The way he tousled his curls reminded Delphine of how she’d sunk her own fingers into his hair last night in the throes of passion. She ignored the heat coiling through her belly and concentrated on the matter at hand.

“So it’s true?” Yuliy said in a troubled voice.

Vlad met his uncle’s gaze.

“Yes. Tarang and I can’t use our powers. I’ve been cut off from my incubus energy too.”

Yuliy curled his hands into fists. “But—how?!”

Vlad hesitated. “Cortes and I sensed a strange kind of magic during the fight. We’re pretty certain that’s what did it.”

Delphine furrowed her brow. “But it didn’t affect Cortes or his familiar?”

“Correct,” Vlad said bitterly.

She filed that fact away for future analysis.

A muscle jumped in Yuliy’s jawline.

“Have you spoken to Mae?” His tone turned harsh. “What about the New York coven?!”

Delphine’s ears perked up.Mae?

Vlad’s face grew pinched. “I can’t just run off to the Witch Queen whenever I have a problem. Besides, Cortes and I are pursuing our own line of inquiry.”

Yuliy lowered his brows. “This isn’t some kind of game, Vlad. Mae Jin is probably the only one who can help you regain your powers.” His expression darkened. “Don’t tell me you’re refusing to seek her help because you still have feelings for her?”

An icy feeling slithered down Delphine’s spine at that.

The silence that fell inside the study could have been cut with a knife.

A thunderous look clouded Vlad’s face.

“My…feelingsfor Mae have nothing to do with this!” he spat out. “And I’m over her.”

“Are you sure?” Yuliy retorted bitterly. “Then why have you been celibate since your war with the Sorcerer King ended?”

Delphine’s pulse quickened, the chill in her veins dissipating. She did her best to maintain an impassive expression as she stole a covert glance at Vlad.

Does that mean I’m the first woman he’s hooked up with in a while?

“Are you keeping track of my junk, old man?” Vlad growled at his uncle. “Who says I haven’t been sleeping around?!”

“Oh, please!” Yuliy scoffed. “Milo would have tattled to our men.”

Vlad swore. “I’m going to shoot that guy once he’s all better,” he said savagely. “And FYI, I haven’t been celibate. I hooked up with someone last night.”

Lena almost dropped the teapot. Gustav sucked in air.

Yuliy squinted, like he didn’t believe one word of his nephew’s claim.

Wariness knotted Delphine’s shoulders at the defiant light that dawned in Vlad’s eyes.

Please tell me this guy isn’t about to?—

“I slept with her.” Vlad pointed squarely at her.

Tarang made a smug sound, his tail swinging lazily.