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I wouldn’t say I pouted, but it was close. “Why not?”

“Because necromancy is a syphoning ability. I take life stored into me, and transfer it to an empty husk. Animating a body’s easy—recovering a mind and soul takes a lot more out of me—if it’s possible at all. They’re not buried or consecrated yet, which will help. But the thing inside me that gives me this ability will very much attempt to take energy from anywhere except within. I need to be alone.”

It sounded equal parts terrifying and dangerous. “Won’t it hurt you? Taking it from yourself, rather than outside.”

Lucian didn’t reply, which was an answer in itself.

“Don’t do it,” I said.

That made him smile. “I don’t believe that’s your call, love.”

“It’s about me—finding out who’s cursing me. Itshouldbe my call.”

“There are three women capable of dictating what I do: the first pushed me out of her vagina, the second pushed my father out of hers, and the third doesn’t exist as I’m not yet married.”

Infuriating man.

“I’ll be fine,” he assured me. “I’ll take some energy from the pool before I leave.”

I made myself nod. He wasn’t going to risk his life; it wasn’t his style.

Then, there was another thing to discuss. “About last night.” My cheek flushed. “Even if it wasn’t my fault I was drugged, I have to apologize.”

I didn’t think I’d ever seen a grin such as the one he flashed next, positively wicked. “What exactly are you sorry about?” He tilted his head. “Spell it out, Valesco. You owe me as much.”

I gulped guiltily. “For…asking for that. For making you watch me touch myself. For being…” I thought for a moment, trying to word it right. “Inappropriate and unfair.”

Demanding his cock in my mouth. And then riding him, when he’d only agreed to one concession.

Fuck, I’dassaultedhim.

He rolled his eyes. “No one gives a shite, Kleos.”

“I assaulted you!” I protested. “Forced myself on you.”

“Hardly. There was one person capable of consent and that wasn’t you. If you insist on wasting your saliva, you’re going to apologize for the real offense: giving me blue balls.” His eyes darkened. “Do you know how many times I had to wank after your little game? It’s a miracle my cock didn’t fall off.”

A chuckle escaped me. I forcibly covered my mouth with my hand. “Sorry! Sorry,sorry.” I was apologizing for the laugh more than anything else, but how could I help it, given what he just said? “I’ll bake cookies.”

He shot me a disgusted look. “That wouldn’t evenbeginto make up for it.”

“What would? Cupcakes?”

He snorted. “Let me see. Stay still for an hour. Let me tease thefuckout of you and know, without a doubt, that youcan’ttouch me, and you can’t, under any circumstances, get off. That would be a start.”

Oh.

My thighs tightened, tendrils of heat travelling between my legs.

“Don’t fret,” he said with a dismissive wave of his hand, leaning back. “I’m not going to edge you because you feel bad about being a little tease whiledrugged. It truly isn’t your fault.”

My throat dry, I swallowed.

Lucian and I had a very good thing going until now, and fucking with it was stupid. He was helping me. We got along.

But the silver melting in his eyes when he told me he wanked because of me, because of what I did to him? That made me a little crazy. A littlewild. I could imagine him with his cock in hand, grunting, all the while picturing me grinding against him.

God, was there any lingering effects from the lust spell?