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Fang dropped off a huge bottle for the whole table, nodding at us to share.

Guess my 600 yen came with a few perks.

“Suppose there is no pretending why we’re all here.” Kaptain poured us all a portion and lifted his cup.“Egészségére!” Cheersin Hungarian.

Kat and I lifted our glasses.

“May the best man orwomanwin.” He winked at Kat, sipping back his alcohol, his gaze coming back to us.

“Win?” Kat asked.

“I’m figuring you two were after what everyone else here is going after.” Kaptain motioned around before turning back to us, studying us. “Maybe we can help each other out.”

“And what would we be helping each other with?” A knot formed in the back of my throat.

The man sat back, his lids narrowing like he was trying to figure out whether I was messing with him.

“Probably the biggest find this world will ever know.”

Kat’s hand squeezed my knee under the table, both of us having the same thought.

Did they know about the nectar?

There was no way I was playing my cards and saying it out loud until he did.

“And what is this find?”

“Come on, you guys can’t be that clueless.” The man laughed like we were idiots, digging in his pack and tossing a newspaper on the table.

“This.” His finger stabbed into the print. “Is why everyone in this room is here. Heading inland.”

Acid burned down my esophagus as I picked up the paper, Kat leaning in to read.

Dr. Novikov Goes Missing After He Is Said to Have Found the Nectar of The Gods.

Dr. Novikov, a well-known scientist and partner of Dr. Rapava, has disappeared in China after claims of finding the fae nectar, which is said to give humans fae qualities. This nectar is reported to make humans stronger and faster and end disease, sickness, and aging. For a long time, the idea of fae food was considered a myth, which died when the barrier between the Otherworld and Earth fell. But before his disappearance, Dr. Novikov claimed he had found the last known object to give humans eternal life, along with strength and power similar to a fae’s.

The last reports of him were in Shanghai, rumored to be heading east. Some have claimed to have spotted him near Wuhan and Enshi City…

The article went on, but I read all I needed to. 6

“When was this printed?”

“Printed first in Georgia a week ago, then in Czech and Hungary a few days later. It won’t be long until word spreads throughout the world.”

Holy. Fuck.

The nectar was no longer a secret. This reporter may have published the story of his life, but he didn’t realize what it did. My gaze went up, looking at the packed room differently, noticing most were European-looking, not from around here. Everyone was now an enemy, a potential competitor, getting between me and saving my family.

This would be worse than any gold rush because gold could be found in many places, making many rich.

Only one could win this prize.

A cold-blooded game of kill or be killed, where the last person standing took all.

Chapter 22

Katrina