"A lupin." Cyrus shook his own head. "But that wasn't her intention. Dahlia assumed she'd be the one impregnated, obviously, or she wouldn't have used it on me."

"A lupin is just a werewolf who aligns with technology instead of magic." Nathan's definition didn't sound as confident as it might have in the past.

"That's what your precious Movement tells you. The wolves know better. Among them, lupin is a blanket term for any vampire who's been bitten by a werewolf, or a werewolf who's exchanged blood with a vampire. They might retain all of the distinct powers from both species, or just take on a few key characteristics." Cyrus didn't cover up his smirk. "Our side has known for years."

Still reeling, I reached for the book. "How long was Dahlia working on this?"

"Your guess is as good as mine. I remember drinking a potion but she was always giving me potions," He wouldn't look me in the eye. "For various… sexual reasons."

"And you never wondered what they were for?" Nathan asked, arms folded, expression incredulous.

Sheepishly, Cyrus looked at us. "No. The first few times I did, of course. But they were always herbal concoctions. To enhance the act. She took them as well, so I assumed they were safe."

Nathan snorted. "You know what assuming does. It makes an—"

"That's not constructive," I snapped. A wave of sickness rose in my throat. Memories of the first time I'd been with Cyrus overwhelmed me. It had been tense, violent, deviant… and I had no doubt he'd treated Dahlia the same. She'd done those sick things to conceive a child?

"Why would she want a baby? Did she think it would make you turn her? Stay with her?" Nathan didn't so much ask us these questions as throw them out for brainstorming. "Well, it's obvious she thought a natural-born vampire would have something to do with the Oracle's prophecy about the weapon." I tried not to imagine what the baby would be used for.

"Or it is the weapon." Nathan's words gave form to my dread. He lifted the book and scanned the page. "Though it seems unlikely to me that she could have achieved all this in the time between the Vampire New Year and the time we killed you. I wish she would have dated this."

"No, she didn't start after the Vampire New Year. That's why I can't imagine her purpose. But she gave me the potion the first night I was with you." Cyrus realized too late the effect his words had on me.

I stumbled into the living room, breathing hard. I heard Nathan mutter something, and the scrape of a chair. But it was Cyrus who came to stand awkwardly behind me. "Carrie?"