"Thank you for coming Clay. Your presence is no longer needed," the polished Were said. Turning to the others he added, "Get him out of here." I took a heaving lungful of air. With my second sight, I reached for a ley line, latching on to the one than ran under the university. My concentration shattered when two men grabbed my arms. "Hey!" I shouted, as one ripped my shoulder bag off and sent it spinning to land against a stack of lumber. "Let go of me!" I demanded, unable to twist easily from their twin grips. Clay grunted in pain, and when i stomped on someones foot, they shoved me down. Plaster dust puffed up, chocking me. My breath wooshed out as someone sat on me and pulled my hands behind my back. I went still.

"Ow," I complained. Blowing a blond strand of hair from my face, I gave another squirm. Crap Clay was being dragged into the elevators. HE was still fighting them, red-faced and wrathful, he lashed out his fists, making ugly sounding thumps when he scored. He could have Were to fight more viciously, but there was a five minute down-time where he would be helpless. "Get him out of here!" Clay’s boss Shouted impatiently, and the doors shut. There was a clunk as something hit the inside of the elevator, then the machinery started to lower the lift. I heard a shout and the sounds of fighting slowly grew muffled. Fear slid through me, and I gave another wiggle. Clay’s boss turned his gaze towards me. "Strap her," he said lightly. My breath hissed in. Frantic, i reached for the ley line gain, tapping it with a splinter of thought. Ever-after energy flowed through me, filing my chi and then the secondary spindle I could keep in my head. Pain struck through me when someone wrenched my right arm back too far. The cool plastic of a zip-strip was jammed over one wrist, snugged tight with a quick pull and a familiar ratcheting sound to leave the end dangling. My face went cold as every urge of ever-after washed out of me.The bitter taste of dandelions was on my lips. Stupid, stupid witch!

"Son of a bitch!" I shouted and the Weres sitting on me fell away. I staggered to my feet and tried to wedge the flexible plastic-wrapped band off of me, failing. Its core was charmed silver, like my long gone I.S. issued handcuff. I couldn’t tap a line. I couldn’t do anything. I seldom used my new ley line skills in defense, and i hadn’t been thinking of how easily they could be nullified. Utterly bereft from my magic, I stood in the last of the amber light coming in the tall windows. I was alone with a pack of alphas. My thoughts zinged to Mr. Rays pack and the wishing fish i had accidentally stolen from him, then me making the owners of the Howlers baseball team pay for my time doing it. Oh…Crap. I had to get out of here. Clay’s boss shifted his weight to his other foot. The sun spilled over him to glint on the dust of his dress shoes. "Ms. Carlin, isn’t it?" he asked companionably. I nodded, wiping my palms off on my jean. Plaster dust clung to me, and I only made things worse. I never took my eyes from him, knowing it was a blatant show of dominance. I had dealt a little with Weres and none of them but Clay seemed to like me. I didn’t know why.