“It’s like a recipe book,” I said.

Lulu nodded eagerly. “Kind of like that, yeah. Some cookies have white sugar. Some have brown sugar. You change the ingredient and the amount depending on the cookie you’re trying to make. I think, if I keep looking at her attributes, we can figure out the magic we need to seal her again.”

“And how are things at the Pack?” I asked, glancing between Connor and Alexei.

Alexei looked at Connor. Connor just growled.

“Uncles or interlopers?”

“Both,” they said simultaneously.

“Uncles still have no opinion,” Connor said, “and Cade threw a party in a bar downtown. Got half the Pack members in Chicago good and drunk.”

“You mean more to them than booze,” Lulu said, turning a page of her book. “But they aren’t going to turn down free drinks.”

Connor grunted, ran a hand through his hair. “Word is spreading. Other NAC members are coming into town because they think they’ll get to witness a challenge. Other Packs are calling because there’s business that needs to be done, and they need to know who’s going to do it.”

“What do you want to do?”

He looked at me. “What?”

“If you had to make a decision today, what do you want to do?”

He blinked. “I’d accept the challenge and send Cade running back to Memphis, tail between his legs. And that would put Dad in a hell of a spot.”

“Sometimes it’s okay not to decide.” We all looked at Lulu, who lifted a shoulder. “I’m just saying. Running out the clock is a tried and true strategy.”

“Smart girl,” Alexei said, but Connor made no comment.

I rose, intending to head back to the office, but Connor met me before I reached the front door.

“Do me a favor,” he said, taking my hand. He still wore boots, and I was in socked feet, which made him even taller than usual.

“Okay,” I said, looking up at him. “What?”

He smiled. “Work here for the rest of the night.”

I frowned at him. “Why?”

“Because she’s going to be pissed, which makes the world a dangerous place. Have the team come over here if you want. But I’ll feel better if you’re here.” He kissed me softly, just a brushing of lips. “If you’re safe.”

I made a show of sighing haggardly, even though I was fine with working in comfy pants and thick socks for the rest of the night. “Fine,” I said. “But I want food.”

* * *

I got Roger’s okay to work remotely, a pepperoni pie and accompanying pan of brownies, and Theo’s and Petra’s declinations. They opted to stay at the office, as they thought they’d concentrate better in that environment.

By the time dawn was close, the dinner table was littered with blood and soda bottles, empty pizza boxes, and discarded crusts.

We ate while we worked. Lulu and Alexei searched her books, made notes, discussed quietly. I searched websites, news clips, anything that might show me a clear image of Rose’s hand flick. Connor was a gamer and knew more about the underground web than me, so he searched those portals.