Taylor banged his hand on Zoe’s steering wheel and cursed his stupidity. Dammit! Where were his instincts? He should never have let Lane leave by herself. And now, if what Zoe said was true, some badass thieves thought she had that jewel.

Idiot, idiot, idiot!

Ignoring the tow-away zone, he swung Zoe’s tiny Toyota into a free space and bolted out of the car, the stone he’d wrested from the damn ferret weighing heavily in his pocket.

Zoe got out from the other side and ran after him.

“Wait here,” he said. “I mean it, Zo. I don’t want to have to watch out for both of you.”

“But—”

“Zoe, please.” He kissed her on the cheek, ignoring her look of exasperation, then dashed up the stairs to Lane’s apartment.

The door was ajar. He burst in, then immediately stopped cold.

His employer, Mr. Mordon, presided over the room. “I think you have something I want.”

“Just the opposite. Where’s my sister?”

Mordon smiled. “She’s fine. For now.” He gestured across the room, and Taylor turned, looking into the shadows.

On the far side of the living room, Lane crouched on the floor, backed into a corner by two snarling dogs—a golden collie and ridiculously snarling toy poodle—that were approaching her from both sides. Her eyes were wide, pleading up at him.

“Stay still. Don’t move.” The toy poodle’s jaws seemed enormous—as if they had grown somehow beyond normal proportions—and Taylor was certain the dog had a mean streak a mile wide. Maybe it was rabid, too.

Damn! If he attacked Mordon, the dogs would surely lunge. And even if he went for the dogs, there was no way to get them both in time. One would go for Lane’s throat; he was sure of it. He wished he had his gun, but it was locked in Francis Capra, and Lane had the keys.

“A dilemma, isn’t it,” Mordon said, moving casually toward the sliding glass door. The man was wearing a perfectly tailored suit topped with a cape, as if he were trying to pass himself off as some English gentleman out of a Merchant Ivory film. “Perhaps I could see it, and we can arrange a trade.”

“Just let her go.” As he spoke, Taylor moved slowly, pulling the stone out of his pocket. “Call off the dogs and I’ll toss you the rock.”

Mordon’s eyes narrowed. “No, Mr. Taylor,” he said. The stone moved in Taylor’s hand. “I don’t think so.”

Before Taylor could grab the rock more tightly, it shot across the room to Mordon. He held it up, the green facets perfectly mimicking the color of his eyes. “You’re far too obliging, Mr. Taylor.” He tipped an imaginary hat. “So sorry about that finder’s fee, but I’m sure you understand.”

“You hurt Lane, and I’ll kill you. So help me . . .”

“Ooooh. I’m shaking in my fine Italian boots,” he said with a sneer. Then the sneer faded as something over Taylor’s shoulder caught Mordon’s attention.

Taylor whipped around, primed to do battle with some hideous ne’er-do-well. Instead he saw Zoe.

“Dammit, Zo—”

“Hello, Mordi,” she said, ignoring him. “Happy birthday.”

Confused, Taylor spun back around to face Mordon, who tipped that imaginary hat in her direction.

“Hello, cousin. You, too. It’s ever so nice to see you again.” He held up the gemstone. “I’d love to stay and chat, but my business is done, and I think you’re my cue to leave.” He smiled at Taylor. “You don’t mind if I leave the puppies, do you?” He winked, this time at Zoe. “They’re my father’s little pets, and I borrowed them for this very occasion. Just in case you showed up.” He nodded toward the dogs. “The poor things haven’t had lunch yet.”

As Mordon stepped backward onto the porch, Taylor lunged, but the man leaped back, his cape fluttering. Then he’d hovered for a moment before shooting away, becoming nothing but a dot in the distant sky.

What the hell?

Taylor spun back around to face Zoe. “What in heaven’s name is going on?”

She opened her mouth, but didn’t speak, her eyes darting toward Lane. She looked on the verge of leaping forward, tense, ready to spring. A panther on the ready.

“Taylor,” Lane said, her voice tense. “Please.”

The collie took a step toward her, it teeth bared.

“Stay still, Lane. We’ll figure something out.”

“Figure faster, okay?”

The poodle’s muscles tensed, and Taylor saw Zoe crouch. What the hell did she think she was doing? This was no place for a librarian.

