He considered it. What if there was a creature that looked exactly identical to alchemy but existed as a parasite, jumping from host to host?
“Maybe it’s possible that it just developed and it looks identical to alchemy.” Parker looked over at Nick, his face going hopeful. “You know, they say that if you give a monkey a typewriter and immortality, eventually it would type outHamlet.”
“Actually, scientists tried it,” Nick said, turning on his blinker before making a right-hand turn.
“What?” Parker asked.
“Scientists. They gave monkeys computer keyboards instead of typewriters.” Nick smiled, even though it didn’t quite match the situation.
“And?” Both of Parker’s eyebrows went up, and he waited for the punchline.
“Lots of poop between the keys, but noHamlet,” Nick said.
Parker blew out a breath.
“Okay.” He shook his head. “So, if an alchemy spell that walks and talks and looks like a duck is actually a duck, but we still don’t know where it came from or how it works, we do know one thing.” Parker waited a beat, and Nick glanced over at him at the next red light. Parker’s face was dark, brows drawn together, unhappiness written into every wrinkle in his brow. “We know how to get rid of it.”
Nick thought about the woman’s hand, completely obliterated, gone in a puddle of blood and shattered bone.
“That shouldn’t be an option,” Nick said.
“I think it’s our only option.” Parker’s words were cold, and if Nick didn’t know him well enough, he would assume that was the fae part of him, the chilliness that was able to make a decision so unsympathetic to the life it would affect.
But Nick knew better. After years, he knew that it was the part of Parker that wanted to save a life, that wanted to saveeveryone’slife, even at the expense of himself.
Parker would make that decision, would choose the option that broke his own heart, if it would saveoneperson’s life.
Nick drove up to the station security gate, typing in his code before pulling into the underground parking lot.
“Alright.” Nick looked at Parker.
He didn’t know why they had been called back, but it couldn’t be a good reason. “If Gile is still alive, we move the parasite to one of his extremities. I’m better prepared this time, so I’ll havea spell ready that should stop the bleeding until he can get to a hospital.”
“Hand or foot?” There was a flash on Parker’s face, a line of gold Summer magic, and a shimmer of scales across his cheek. It was as though he was hardening his own heart, convincing himself that he was fae, that he could make this decision, make this choice, and not have it matter.
“Foot,” Nick said immediately.
Nodding, Parker opened his door. His expression was still hard, the hint of fae magic gone from his skin.
Nick reached out before he could move. He grabbed hold of Parker’s hand, clasping it tight.
“You’re right. We’re under a time crunch, and this is the only thing we know. The only decision we can make.”
Parker’s face crumpled, his mouth going soft, his eyes turning down in the corners. He shook his head. “It’s not fair. It’s not right.”
“But it’s our only choice,” Nick said.
“Yeah.” Parker’s exhale was a sigh, a long breath that left his body.
They rode the elevator up in silence, finding Captain Tate with the other captains on the top floor.
“So. You two boys went off book.” Rios didn’t look happy, but he kept his words flat.
“Convenient how you two didn’t go to the location we directed but managed to find a new victim.” Falk’s words were an accusation. “Almost like you made it happen.”
“Since Durkavic was the first victim, I just wanted to check some of the locations from yesterday,” Parker said. “Nick only came along to make sure I didn’t do anything stupid.”
“Stupid like blowing up a woman’s hand,” Falk said.
