“I say,” Bloodroot suggested, “that we tie knots in his hair, paint his eyes yellow, and make his teeth black, so he will look very ugly, and she will not want him.”

“She will just put him back again,” Vervain said. “She has more powers than us. Why don't you just wait until he dies? Then perhaps you will have your chance...if you change your ways.”

“Change my ways?” he snorted. “I don't wish to change. Wickedness is part of my allure.”

“Well, obviously you did not explain that to Petal,” Vervain said.