Which, of course, meant something wasverywrong, and we had to figure out what the threat was before it became a big problem. Honestly, it felt like we moved as a squad more than ever before.
Drecken teleported in front of the academy steps as we walked out of the Apex Nexus.
“Great, you’re done,” he said in one breath, blinked at my squadmates, then took my elbow. “Come with me.”
“Hello to you, too,” I managed to say before he teleported us both away from campus and into a laboratory.
The lab was nestled in a basement that was inside a circular tower-like room, walled in glass that showed soil packed aroundus. There were runes everywhere, with shelves packed with vials, bones, and tomes.
“Warn a woman before teleporting her,” I muttered, catching my balance as he let go of me. “Where are we?”
“My lab in Cursinia.” Drecken was already across the room, muttering to himself as he flipped through a rack of potion bottles. “There’s something special about you.”
“Uh…huh?”
Did he just say there was something special about me? What did that mean?
“Hold on.” He plucked a violet vial that glowed from the inside like someone had trapped a fallen star. “Reserve-fill potion. Instant magical capacity restoration. Very standard potion.” He tossed it in the air before it began floating, then pointed at me. The potion hovered over to me and stayed right in front of my face. “Drink. Then—” he pointed at my hand. “—excrete.”
I plucked the vial out of the air and popped the top off. “You want to see if I can exude potions the way I exude venom?”
“Yes,please. I’ve been thinking about this since learning the extent of your special power.” His blue eyes sparkled with raw excitement.
How had I never thought to excrete a regular potion before?
I’d excreted my mom’s venom before for fun, but I hadn’t realized I could excrete helpful potions. It was a major game-changer.
“That’s actually a great idea!” I tossed the vial back. It was tart and electric, like biting a lemon. Warmth surged through me, filling the empty spaces of my reserves.
“Now,” he urged me, coming close and holding his hand out. “Leak away.”
I smiled and coaxed the effects of the potion to the surface of my hand the same way I usually did. Heat prickled in my palm. Ipressed my hand against his as a faint violet film formed where I excreted it.
Drecken gave me a maniacal laugh. “Yes! Let’s try another.”
We tried more and more. He gave me potions, and I leaked them and gave the effects to him through my venom.
“Heart rate,” he mumbled, more to himself, and tapped his ear. “Yours is elevated.”
“So is yours.”
His hands stilled on the next potion, and for the first time since I’d known him, he looked…unsure.
I wasn’t sure what that meant.
“The diplomatic envoy,” he said abruptly, turning to face me. “They brought a report to the council. Humans—some lower, unknown faction—are capturing supernaturals. Using their DNA to find a way to inject it into human bodies.”
I went cold, then hot. “They want to give themselves magic?”
“Yeah,” he snorted. “But they have no connection to the Fates, so whatever they manage to do won’t be good. They’re experimenting with grafted bloodlines.” He paused, tilting his head. “Also, you smell like a combination of Zuko Vyre and Slater Havoc.”
I blinked at him. “Excuse me?”
“Not literally.” He squinted his eyes. “Magic-trace. I’m referring to the way magical energies pair. It’s similar to your aura.” He tilted his head. “Sex?”
“You can sense that?” My cheeks heated.
He looked at the vials of potions for a moment, then at me, then back at the vials. “When I pay attention.”
