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“Mama!” I set the rest of the cookie down. “I was able to because Julian acted like a gentleman and warned me. He tried to send me home, but your wards stopped him from getting me inside.”

Mama flinched. “I’m sorry. It’s just hard knowing my daughter is in danger.”

“I am not offended.” Julian straightened his sleeves despite the state of his shirt, and I bit back a laugh. “I feared for your daughter as well.”

“If we can get past all of you fretting about my life, there are wards we need to read and some witchy stuff I need you two to help with so we can find the person who did this.”

Zoe rubbed her hands together. “I’m on the wards. I just need to go there in person. Hopefully, before anyone gets a chance to mess with them.”

“I shall escort you,” Julian offered.

“Not without me,” I said, standing. I wasn’t trusting either of them with Julian alone.

“Then I’ll have plenty of space to do some spellwork,” Mama said. “What’s the name of the man you think they’re linked to again?”

“Mordock,” I said with a shiver. “He’s the one who attacked my lab.”

“Then let’s roast his ass,” Mama said, holding up sparking fingers.

Before the three of us left for the mansion, Mama had already set up her own sort of laboratory on the table. She was tipping one of her spice bottles into a bubbling cauldron when we said goodbye, barely acknowledging us. I almost felt sorry for whoever we were looking for. Especially if it was someone Mordock turned just so he could control them.

“So you’re taking me to a nest of vampires?” Zoe said from the backseat, then raised a hand before I could snap at her. “I know, I know. It’s just so surreal. And no offense, Lieutenant, but you’re sure you can protect us while I work?”

“You will be perfectly safe. Charlotte has ensured that. Anyone else, I can handle.”

“I believe that,” Zoe said with a nod and leaned back in the seat.

Julian slid his hand over mine where I tapped nervously against my thigh and squeezed. He’d already lost much of the warmth from earlier, but that didn’t stop the fluttering in my stomach or the shock of anticipation between my legs when I thought of our time together.

When we pulled up the circular drive, the place felt…hollow. It had been all but abandoned. I couldn’t explain how I knew, but my psychic abilities had taught me to trust my gut instinct.

“There won’t be trouble,” I said as I hopped out of the car. “Everyone’s gone.”

Julian appeared at my side. I’d gotten used to him appearing as though out of thin air with a customary gust of wind.

“I’m not feeling the vampires,” I murmured, walking up the steps to the door and pausing, “I can’t. I think I’m reading the land. It feels like a sigh of relief when the last guest leaves after a long party, and you can finally relax.”

“So the land is introverted?” Zoe quipped as she joined us and set a palm against the door.

“Everyone needs some alone time now and then,” I said with a shrug. “What are you getting?”

Zoe ignored me, shutting her eyes and focusing on the heavy oak she pressed on. She tilted her head as a blue glow trickled up her fingers and over her hand until it shone so bright everything below her elbow was swallowed whole.

Then her eyes snapped open, and the light sunk back into the door.

“Everyone who came through these doors was expected. In both directions,” she announced.

“So, it was someone who belonged here,” I said, jutting out a hip to rest my hand on. “The question is then, who didn’t drink the champagne?”

“Do you think the bottle’s still there?” Zoe asked. “If so, Mama can find out who did, and we can use the process of elimination. I know everyone who came in and out.” She tapped her temple.

Julian zipped inside and was back before we could turn around. “They cleaned out the kitchen.” He pulled a half-drunk bottle of champagne from behind his back. “But they forgot about the one we actually drank from on the terrace.”

Clapping my hands, I grabbed the bottle and hugged it.

“You drank that too?” Zoe asked. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter. If that was just for you guys, it won’t help with anything.”

I shook my head. “Not true. Whatever the drug is, it didn’t affect me. I can take the rest of the bubbly to the lab to figure out what it was. That should give us some more clues.”