If he was going to keep both his girls from getting pulverized, he had to do something now.

Banking on one dog coming to the aid of the other, he jumped forward and grabbed the poodle, screaming in pain as its teeth closed on the soft flesh between his thumb and forefinger. He kicked the beast in the gut as Lane scrambled to safety and Zoe did a little backflip maneuver, ending up right next to him, a knife in her hand. She pressed the knife into his palm, then kissed him on the cheek.

“Just in case,” she said.

What the hell?

The dog lunged at him again.

Blammo! Her leg shot out, hitting the beast square in the breastbone. With a single yelp, it flew across the room, landing with a ker-thunk against the kitchen cabinets. It slid to the floor, a twisted pile of mottled fur.

Zoe whipped around, her eyes meeting his with silent apology as her other leg shot out behind her. Ka-pow! The collie was down for the count.

As Taylor gaped, the collie shimmered and fizzled, as it turned from Lassie into the skinny drugged-out attacker from the night of the party. Then he became an oozing, drooling, slimy creature.

“Zowie, Zoe,” he whispered. “What the hell?”

“They’re not really dogs.”

“No kidding. What’s going on?”

She held up a finger. “Just a sec.”

As he parked his rump uselessly on the floor—his head spinning—Zoe scrambled to where the collie had fallen. She picked it effortlessly up by a leg; then she grabbed the other one out of the kitchen. On the balcony, she did a double windup, the creatures twirling at the ends of her windmilling arms. Then she released each one, sending them flying into the western sky. Taylor stood up just in time to see the distant splash in the ocean.

When Zoe turned around, he noticed that she wasn’t even breathing hard. She didn’t meet his eyes. “Um, I think maybe we need to talk.”

“Yeah,” he said, surprised his voice worked. “I think maybe we do.”

Zoe finished her story, then tried to gauge his reaction out of the corner of her eye. He was tense, his hands gripping the railing so hard his knuckles were white. They were on Lane’s balcony, looking down onto an alley, as Zoe threw bits of leaf out onto the wind, the casual gesture disguising the fact that she was twisted up in a million knots.

“Superheros, huh?” He said the words flat, as if all the emotion had been drained out of him. “That’s . . . not something I was really expecting.”

“What can I say? I’ve got an odd family.”

“I guess so.”

She shrugged, wishing he would touch her.

“So when you jumped off the building . . .”

“Not an R and D project,” she said.

“And that cop?”

“Mordichai.”

“And those two junkies?”

She shook her head. “Not really men at all. Not even dogs.”

“Right.” He nodded. “That’s what you said. They were Henchmen. Weird.”

“Right.” She sneaked another look at him, wishing she were telepathic, needing to know if she were going to lose him. With every minute that he didn’t take her into his arms, she died a little death. If he didn’t hurry up and kiss her soon, she was going to be nothing more than a crumpled pile of dust.

“So you can see these bad guys, huh? Just walking around day to day?”

“I’m starting to, yes.”

He nodded to the alley below. “Any evil beings down there?” She closed her eyes, terrified of where this was heading. Being tested by the council was one thing. If she passed, she’d belong. But what about Taylor’s tests? Even if she passed, would she be out? Or especially if she passed? Her eyes welled, and she blinked back tears.

She knew the answer to that question. She’d known it all her life.

Summoning her courage, she looked down and saw the snarling beast below. “Yes,” she said, pointing. “That one.”

“The guy in the baggy clothes with the chain and the boom box? I could’ve told you that.”

“No, he’s okay.” She pointed again. “The little old man working in the garden. See? He’s hunched over in the poppies.”

Taylor shook his head. “Guess I’m striking out all the way around.”

“No! It’s not you. It’s—”

“Must have been pretty comical, huh? Watching me fight those guys.”

Her stomach twisted. “Comical? I was terrified.” She licked her lips. “Taylor, I don’t want to lose you.”

He gave a little laugh, but his eyes were sad. “Well, good thing you’re around to protect me, huh? I mean, Lord knows I can’t protect you. . . . Can’t protect my sister.” He pounded his fist against his thigh. “Can’t even protect myself.”

“I don’t need you to protect me. I just need you to be with me.”

