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travel between realms. But although the Gates were not as convenient—they were spaced great distances apart on Earth—she enjoyed flying. It was far better, she mused, than wobbling.
    Pim lifted her head, met Alice’s eyes, and the sallow color that had been ebbing from the novice’s face oozed back in.
    How easily unsettled these novices were. A cackle would have been just the thing—but now that Drusilla’s laughter had faded into a smile of greeting, much too heavy-handed.
    Drusilla vanished her physician’s coat, called in a sword, and used it to wave. “Good afternoon, Alice darling!”
    Alice’s lips curved. The salutation was as light and bubbly as soda water—and so was Drusilla.
    She stepped from beneath the portico roof, brushing her hand across the web and scooping up Romulus. “You must be coming from San Francisco if it was afternoon.”
    Several Guardians and all of the novices were connected to a law enforcement facility headquartered in that city, where they received their assignments and training. Alice hadn’t bothered to see it yet. Aside from the occasional task that Michael gave her when he was in Caelum, Alice was still largely self-directed.
    “Pim and I decided to practice in Caelum; the gym at the warehouse was packed. And that tree is marvelous!” Drusilla’s smile widened, and she bobbed back and forth on cherry red athletic shoes. “I’d totally forgotten it was here. But if the noise will disturb you, we can head down to Zephyrus Quarter in a jiffy.”
    “Of course not,” Alice murmured. Movement near the tree caught Romulus’s attention, and she glanced past Drusilla to see Jake collecting a small carton from the ground. Through the holes in the lid came a chorus of squeaks.
    An early delivery, but perhaps Selah had been unable to bring them to her. Or Jake intended to mollify her for the kiss.
    If so, Alice wouldn’t tell him she’d only thought of that kiss two or three times since—and never with anger.
    But she might tell him that she hadn’t thought of it with pleasure, either.
    “Great!” Drusilla gave another little bob, then turned to Pim.
    Alice wasn’t certain how Drusilla remained so effervescent when, as a Healer, she saw more carnage than most Guardians. Perhaps it was because Drusilla rarely failed the tasks given her; her Gift could instantly heal everything but decapitation or a severed heart.
    Alice frowned, her eyes narrowing. “Drusilla—do you suppose a Guardian might survive having his heart removed in a surgical manner, so long as it was not cut in two?”
    She heard Jake’s step falter slightly, and Pim’s indrawn breath. If the answer hadn’t been so important, Alice would have cackled merrily.
    Drusilla bounced back around. “I don’t know. I’ve never encountered an injury like that. When a demon or a nosferatu gets to a heart, that’s usually all she wrote.” A crease formed between her brows as she considered it. “Removed whole, and then healed?”
    “Yes.”
    “I doubt it,” Drusilla said. “But I’m not sure.”
    “I am.” Jake stopped a few feet in front of Alice, his wary gaze on her mouth. He seemed relieved not to see any spiders there until Romulus crawled up to her shoulder for a better look, raising his two front legs.
    To his credit, Jake did not blink or vanish. Nor did he do anything else, until Drusilla prompted, “Jake?”
    “Yeah. All right.” He grinned and shook his head, as if silently laughing at an inner joke. His fingers tapped against the white box, and he was answered by curious squeak. He grimaced and stilled his hands. “I’ve been specializing with Alejandro—for my blade work—most nights when Drifter’s with Charlie. So two months ago, Alejandro and I went back to Philadelphia, because we’d heard one of Lucifer’s demons moved in after the nephil was gone.”
    Alice nodded. Earlier in the year, the nephilim had massacred the vampire communities in Rome, Berlin, and Washington, D.C.