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“Thank you, Darling.”

I flinched at his play on her name, Darlene. I really didn’t want to think about that too closely right now.

“I came as soon as I got your message,” Binx said, striding into the room and awakening my sex drive at exactly the wrong time.

I stood again, and excused myself while they filled him in. I needed space, so I went to my room, locked the door and the wards, then chased down my playful bathtub so I could take a good long soak.

* * *

By Monday morning, I was more than ready to beat something up, so I came to training with Daphne with enthusiasm. And after disarming her for half an hour, I asked if I could learn an offensive move for once. With a pat on my back, she took me down to the floor so fast I barely had time to blink.

“Like that?” she asked, straddling my hips.

“Yeah,” I agreed.

She helped me to my feet and proceeded to teach me to flip an opponent and how to use the heel of my palm to drive an assailant’s bones into their brain by striking their nose. I managed to kill two dummies in the process and felt pretty damn good about it.

“You holding up okay?” she asked as I drank my magic water that would restore my physical energy. I’d told her about Julian leaving and that Binx was now included in the too-large group of people keeping Em’s existence a secret while trying to figure out where the other children had been moved.

“I don’t know, honestly. But when I catch Julian, I’m going to drag his ass back here and use this training on him. Any idea where he might have gone?”

Daphne tapped her chin in thought. “Probably undercover with MorningStar, if I had to guess. He could do that indefinitely without raising suspicion.”

And that would almost guarantee I should stay away from him since that government program was after me and my psychic abilities and had attempted to kidnap me once already. Lovely.

“Don’t worry,” Daphne said as she walked me to the waterfall showers she’d willed into existence in the basement. “I know men, and that one can’t stay away from you for long.”

“That doesn’t mean I’ll take him back after the stunt he pulled,” I said, crushing the empty water bottle in my hand.

“That’s entirely up to you. I’d say he’s at your mercy.” Daphne blew me a kiss and sauntered off into the hanging foliage to let me get ready for my morning.

The elevator surprised me when it opened into Dr. Orpheus’s office. But instead of the evil doctor sitting at the desk, it was Tittwell, the creepy little imp assistant to the general. I hesitated before exiting the lift.

“Ah! Dr. Devaux, please come into Tittwell’s new office.”

That got me moving forward. “Your office?”

The bug-eyed, wrinkly creature spun in the seat, letting his tail whip behind him. “Yes! Tittwell has been waiting for a promotion. Silly Dr. Orpheus went and ran an illegal experimentation lab and got himself in the brig. But Dr. Devaux knew that. She helped uncover it. Tittwell read the file.”

“How are you qualified to take over?” I asked, leaning across the desk and wondering if the general genuinely knew his imp was up here.

“Tittwell is a doctor. Doesn’t the good doctor remember how Tittwell assisted in the lab? No. She didn’t give Tittwell much of a chance.” He shook his head sadly. “Didn’t ask for Tittwell’s qualifications. But Tittwell is a medical doctor.” He pointed to the left and I gaped.

Framed on the wall was a certified degree in Supernatural Medicine from a college titled Fae University of Magical Sciences. I straightened and crossed my arms.

“Why am I here?” I asked.

“You have an appointment.”

“Had an appointment with the man in the brig. I’m not submitting to any more tests.”

Titwell stopped spinning and hopped up on top of the desk. It took everything I had not to jerk back.

“Titwell does not expect the doctor to do so. Titwell simply wants to check on your wellbeing.”

“I see. I’m fine, thank you. Now I need to get to work.” I turned toward the waiting elevator but stopped short at his next words.

“Tittwell was hoping you’d help with the research. If the good doctor helps, then it’s on the up-and-up. No brig for Tittwell.”