He turned to her then and smiled, and a tiny bit of hope took root. His eyes were soft and warm as he reached out to stroke her cheek.

“I’m sorry,” he said, and hope died in her heart. “I need to think. Need to get my head clear. I don’t do this well. I wasn’t. . . this isn’t. . .”

He sighed, then ran his hands through his hair. “I just need to be alone right now. Besides, shouldn’t you be out making the world safe for democracy or something?”

She opened her mouth to argue—the world was safe, until the eclipse. They had hours to sort this all out if only he’d stay. If only he’d talk to her. But the words didn’t come, and instead of staying he left, marching down the stairs without even turning back.

She watched him go, a single tear tracing a path down her cheek. He was leaving her, and not one of her ridiculous powers could make him stay. He loved her, but he was leaving anyway.

Just as she’d always known he would.

Zoe walked into her mom’s house, saw the chocolate birthday cake with the colorful sprinkles, and burst into tears.

In an instant, Deena and Hoop and Tessa had gathered around her, but she just dropped to the couch and buried her face in her hands. She was here, with her friends, with her mom—and yet she was completely alone.

“Oh, hell,” said Deena. “He left, didn’t he? I can’t believe it.”

“Taylor? I don’t believe it,” Hoop said. “He’s head over heels in love with you.”

Tessa sat on the sofa and put her arm around Zoe. “Did you two have a fight?”

Zoe shook her head. “He doesn’t love me.”

“Of course he does,” Tessa said.

“Not the real me.”

Tessa’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

Zoe nibbled on her lower lip, then caught Deena’s eye. “You’re gonna have to tell her,” Deena said.

“Tell me what?”

“Yeah,” said Hoop. “Tell her what?”

“Come on.” Deena took Hoop’s arm and steered him toward the back door. “Let’s go check out the roses.”

“I am always the last to know these things,” Hoop grumbled as Deena steered him out the door.

Tessa tucked a finger under Zoe’s chin and lifted until Zoe had no choice but to look her in the eye. “Sweetheart?”

“Oh, Mommy.” She was eight years old all over again, and she wrapped her arms around her mom and held on for dear life.

“Hey, hey, come on, baby, what’s the matter?”

She held on tight for a few more seconds, then pushed away. She had to tell—now—before she lost her courage. “There’s something you need to know, Mom. Something I should have told you a long time ago.”

Something flashed in Tessa’s eyes as she took Zoe’s hand. “It’s okay. Just tell me.”

And so she did. Everything. About Donis and Hale and the council. About her supersenses and her other fun little tricks. About the application and the legend.

About Mordichai and the stone and Lane, and how in a few hours she needed to zip off and try to save the world.

And, of course, about Taylor. It all spilled out.

“I’m sorry, Mom. I’m not a normal little girl. I never have been.”

“Oh, baby.” Tessa stroked her hair, rocking her back and forth, back and forth, making her feel safe and loved. “I thought . . . I didn’t want to believe it, but I thought maybe it was . . .” She trailed off, then smiled weakly. “I’m so sorry. I was scared for you, scared of my memories. I didn’t want to believe that you’d turned out like your father.”

“I was afraid you’d leave me.” Zoe sniffed. “Like you left Daddy. I didn’t want you to think I was a freak.”

Tessa’s eyes went wide. “Oh, Zoe, no! I love you, sweetie. And I loved your father.” She grinned sadly. “At first I thought he was . . . you know . . .” She twirled her finger at the side of her head. “But then, when I realized it was true, I was afraid for him. Afraid he’d get hurt, afraid he’d get killed and I’d be all alone.” She frowned. “So many fears. I didn’t want to take a backseat to the entire world, either.”

“That was just his job, Mom.”

Tessa smiled. “Would it be just a job to you?”

Zoe shook her head. “No. More than a job.” Much more. “But that doesn’t mean I’d love Taylor less.”

Her mom stroked her hair. “I know, sweetie. I know that now, anyway.” She sighed. “But I didn’t understand that then. . . . It was more than that, even. I couldn’t believe your father really wanted me, or would want to keep me. What could I offer someone like that?”

“He loved you, Mom.”

“I know. And I made a huge mistake. I let my fear get the best of me, and I walked away. Even worse, I made him promise to stay away.” She pulled Zoe into a bear hug. “You listen to me, young lady. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do, I’m not going anywhere.”

