Ispentthe rest of the morning buying college supplies and paint cans and brushes for the house. The only thing I ended up not buying was a laptop. I needed one, and technically, I could afford one, but the money on my account didn’t feel like my own. Since August wasn’t going to take it back, I’d decided to go speak with Nelson and Isobel about it. I was sort of dreading the conversation, especially if they didn’t know about their son’s generousdonation.
After stopping by The Silver Bowl to check up on Evelyn, whose cheeks were high in color from the heat of all the simmering pots around her and the excitement of her new job, I went home fed and relaxed, ready for Greg toarrive.
He got to my place around four, a cooler swinging from his fingers. “Sorry I’m late. I went to check onIsobel.”
My blood turned to ice. “Why? Is she—Is the cancerback?”
“The cancer’s gone.” Greg smiled. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to worryyou.”
I nodded and watched as he set a syringe, a vial filled with clear liquid, and some gauze on the kitchentable.
Concern deepened the wrinkles bracketing his eyes and mouth. “Are you sure you want to dothis?”
“Someone hasto.”
“But does that someone have to beyou?”
I frowned. “There’s no chance of it killing me, isthere?”
He took a seat and scooted closer to the table. “No,but. . .”
Fear tiptoed into my veins and navel as I sat down beside him. “Butwhat?”
“But I’ve never administered such a high dose, so I can’t even tell you what the side effects might be. Besides not shifting, thatis.”
“How long will it block mywolf?”
“From my calculations, if all goes well, you should be back in fur before the next fullmoon.”
Considering we had to fight Cassandra then, that wasgood.
I licked my chapped lips. “And if alldoesn’tgowell?”
“The Sillin could stay in your systemlonger.”
“Like another month?” I couldn’t be Liam’s Second if that happened . . . Someone else would have to be. Could another Boulder take my place? Were we allowed to switch Seconds? PerhapsLucas—
“It could affect your magic forever,” Greg said in such a low voice I almost missed hiswords.
“You mean, turn me into ahalfwolf?”
Henodded.
“I thought that could only happen after prolongeduse?”
Greg twirled the vial, squinting at the liquid sloshing inside as though seeking an answer within its clear depths. “I don’t know. I’ve never administered so much Sillin.” He fisted the vial before placing it carefully back on the table. “Your parents would be so angry with me rightnow.”
I was certain they’d be mad at a whole bunch of people if they’d been alive, the first one being me, but they weren’t here. Besides, if it meant saving Liam’s life, I’d endure being ahalfwolffor awhile.
“I’m surprised Jeb’s letting you do this,” Gregadded.
“Jeb doesn’t know, and I’d like it to stay that way. He’s got plenty enough to worryabout.”
Greg studied me for a beat. “Any way I can talk you out ofthis?”
I shook my head. “We need tounderstand.”
“But why you? Why don’t I call the River medic and see if his pack can test itout—”
