“What did you think you were going to do with it?” Ava asked. She could barely breath while she waited for the answer, but didn’t dare to actually hope. Not yet.

Still...her sister had gone missing here. In Paris.

The woman's arrogant voice interrupted her thoughts. “More than you fools could do, I think!”

Ava started to lose feeling in her legs. She started to feel dizzy. There was no way. It couldn't be happening. It just couldn't.

But Allie had gone missing here. In Paris.

“Only a Coulise can use it,” Abe insisted obliviously. He held the woman's arms firmly behind her back, but she wasn’t struggling any more. She seemed to realize she'd struck a nerve, and stared at Ava triumphantly.

All Ava could think about was the last angry yell she'd thrown at her retreating sister. The last time she saw her. Two years ago. Here. In Paris.

“Exactly,” the woman finally purred. “And I, Monseiur, have a Coulise.”