“I don’t feel right,” I rasped, starting to shiver. “Something’s wrong.”

“He took your luck,” Dullahan said. “That vial he’s got…It was some heinous thing made by a dead warlock. It siphons a person’s powers. A powerful and cruel tool if wielded properly. There are only a few in existence and the Council keeps them tightly guarded under lock and key. I don’t know if the Council gave it to him or if he somehow stole one from their vaults.”

“It’s gone?” I asked. There was a sour taste in my mouth and a weight on my chest.

“Not forever, love. We’ll get it back,” Dullahan told me softly, pulling me up his chest further until his lips pressed into my forehead. I gripped his shirt with shaky fingers, trying to feel anything other than despair and dread.

“What did you mean back there?” Puca asked him, his sharp eyes assessing his every move.

“What?”

“You told him he had no idea what he’d done,” Puca said. Dullahan didn’t answer. “You know something,” Puca accused.

“I don’t,” Dullahan said.

“You fucking do. What do you know about Lacey that you aren’t telling me!” He boomed, suddenly enraged in the small elevator. His presence seemed to swell with his anger, his dark shadow bleeding into the corners and crawling up the walls. Dullahan shook his head, refusing to answer.

“Fuck you,” Puca snarled. The doors opened and he turned into a bird, sweeping out of the space. Dullahan took me to my room and laid me in bed.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m so sorry, Lacey.” He went to his knees beside the bed and cradled my face as I drifted to sleep in exhaustion.

26

“Lacey,” my incubus whispered.

“Lorcan?” I asked. Everything was dark. The dream wasn’t fully formed.

“It’s almost time, Lacey.”

“Something’s wrong,” I murmured, rubbing my chest and grimacing.

“Come to me, Lacey.”

“I can’t see anything.” I turned around in the darkness, trying to make out anything.

“Wake up,” he growled.

“Lacey.” My eyes popped open. Puca was in bed beside me. Dullahan was asleep while kneeling next to the bed, his hand twisted with mine. Puca brushed the hair from my face. I felt groggy, my eyes trying to flutter closed again.

“I’m tired,” I sighed, turning my head away from him.

“Lacey, please. You’ve slept nearly twenty-four hours.”

“What?” I asked, popping my eyes back open. I cleared my throat and grimaced. “Ugh,” I said, reaching up and whipping my eyes. My throat felt dry.

“Am I sick?” I asked.

“Afraid not. You’re just…normal.”

“Fuck me,” I groaned, sitting up and reaching for the glass on the table. I bumped it and it fell over. All the water spilled onto Dullahan who jerked awake with a start. My eyes widened.

“I…I don’t know what just happened.” Puca grabbed my hand and pulled it to him, kissing each knuckle.