Zoe wanted to believe. “Taylor said he loved me. He left.”

Tessa nodded. “Taylor doesn’t have the benefit of twenty-twenty hindsight. And he’s not your mom. He needs a stern talking-to.” Tessa gave her a stalwart grin. “I wish somebody had been around to give me a stern talking-to.”

“You’re not planning on being the one who gives Taylor that talking-to, are you?” The idea of her mother chewing out her new now-ex-boyfriend made her more than a little queasy.

Tessa waved a hand. “Now what kind of question is that?”

Apparently a question to which she wasn’t going to get an answer. Zoe considered pressing her mom, then decided against it. Taylor would do what he had to, no matter what Tessa or Deena or anybody said.

Zoe only hoped that, in the end, the one thing he had to do was come back to her.

“You just do what you want. I left your father, and it nearly killed me. I loved him, but I forced him away, and it almost destroyed me.” She stroked Zoe’s cheek. “Didn’t do you much good either, I’d say. I’m the one who’s sorry, sweetie. Follow your heart, Zoe. Don’t try to follow your head. It’ll only confuse you.”

Her heart. Her heart was with Taylor. Hera help her, she wanted him. Wanted his love, wanted his warmth. She’d always wanted a real family, and now she’d found a man who wanted one just as much. He’d thought she was the perfect woman, that they’d have a storybook life. Until she’d shoved her reality in his face.

And now . . . oh, now she wanted him back.

Even if that meant giving up her heritage? Was it worth the price to be safe in his arms again?

Oh, yes. He made her feel whole in a way being on the council never could. Being a superhero would make her feel useful. Being with Taylor made her feel alive.

“Sweetie? Are you okay?”

She flashed Tessa a weak smile. “I’m fine. I was just thinking about my cake.”

Tessa squeezed her hand. “Your cake?”

She took a deep breath. “I’ve never really been able to handle chocolate. It kind of makes my mouth go all crazy. I never got up the nerve to tell you.”

Tessa laughed. “What some women wouldn’t give to not be able to eat chocolate . . .” She hugged Zoe close. “That’s okay, sweetie. I’m sure I’ve got some yellow cake mix somewhere. It’ll only take a minute. Surely you have time for some cake before you rush off to save the world, right?”

“That’s not what I mean, Mom.” She remembered the Intent to Select Mortalization form sitting with her council materials and swallowed. For Taylor. For them.

For them, she’d sign it. She’d go fight Mordichai, and she’d win. She’d make her father and Hale so proud before she left them, and she’d fight like hell to keep at least one memory—even if they would make her think it was a dream. But in the end, she’d become mortal.

She’d be the woman Taylor wanted, and she’d have the family she always wanted. She wasn’t going to make the same mistake as Tessa—wasn’t going to give up on love and regret it forever.

And now, for one last time, she’d let her mouth tingle with the taste of chocolate. “No, Mom, you don’t understand. The thing is, this time, I’d like an extra large piece.”

“I don’t understand any of this.” Hale paced in front of Zephron’s desk. “I mean, it’s a freaking legend. Why now? Why’d this rock show up in Los Angeles after all this time?”

Zephron caught his eye. “Sometimes, even a legend needs a gentle nudge.”

Donis stepped forward. “Are you saying the council—”

“Where the stone came from is not the point,” Zephron said sharply. “Or why. Right now, our problem is that your daughter has lost it.”

“Maybe she wouldn’t have if you’d let me go back and help her.” Hale pounded a fist into his palm, trying to burn off nervous energy. Zephron and Donis had made him stay, planning for the worst—and he’d been going stir-crazy ever since.

“We must assume that Hieronymous will succeed.”

“No way. My sister won’t fail us. You saw her figure everything out, break into that Web page. . . . She knows the legend. She’ll get that stone back.”

Zephron pointed to his viewing screen. “Your sister is forsaking her heritage. It would seem that we must now assume the worst.”

