Page 30 of Forty Deaths Till Us Part

Cass ran her tongue over an extended fang. “Why are you here?”

Rene crouched. “I asked him to come. There has been a contingency in place for hundreds of years. Constantine and the warriors are it. They will assume control of the clans until a leader they respect is put in power and ensure that none of the clan members go rogue during the reselection process. Their administration is temporary but necessary.”

Cass froze. “You will impose military law on the clans?”

Constantine looked her over slowly. “That is the human term for it, yes.”

“I’m nobody’s bitch, Constantine. Especially yours.”

Constantine arched an eyebrow. “I have never sought to be your... boss. The years have made you even more judgmental. I had hoped your time as Rene’s personal advisor would soften some of your prejudices.”

Cass continued to stir the elixir in the pot as I tramped down the nausea in my stomach. “Is it bubbling yet, Cass?” I asked.

“Just starting to, now.”

“Just another minute or two, then. How are you feeling, Rene? Can you push the antidote through your bloodstream? It has to get to all the affected tissue.”

Rene nodded, but there were distinct cracks in his ashen skin. “Constantine knows what to do to protect you both. You will stand by his side, Cassara. Promise me.”

Cassara’s eyes lowered, but I could see the stiffness in her neck as she nodded. “Of course.”

I moved to the pot and took over for Cassara. The thickness was like molasses and the exact consistency I needed, so I poured it into a mug from the counter with a picture of a kitten on it.

I passed the mug to Rene. “Drink it while it is warm. It will mix with your blood easier if it doesn’t cool.”

Rene gulped the liquid down and made a gagging noise. “That is vile.”

Cass put her hands on her hips. “Not as vile as death. Don’t be such a baby.”

Constantine grunted. “You have not changed a bit.”

She cocked her head toward him. “Did you honestly think I would?”

Constantine shrugged. “Not really, but I have always enjoyed a challenge.”

Rene held up his hand as the rigid limb started to change color. The process wasn’t instant, but his true skin color began to emerge in patches, and I assumed the same was happening all over his body.

Constantine stared at the transformation in wonder. “You did it.”

I grabbed the edge of the stove when my head began to spin.

Rene stood. “Raven, what is it?”

Cass grabbed the dart from the counter. “She was shot with this before she made the potion. Brigid has many more acolytes than the ones we already arrested.”

Rene took the dart from Cassara and smelled it. “Dark Dahlia, Belladonna, and turmeric. This is witch sickness personified. The Dark Dahlia ensures your vampire metabolism can’t fight back.”

Cass glanced at me. “Witch sickness? What is that?”

Constantine looked like a thundercloud on steroids, but it was nothing compared to the devastation on Rene’s face. The warrior rubbed his chin.

“Vampires were restricted from creating this poison after the accords. It has fallen out of disuse. Few even know this exists or how to make it.”

Cass grabbed my arm. “I thought you were going to purge it. Why are you still sick?”

“The combination is a death sentence. She may have been able to purge one of the poisons, but turmeric is a natural blood thinner and reduces the potency of her magic while the poisons kill her.”

Cass glanced between the men and me. I knew what she would ask and the answer. “Fix it.”