look, lip jutting in a practiced pout that threatened to tug at my heartstrings. "I'm not doing anything."

"Bull." I turned my gaze back to Anna, who was staring at the empty chair on the other side of the table with a look of deep disquiet on her face. "What's the second option?"

"You could request asylum from one of the courts of Faerie. It's not ideal, because it will mean you owe a substantial debt. You'll never know what they'll ask of you, and their intentions are rarely ever benign."

I waited for Lasciel to jump in with another objection, but she merely shrugged. "If you wish. It would be a safer place for you at present."

It was tempting. I shelved the option for consideration at a later date. "What's the third option?"

Anna licked her lips nervously. "I'm only putting it out there in the interest of full disclosure. I'm pretty sure it's a horrible idea doomed to backfire, but you may be able to find shelter with the Fellowship of Saint Giles. They're a group of half-vampires and their allies who are trying to stymie the Red Court. It would be dangerous and you'd be required to fight or contribute in some way."

I sat up straighter in my seat, excitement trickling into my veins, and the knot in my belly unclenched just a little. Asylum from my enemies. The chance to put my powers to good use, fighting evil instead of embracing it. Making the world a better place, just like my dad.

"I want to join the Fellowship."

Anna leaned more heavily on her elbows, rubbing her temples with two fingers. "Of course you do. It's only the most dangerous option."

"Please?"

She was silent for a long beat. "It's dangerous, Molly. You could be killed."

"I will be killed if I don't do something," I pointed out. "I think the Fellowship is the best option. Let's do some poking around and see if we can contact them."

Anna mumbled an agreement and began chipping away at her steak slowly. She only finished up half of it before she pushed the hunk of meat away and signaled the waiter to box it up and give us the check. I paid, peeling off a hundred from the bundle of bills in my pocket and told the waiter to keep the change.

The sun had disappeared beneath the horizon some time ago and, despite being unawares for so long, I was dragging. I needed to sleep before I'd be up for any investigative work. The nagging urge to get up and pack my bags kept popping into my head. I was pretty sure I knew who was putting it there.

"I told you to knock it off," I told her between clenched teeth. " Stop with the intrusive thoughts. I'm trying to sleep."

"The wisest course would be to run, my host," she urged. "Anna Ash can't be trusted. Leave her enough fare to return to Chicago and we can set out together to pursue entry to the Fellowship."

I rolled over in bed so I could face her. She was lying sprawled on her back on the left side of the queen-sized mattress. I scowled at her, at the look of unshakeable certainty on her face.

"Your opinion on humanity just warms the cockles of my heart. Go on and extol the virtues of the Denarians. I'm sure you're all shining examples of loyalty."

"The division is unnecessary my host. I am merely trying to prevent you from what's inevitable if you stay. I've observed humanity for millennia. Some things never change. She believes age and superior knowledge entitles her to make the decision for you. Run while you still can."

I ignored her, squeezing my eyes shut and did my best to tune out her ongoing speech. Even when I finally drifted off, I couldn't escape her in dreams. In it, I was packed into a giant suitcase by Anna Ash, who folded me like a knit sweater, assuring me that I'd be safer inside. Laciel's doing, no doubt.

When I woke, I was going to kick her metaphorical ass for it.