Duke nodded, though his whole body was shaking as he fought to keep his fingers locked together over his eyes. The troubles would find any possible crack to slip through.

“He can’t have them. He can’t.”

“Well!” A new voice said, booming cheerfully through the warehouse. “That’s disappointing.”

The gremlin man stood in the doorway, shaking his head. His fingertips glimmered as he rubbed them together, pulling at the aether in Duke.

“Though I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. Everything about this Crocker is a disappointment.”