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“Of course.” His face falls slightly, but he recovers quickly. “The samples from the infected shifters are in the cold storage. We’ve documented all the symptoms and progression patterns.”

I nod, scanning the lab. “My assistant will be arriving tomorrow. I’ll need him to have full access.”

“Assistant?” Jerry looks surprised.

“His name is Mathew. He’s been invaluable at GenTherapeutics.” I spread my notes in front of me. “He doesn’t know what we’re really working on, but I need him here.”

Jerry shifts uncomfortably. “Does Griffin know about this assistant?”

A bitter laugh escapes me. “I don’t care if Griffin knows or not. I need Mathew to do this work properly, and I’m not negotiating on that point.”

“I understand.” He hesitates again, then says softly, “Maya, I’m so sorry about your mother. We all are. It was a terrible tragedy.”

Something cold and hard settles in my chest. “Yes. It was.”

“Griffin reopened the investigation, you know. When he returned from his meeting with you. He decided he wasn’t satisfied with the initial findings.”

This catches me off guard. “What do you mean?”

“He didn’t believe it was an accident.” Jerry’s eyes are gentle, sympathetic. “He has been quite thorough, interviewing everyone who was in the palace that night.”

I turn away, busying myself with unpacking equipment. “A bit late for that, isn’t it? My mother’s still dead.”

“Maya—”

“I’m not interested in Griffin’s performance of concern, Jerry.” My voice comes out sharper than I intended. “If he cared so much, he would have come back when he got the message about the fire. Or at least sent someone.”

“He claims he never received any message.”

I slam a beaker down harder than necessary. “And you believe him?”

“I was with him, Maya,” Jerry says quietly. “And we weren’t that far from the palace. If we had received any such message, we would have returned immediately. But we received none. The communication channel was open.”

I look away, refusing to let the crack in my shield show.

“He hasn’t been the same since you left. None of us have been.”

“I’m not the same, either.” I finally meet his gaze, letting him see the emptiness I know is visible in my eyes. “The Maya you knew is gone. I’m just here to finish my work, create the second antidote, and then I’m leaving again.”

Jerry looks like he wants to say more, but the determination in my tone is probably what stops him. He nods slowly. “What do you need from me to get started?”

“I need to see the most severe cases first. Who is closest to complete separation?”

“A young palace guard,” he says, watching me carefully. “He can barely feel his wolf anymore.”

“Fine. Get me his blood samples. Today, I’ll want to analyze them as well as get Mathew’s workspace prepared.”

“I’ll help however I can.” Jerry moves to the storage unit and takes out several vials. “These samples are labeled by stage of progression. The red markers indicate rapid deterioration.”

We work in silence for a while, falling into a rhythm that feels both familiar and strange. I can feel his concerned glances but ignore them, losing myself in the work. It’s the only place I find any peace anymore—in the cold, logical world of science, where emotions have no place.

Hours pass before the door to the laboratory opens again. I don’t look up, assuming it’s one of the lab assistants.

“Dr. Sorin.” Erik’s voice is surprisingly gentle. “Welcome back.”

His voice makes my muscles tense up. I carefully set down the pipette I’m holding before I crush it. “Erik.”

“How are you settling in?” He stays by the door, giving me space. Jerry exchanges a look with him and slips out of the room.