“Three days. We now have a very specific deadline.”

Somehow, that made me feel better. Why did that make me feel better?

Connor must have seen the confusion in my face. “Because it’s a line in the sand,” he said. “A goal line. You know exactly what you have to do and when. You like rules, brat.”

He was right. “But we don’t know how,” I said. “That’s the part that worries me.”

“We’ll figure it out together,” he said, drawing me toward him. He gave Lulu a look. “Without confronting any more supernaturals with fireballs, maybe?”

“Yeah,” Lulu said.

I sighed, looked at Lulu. “I need to get to work. You’re going back to the town house—or the loft if you want to check on the cat—and you’re going to stay there until we can talk about”—I waved my hand toward the castle—“all of this.” I shifted my gaze to Alexei. “I know the Pack has its own issues to deal with, but can you go with her? Stay with her?”

He looked at Connor, got the nod of approval.

“Yes,” Alexei said.

“I don’t need a babysitter,” Lulu said again.

“It’s not for you,” I said. “It’s for me. The fairies may retaliate. I don’t think Claudia has the hold on them that she used to, so you need to stay inside and stay put. Alexei will see to it, and that will make me feel better. Take a nap, get something to eat. Paint, mop the floor, run the stairs. But stay in the building. Please?” I added.

Lulu sighed, ran a hand through her bob of hair, but nodded. “Fine. But I would like some food.” She put a hand on her stomach. “Doing magic really makes you hungry.”

* * *

She’d be all right, I decided as they climbed into an Auto, and we climbed into the SUV.

“She’s still has some mad in her,” Connor said.

“Yeah,” I agreed. “I won’t judge her for having the magic. I’ll judge her for acting like an idiot, which is right and proper.” But we’d damn well talk about the magic. Oh, yes. Words would be had.

I rolled my shoulders, felt magic bubble out. And did not care for that sensation.

“Is she using?” Connor asked quietly.

Using dark magic, he meant. Tapping into the old and dangerous and deadly stuff that left scars on the sorcerer and the surroundings. “I don’t think so. I mean, she’s been a little off, but I think that’s because of the demons and her parents disappearing and all that jazz.” I ran hands through my hair, tugged a little. “I like to think we’re aware enough to have seen some sign, and I haven’t. God, I hope it’s not that. My schedule is full up on emotionally exhausting supernaturals.”

Connor’s screen buzzed. He pulled it out, checked it, and swore as he all but threw it into the center console. “Fucking assholes,” he growled.

“What’s happened?”

“Cade,” Connor said. “He’s announced vampires are to blame for the Apex’s disappearance.”