“Honestly? Not what a monarch is supposed to look Like. We've got stuff in his veins that is keeping his blood warm, but his organs are trying to freeze all by themselves."

"We need to find him. This isn't even blood magic, or at least nothing that I've ever heard of," Ed added, flopping down on one of the couches with a profound lack of dignity. Joanna, Heda's buxom best friend, quickly moved into sympathetic shoulder-rub position.

"And we don't have the slightest idea where to look," Heda said.

Edgar looked a bit red in the face.

“Yeah, about that," Ed said.

“the council has decided that they don't want student participation in the investigation anymore. Except for Kevin's particular expertise, everyone is supposed to back off."

“What?!" came Heda's voice overriding the sudden clamor from her friends.

“Why? We found Detrius or Daryl, or whatever the hell he is calling himself, the first time. We can find him again."

"Heda, don't bust my ball about this. The World Council has sent in the best investigators and sorcerers in the world here. If there's a way of tracing this guy, they'll do it. I'll be lucky if I'm allowed to stay on, seeing as I kept you all in the loop, thereby putting you in danger."

Heda let out an undignified snort.

“Like you could've stopped me."

"I'm serious," Ed replied, as sternly as he could, “Putting you guys in danger is not going to win me any points with the powers that be.

Heda, I might be able to bring you in on any actual hunts, just because of Mom's rep, but --"

"To hell with that," Heda said angrily.

"That son of a bitch kidnapped and tortured Carla and Madison. You saw what she looked like when we pulled her out of that damn lair."

“Yeah, I remember. And I don't want anyone else here to get found like that." He sighed, then looked a little sheepish.

“And since I know you're not normally inclined to let things go --"

“Ed, what did you do?" she asked, her voice dripping with suspicion.

"I kind of called Mr. Hannity and had him suggest to Madison that they should have ALL of you guys out there for a weekend."

“Why the hell would you --"

“Because once Madison calls and starts with the girlfriend pleading, you won't be able to resist."

Heda's eyes were slowly growing wider.

"You complete asshole!"

"And then you'll be out of my hair for a few days --" Ed had to scramble to get out of the way as his sister lunged across the coffee table and attempted to throttle him. Billy, Anthony, and Peter had to grab her, put her on the couch, and sit on her to prevent her from causing serious mayhem.