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“Well, I’ll be damned,” Lucian whispered as I ran my hand through the thick, soft fur.

The purr deepened, warming me like nothing else ever had.

Seconds ago, I thought I was going to cry or throw up, on the verge of a panic attack. Now I could almost smile.

“Cats always like Kley,” Gideon grumbled.

Cats absolutely did not like him. I didn’t know if it was because he had an energy so close to a labrador or because he was desperate for their attention.

“Zazel isn’t a cat, he’s a demon,” Lucian said. “And I mean that literally. He snuck out of a low circle of hell one day when I was a bit sloppy with my summoning circle, and refused to go back.”

I caught the eye of the creature leaning into my touch—bright red.

He definitely very much was a cat, though.

“Clever boy,” I cooed. “You wanted Lucian as your minion, didn’t you? And I bet this castle has epic mice to chase.”

Lucian snorted. “I beg your pardon. My house doesnothave mice.”

“Not with Zazel on watch, it wouldn’t,” I replied reasonably.

It was official: I no longer was on the verge of falling apart. The demon cat had very purposely stood between in the way of the major freakout I would have fallen into.

That meant we had to return to the unpleasant subject at hand. I needed answers—and Lucian apparently had them.

“That ritual. Is there a way to stop it?”

“In all likelihood.” I couldn’t tell if Lucian was saying that to reassure me or because he believed it. “You already did it. Salt cut the connection,” he reminded me. “But as for reverting what’s already started, all I can think of are temporary fixes. What we truly need is for whoever is behind this to stop strengthening the connection by carving up more victims and let it expire naturally. Unless you have a solid lead, the likelihood of the person trying again at the next full moon—at the same time—is high.”

“The full moon is on Samhain, right?” Gideon cursed. “Would that make a spell more potent?”

“Potentially,” Lucian replied. “I don’t know enough to be certain of anything at this stage, but it’s likely. There’s plenty of ancient magic at work this time of the year. At least, we’re not dealing with the Dionysia’s fertility spells on top of it all.”

“It’s too fucking soon, either way,” Gideon said. “We need more time to prepare. And there’s a damn official party too that night. You have to stay home, Kley. I’ll guard you.”

“I can’t,” I croaked, focusing on the rhythmic purring and on the warmth of my little furry savior. “Youcan’t.”

Zazel pushed his head into my palm and I scratched his chin.

Right. Breathe.

“If I miss something like Samhain, my mother will need a reason. You know how she gets. And you know how she’ll react to all this,” I told my cousin. To Lucian, I said, “Mother’s controlling. If I say someone’s trying to enslave me, she’ll jump on the excuse as a clear reason why I should bind myself to the first guy on her approved list of suitors in order to avoid it. If my soul’s already bound, no one else can claim it, right?” I snorted. “Never mind it would be for the rest of my damn life.”

“Ah,” was his only response.

At least, he wasn’t telling me to promptly go get hitched to a perfectly tedious boy handpicked by my mother.

“Anyway,” I added, “staying homewouldn’thelp. I was in my room the first time, wasn’t I?”

“Yes, well, I do have one or two suggestions for your current predicament,” Lucian casually tossed.

“You do?”

It occurred to me that he had completely taken control of the situation. And—I was relieved? Usually, I liked to be the one in charge. Or I thought I did. In truth, between Gideon and Silver, I was the one whohadto think, most of the time. Thinking hadn’t gotten me anywhere on this. I was so, so grateful someone knew what to do, because I didn’t have a damn clue.

“I take it you usually attend the revel at the Hall of Truce?”

I nodded, unsurprised he wasn’t certain, though I’d been there every year since I was twelve. Just because I noticed him each time didn’t mean he knew when I was in the same room. Particularly a room as large as the ballroom where all revels take place, right off the inner garden of the Hall.