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authenticating the cursed and charmed objects I stole for them.
    When the phone rang, everyone jumped. I imagined recent bad news to be the cause, though its delivery would have come via angel and not fiber optics. It was obvious that the nerves around here were strung as tight as a hangman’s rope.
    Rusty snatched the wireless phone from its cradle on the wall. Her expression tense, she nodded and murmured something in the receiver before hanging it up.
    “A fire broke out in a farmhouse outside of town.” She glanced at each of us, her expression grave. “The snow slowed it down, but flames are playing leapfrog in the treetops and spreading fast.”
    Aurora put her hand to her chest. “Dear Lord. Was that the fire chief?”
    Rusty nodded. “The fire’s almost out of control so he’s calling all volunteer firefighters.”
    A firestarter who fights fires? That’s a switch. “Is there anything I can do?” I asked before thinking. Fire scared the crap out of me.
    “No, Chalice, but thanks anyway.” She flashed a smile faster than I could blink. “Natalie, will you drive?”
    Natalie nodded.
    Rusty trotted to a closed door near the front of the house and yanked it open. Coats and jackets dangled from hangers and she pulled one free.
    Aurora had followed her and I was right behind. “I think you should take Chalice with you,” my grandmother said.
    Rusty blinked in surprise. “There’s nothing she can do.”
    “Yes, there is.” Aurora looked at me, her face tight with concern. “We have a room stacked with boxes that contain the curses and charms Quin Dee brought to us.”
    Quin. I’d never forget the angel whisperer who got killed because of me, though the angels had made sure he didn’t stay dead for long. My heart tripped over itself at the memory of his sudden and welcomed resurrection.
    “The knights need protection at all costs,” my grandmother added in a voice edged with panic. “We can’t lose any more. Chalice, will you help them?”
    “I’ll do what I can,” I said, my brain whirring as I tried to remember what all had been in that stash of hexed objects. It was Aydin’s pilfered treasure that he had entrusted to Quin. He’d wanted to make sure my sisters would have them someday. My job would be teaching them how to use each one. “I’ll grab a charm or two that could be useful.”
    Rusty huffed out a breath. “We don’t have time for this. The chief said the fire is reaching a critical point.”
    “I’ll hurry.” I followed my grandmother to a room in the back of the house.
    It was all here. Every old rusted trunk, rotted wooden crate, ancient cardboard box, barrel and jar. I felt their power the moment I crossed the threshold into the storage room, but I was immune to their effects. Having endured the gargoyle’s curse, I could handle these objects with impunity, as could Aydin. My sister knights could not.
    I scanned the stash, remembering what most everything was, and reached for a weathered old ox horn. It had special properties that would be useful in a fire.
    I ran outside, where Natalie and Rusty were already sitting inside a battered old red Jeep.
    Rafe marched toward me. “Where do you think you’re going?”
    I scowled. “Since when do I have to check in with you?”
    “Since the day I became your guardian.”
    Which was little over a month ago and I still wasn’t used to the idea. “Is that part of the deal?”
    “More or less.”
    I shrugged. “Well, I’m going with my sisters. You do whatever you want.”
    He raised an eyebrow, looking superior and irritating the crap out of me. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
    “Chalice!” Rusty stuck her head out the open window. “Are you coming? Or would you rather wait for the entire town to burn down first?”
    I lurched toward the Jeep and Rafe grabbed my arm. He dipped his chin. “You don’t want something to accidentally slip from your pocket, do you?”
    I blinked. Shit. I still had Shojin’s heart.