Hale twisted around to look at the screen. There, larger than life, Zoe was signing her mortalization form. She looked up at the ceiling, as if she knew they were watching. “Okay, I signed it. I don’t know who’s supposed to come get me for mortalization, but you’d just better wait. It’s not effective until after the eclipse. You hear me? I’ll fight Mordi for you, but then I want to be with Taylor.” She wiped a tear away. “The only thing is, can you make sure I see my dad and Hale first? One last time before I forget them?” She turned in a circle around the room, as if expecting an answer. “Please?”

The image faded as Hale caught his father’s eye. “We need to help her. We need to change her mind.”

A sad smile touched Donis’s lips. “She’s in love with her mortal, Hale. There’s nothing you can do to change that. I sometimes wonder if I wouldn’t have done the same, if I’d been given the chance.”

Damn sentimental fools. Falling for mortals. It’s absurd! He didn’t get it. He just didn’t get it.

He stalked around the room once more, trying to rein in his emotions. “Well, I’m going anyway. I’m not leaving her to face Mordichai by herself.”

“There’s nothing you can do,” Zephron said. “We cannot interfere.”

“Screw the rules. I’m going to be there for my sister.” He looked at Donis. “Are you with me?”

“For my daughter? For Tessa’s little girl?” Donis looked from Hale to Zephron, and then to the monitor. “Oh, yes. I’m going.”

“You’re an idiot.” Hoop’s voice filtered over him. “You know that, right?”

Taylor sat at his desk and rubbed his hands over his face. “He’s right,” Deena said, pacing back and forth and shooting him dirty glares every time she turned. “You said you love her, and then you just up and left her?”

“I do love her.” So help him, he did. “But how long do you think we’d last? I mean, how the hell can she love me?”

“Are you nuts? She thinks you hung the moon.”

“I think that was her great-uncle Joe,” Hoop said.

Taylor glared, and Deena tossed a pencil at him.

“Sorry. Bad joke.”

“But that’s exactly my point,” Taylor said. Why the hell couldn’t they understand? “She’s a superhero, for crying out loud. Leaping tall buildings. Stopping runaway trains. I mean, hell, the girl’s got X-ray vision—”

“Which is pretty damn cool, when you think about it.”

“Hoop!” Deena screeched. “You’re not helping.”

Taylor pushed up out of his chair and started pacing. “Why the hell would someone like Zoe want to spend her life with someone like me?”

“Because she loves you, you foolish boy.”

He spun around to see Tessa glaring at him for all she was worth, and suddenly he felt about four feet tall.

“Tessa. I’m sorry.” What else could he say?

“You lied,” she said simply.

The words found their mark. More than anything Hoop or Deena had been saying, Tessa’s simple truth bored into his soul and festered.

“You promised you wouldn’t give up on her. You told her you loved her. And now you’re just going to abandon her?”

“Why would she want me?” he asked again, but it was a pathetic excuse, and he knew it. She did want him. God help him, that amazing woman loved him, and he’d hurt her more deeply than he could imagine.

Tessa stared him down. “Don’t you play that game with me, George Bailey Taylor. Not ever with me. You need a good talking-to, and I’m here to give it to you.”

“Tessa, she’s—”

“Don’t make the same mistake I did,” Tessa said, ignoring him. “Don’t you dare give up on that girl just because you’re intimidated by everything she can do. That’s only part of who she is. Just like that bullet in your leg is only part of who you are. And she loves you. If you really love her, too, I’d better not hear that you’ve let her down.”

He tried to look chastised, but couldn’t help the smile that fought to emerge. There was something so right about being called to the carpet by Zoe’s mother.

Heaven help him, he’d been a fool. A damned arrogant fool.

More than anything in the world he wanted to hold Zoe, to tell her he was a jerk. To tell her he loved her and never wanted to lose her.

And he knew in his heart she’d forgive him. Hell, that was one of the reasons he loved her.

He couldn’t lose her. Not now. Not ever.

He pushed out of his chair and his eyes found Deena. “Where is she?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know. Something about a legend.”

“She’s off to save the world,” Tessa said. The older woman smiled. “Get used to it.”

“Save the world? Fine. Great. Wonderful. But I need to talk to her.” He cursed his stupidity. “How the heck am I supposed to find her? She could be anywhere on the planet.” With an angry sweep of his arm, Taylor wiped the top of his desk clean. “God, I’m such an idiot!”

“Wait!”

They all turned to Deena.

She smiled. “I just might know someone who can help.”