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I tried to twist my head away, but some of the liquid spilled on my tongue. I tasted floral notes that were laced with a heavy dose of something stronger—maybe belladonna, maybe just sedatives for fun. My mouth tingled as she set the cup aside.

“Really going all out, aren’t you?” I said, glad my speech was coming back. “If this is the bachelorette party, I can’t wait for the honeymoon.”

Scratch that. I did not want to think about that.

She grinned, showing sharp, perfect teeth. “You’ll enjoy it. Linden is very attentive. Once the memory work is done, you’ll hardly remember your previous… attachments.” Her eyes sparkled, and she sat on the edge of the bed, smoothing outa non-existent wrinkle in the coverlet. “The Licorne family is delighted by this union. Your child will be the jewel of our family.”

I glared at her. “What do you mean?”

“Once I reprogram you, you will think Silver and I are your family.”

So gross.

I tried to flex my magic. I focused on my fingertips, willing them to produce even a flicker of rose-gold sparks. At first, nothing. Then, a faint warmth, a shimmer of color—just enough for me to know my power was still in there somewhere, even if it was locked away under a few layers of hostile magic.

“Don’t bother,” Oonagh said, patting my knee. “This suite has held everything from vampire lords to demons. Your brand of girl power won’t crack it.”

“Worth a try,” I said, managing something between a smirk and a sneer.

The door opened again. Linden breezed in, all cologne and swagger. He shot Oonagh a grateful look, then loomed over me, hands in the deep, billowing sleeves of his robe.

“I hope my bride is feeling better.” He tilted his head, surveying me. “You’ve looked better, but we’ll get you fixed up before the ceremony.”

Seriously, he was criticizing me when he was wandering around looking like Shrek’s less attractive brother in one of Hugh Hefner’s smoking jackets. I really wanted to hurt this idiot—and I considered myself pretty nonviolent.

I scanned the room for weapons again. There was a heavy crystal perfume bottle on the nightstand, a book and a unicorn statue. That horn might hurt if I could get my hands on it.

“I’m not marrying you,” I croaked.

“I don’t think you are in any position to argue,” Linden pointed out.

Pretty valid at the moment, but it wasn’t going to stop me. If I could buy some time, I was feeling more confident that I could get my magic to work. It had to. “And what did you do to Jocko?”

Linden waved a hand. “Your familiar is fine. A little shaken, maybe, but he’ll get over it. As for you…Oonagh is prepping for the wedding as we speak.”

“My husband is going to kill you,” I said again, with more bravado than I feel.

“Your husband won’t find you,” Oonagh said with a sweet smile. “He’s about to be very busy fighting a war.”

“A war?” I managed to lift my head.

Both Oonagh and Linden nodded, pleased with themselves.

So, I did the only thing I could at that moment, I feigned passing out.

Chapter Nine

Laying totally motionless and listening to Oonagh and Linden discuss the wedding and their evil genius was nearly impossible. But I managed it, and if I could do that then I should easily be able to get control of my magic.

Finally, they left the room, and I struggled upright on the bed. My body was coming back under my control. Slowly, but surely.

I flung my legs over the edge of the bed and carefully stood. My toes and feet tingled, but it wasn’t too bad. I shuffled around the room, looking for Jocko and also a way to escape.

Finding my familiar proved to be much easier than finding an escape route. Jocko was in the en suite bathroom, still floating unconscious in his bowl. I poked him a few times, and eventually his beady eye blinked open.

“Merde, where am I?” he asked after a few more blinks and a burp.

“We’re at Oonagh and Silver’s.”