ChapterNine
“We’ll have to make sure you’re dosed once a day as close to the same time as possible.”
Isaiah sat on the picnic bench across from Nash.
“Will this make me sick?” Nash said.
“I don’t know.” Isaiah drew up the opaque liquid. Thicker than water and an almost metallic gold hue. The same color as his wolf.
“I thought you’d done this before?” Luca said.
“No, but Cassie has seen it done, and she explained the process.”
“You’re going on secondhand information?”
Isaiah hated how Luca looked at him with so much anger and fear. “Yes, Cana. I’m sorry.”
“How many times did it work?”
“Supposedly multiple times, but she could only confirm the one she witnessed.”
Luca sat back. “One time?” He shook his head. “No. No, we’re not doing this. You lied.”
“I didn’t lie.”
“Omission is still lying.” Luca stood, but Nox grabbed his hand.
“Sit, Luca.”
“You can’t be serious?”
“Please.”
“He’s going to inject you with something he doesn’t even know will work. Something someone else has seen workonce. You’ve got to be kidding.”
Nash held Isaiah’s gaze but spoke to Luca. “You said the Rakta worked once with a Mah. Who else did it work on?”
“Zayatu, black dogs, curs. They’re made from the bite of a Sarvari inflicted on humans. If they survive, they change. Those who change don’t come back.”
“But these did?” Nash said.
“Yes. But the serum was delivered before the bite overtook them.”
“Nox…” Luca pulled and Nash tugged him back into the seat. “This could kill you.”
“And the Anubis could kill you.” He looked at Luca with so much pain, Isaiah couldn’t watch.
“Just because he says…” Luca barely spoke above a whisper.
“Shhh…” Nash sighed. “He’s right.”
“No.”
“Yes. Every day the Anubis takes a little more of me. Eventually, it will be the only thing left. Do you understand?”
“I won’t let it. I swear. I won’t.”
“And I don’t think you can stop it.”