I had to agree with her. The sooner it was gone the better.
She sighed and said with a pained expression, “You may take your blood sample before we leave.” She reached into her bag again and pulled out another vial. “Recovering from Blue Alhuirn poisoning is a long process. It’ll be a while before Blake is well enough to travel back through the gateway. But I can wake him for a few moments now so you can ask your questions. Decide quickly what you need to know, he won’t be awake for long.”
Max’s eyes lit up, and I knew he was about to thank her, but he caught himself just in time. “That would save us a lot of time.”
Up until this point, Gabriel had loitered at the back of the room, almost as though he was hiding.
I didn’t think it was from me this time, though. He’d greeted me with a small, private smile when I’d arrived.
My suspicions were confirmed when Max waved for him to come forward.
As soon as Sarhin noticed him, her eyes narrowed. “Gabriel Faelrah.”
Gabriel bowed his head in deference. “Lady Sarhin. I go by Gabriel Mason now. My father’s name.”
“I see.” She looked him over, her face giving nothing away. “Your mother has flourished since she returned through the gateway. We were expecting you to join her at some point.”
“Working with the paranormal police has kept me busy,” Gabriel replied, tone not unfriendly, but cooler than I was used to.
“Choose your path wisely, Gabriel. The offer won’t be there forever.” With that, she knelt on the floor next to Blake and looked up at Max. “When I administer this, you’ll have a few minutes, no more. Are you prepared?”
Max looked at Gabriel. “I’ll ask the questions, you record it. Okay?”
Gabriel nodded and pulled out his phone. “Yeah, I’m ready.”
Max nodded for her to go ahead, and she tipped the vial into Blake’s mouth.
The whole room seemed to collectively hold its breath.
Blake’s eyes fluttered open and he sucked in air, looking wildly around the room.
“Ask your questions quickly,” Sarhin urged.
Max dropped to his knees. “Blake, did you give Callum Walker Blue Alhuirn?”
Blake frowned. “I… what? No. That’s illegal.”
“You have a whole cupboard full of it.”
“No.” He shook his head, wincing in obvious pain, his eyes closing.
“Blake,” Max coaxed, waiting for his eyes to open again before asking. “Where did you get it from? Who are you selling it to? Who’s been giving it to the non-humans?”
Blake stared at him as though Max had spoken in another language. “No… Not… selling it,” he murmured. His gaze finally landed on Lady Sarhin and the bit of colour he’d gained drained from his face. “I would never.” His eyes fell closed again and this time they stayed shut.
Max stood up, frowning. “Unfortunately I don’t think he was lying.” He glanced at me, and I shook my head.
“Telling the truth, as far as I could tell.” Shifters weren’t lie detectors by any means, but we normally had a good idea when people were being honest. And although I wanted answers as much as Max did, I didn’t think we were going to get them from Blake Tehlin.
Sarhin pressed a vile into Max’s hand. “I believe there’s another suffering from this poisoning?”
“There is,” Max answered. “A shifter.”
“Give him this. It should help speed up his healing.”
Max nodded. “I’ll pass it along to his alpha.”
Maybe Callum would have some answers for us if he ever woke up.
