“Bracelets? Like this one?” Mack asked, holding out his left wrist at an angle. Declan frowned at his buddy’s oddly happy tone, but looked nonetheless. He froze for a split second at the sight of a familiar copper wire band encircling Mack’s wrist. Just as his brain restarted, he felt a light impact on his own left wrist and looked down as Mack pulled his right hand away, revealing a matching twin copper band now snug around his arm.

“Freeze!” Mack said.

Declan felt his body go stiff, his mind finding nothing when it reached for the second-nature comfort of his magic.

“She said I had to obey her, and that you had to obey me. At least until she gets here. You’ll really like her. My Lilly is wonderful.”

Declan tried to open his mouth, to demand an explanation, to yell what the fuck. Nothing happened.

“Sorry, bud. She said not to let you talk. Said you’re too crafty. Oh hey, I’m supposed to take these off too,” Mack said, acting like he was setting up a fun introduction rather than a demonic abduction. Pulling a razor-sharp blade from somewhere on his person, Mack set about cutting the leather cords of Declan’s three necklaces, pulling the attached amulets away and putting them in his pocket.

“There, that’s all done. Let’s see, no talking—check. Freezing in place—check. And no necklaces—check. I think that covers everything she wanted. Now we just wait till she gets here, then we’ll walk on out to meet her.”

Declan was busy the whole time, trying to access magic, trying to move a muscle or pull energy from the electrical grid, trying anything and everything but not able to do a thing.

“Oh, don’t look so frantic. It won’t be long. She’ll be here soon and then you get to meet her,” Mack said with a cheery smile.

The mostly closed door suddenly swung open, revealing Jetta. “Meet who, big brother? Boy are you lucky that Toni saw you come in the building. I was coming to tell Declan that the building is ready to lock down but if you’ve got a friend coming, you better get down there,” Mack’s sister said.

“Aw, Jet, why did you have to come in? She said the surprise was only for Declan. But come on in; I’ve got something to show you,” Mack said, his sudden frown turning back into an odd smile.

Confused, Jetta stepped in, glancing from Mack to Declan, who still hadn’t said a word or made even a little move. She frowned, studying Declan’s eyes, which bulged in his head, as her brother turned away toward the side table next to the bed. Declan was rapidly looking from her to his wrist to her brother and back again, just his eyeballs moving but somehow conveying extreme anxiety.