I nodded, but then the formula I bought stirred up an idea. “Have you tried crushing the Sillin and mixing it with water?”
“We have.”
“And injecting it intravenously?”
“That’s what killed the first victim.”
I chewed on the inside of my cheek. “So, they’re stuck in limbo?”
Until we can figure something out.
My lashes slammed up. “How about Lori’s blood? It contains traces of Sillin. Maybe they’d be able to absorb that.”
“You mean, make them drink it?” Lucas strolled over and crouched to peer into the cage of the brown halfwolf, who tipped her elongated neck and growled. “I don’t hate Nikki’s idea.”
I wrinkled my nose. “I was thinking more along the lines of an injection.”
“They have a fondness for blood. We got them raw steaks the other day. They lapped all the blood but didn’t eat the meat.” Avery sounded suddenly interested in the conversation.
I swallowed, feeling slightly queasy. “We’re talking about human blood, not animal blood.”
“Blood is blood to an animal,” Lucas drawled.
I raised my gaze to my brothers. Where Niall was bobbing his head, Nate had gone as pale as a laundered sheet. “Nate? Are you okay?”
Liam hooked a look over his shoulder at my brother.
“Good thinking.” Nate rubbed the stubble on his chin, which had thickened into a short beard. “To Lori’s.”
I imagined this was in answer to a question we hadn’t heard.
“Lucas”—Liam nodded toward Nate—“go assist Nate.”
One of my brother’s eyes twitched. “Lori doesn’t like OBs, Liam, so with all due respect, we have better odds of her cooperating if I go alone.”
Lori didn’t like many people, Original Boulders or not.
Liam’s jaw flinched. “Take Niall with you. In case she gives you trouble.”
“She won’t give me trouble. Besides, Avery’s been up all night. It’s Niall’s shift.”
Nate and Liam remained locked in a staring contest that ended with Nate lowering his head a notch.
Before the tension could escalate, I jerked toward my brother. “I’ll go with Nate. I was heading home any—”
“No.” Liam and Nate popped the word out in unison.
“Why not? Lori doesn’t hate me.”
Nate zipped up his brown leather jacket. “Mom will be pissed if she hears we’re involving you.”
“You’re not involving me. I’m involving myself.”
I heard someone snort behind me. Not Niall, who was just as protective as the rest of my brothers. Not Liam, who rarely seemed amused by anything I said or did. Not Avery, who was way too serious a person. Which left Lucas . . .
“Please, Nik.” Nate scrubbed a hand down his haggard face. His beseeching tone combined with the dark circles rimming his eyes made me concede.
“Fine.”
