Grace started. “Garrett hasn’t bitten you yet?”
“Not like that.” Yet they’d engaged in sex several times. Was he still holding back? “I think he’s afraid to hurt me.”
Mercy rolled her eyes. “How insulting. Next time he treats you like you’re too fragile to take a bite, kick him in the nose. It works.”
Dessie found herself smiling with them. It was nice to be around people who understood—at least a little bit.
Emma hustled toward them with vials of blood on a tray. She took out a chair and sat while Faith hurried over to stand behind her. “Watch this,” Emma said. She poured three small vials of their blood into a round bowl.
Dessie leaned forward and just saw red. “I don’t get it.”
“Wait a sec. These vials are your blood—the three Keys.” Emma took the last vial and held it up. “This is Hope’s blood. She’s training right now, but the second Garrett texted me the news about her being the Lock, I sought her out for a quick draw.” She gently poured Hope’s blood into the bowl.
A bubble popped in the middle of the mass, and then widened, engulfing the whole. The liquid churned and spun, finally settling as if completely mixed.
“Wow,” Mercy whispered.
Emma nodded. “Exactly. We have samples of Kurjan and Cyst blood, and we’re going to test this mixture on it, as well as any other substance we can find.”
Faith rocked back on gorgeous brown boots. “We’re also going to make bullets filled with the mixture, dip blades into it, and figure out any other weapons that will work.”
Made sense.
Emma smiled. “We’re going to need more blood from everyone, so I want you to eat a healthy, protein-rich diet for the next week.”
Mercy groaned. “What is up with you and needles?”
Dessie’s arm already ached from the amount of blood she’d given earlier that day. Yet if this plan could stop Ulric, she’d eat all the protein in the Realm.
“Are we done for now?” Mercy asked. “I have training in an hour, and I’m ready to kick Logan’s butt. It’s been too long.”
Emma nodded. “Come back after lunch, if you don’t mind.” She stood and smiled at Dessie. “I’ll walk you back to your place. Could use some fresh air, and I might as well enjoy the warm autumn weather. Winter will be here soon enough.”
Dessie stood and walked to the door.
Emma paused. “Does everyone have a gown for the party tomorrow night? If not, I have plenty to share.”
“We shopped on the way,” Mercy said gleefully.
Dessie paused. “I guess I need a dress.”
Emma tucked her arm through Dessie’s and led her down the hallway to the main door. “I believe Garrett has you taken care of.” They walked arm in arm down the walkway, where fall flowers perked up as they passed. “It’s so cool how you do that. My sister has that gift as well.”
Garrett’s mom had that gift. Just like Dessie. The idea warmed her throughout as she glanced at the flowers. “I didn’t realize that was out of the ordinary until recently. It’s a nice gift to have flowers all around.” She breathed in their scents.
Guards patrolled in every direction, obviously on high alert since the Seven had arrived.
“So, I wanted to talk to you.” Emma’s tone was light, but she seemed anxious.
Dessie sighed. “I wondered if you had the results of my brain biopsy.” There had to be a reason Emma was telling her alone.
“I do. It took me all night to identify an unknown substance I found in the tumor. I triple-checked it.” Emma slipped on a couple of leaves, and Dessie pulled her tighter against her, holding her up. “Thanks.”
“What’s the substance?” What if it was some sort of carcinogen ready to stimulate new cancer cells in her head?
Emma swallowed. “The substance has markers of Cyst blood. It’s close but not completely the same.”
Dessie’s throat nearly closed. Her mind rapidly clicked facts into place. Logic had to rule here. “In other words, Cyst blood with environmental factors found in, say, the Cyst of a thousand years ago?” She couldn’t believe this.
