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Rexx tilted his head. “That last sentence got lost in translation. You become a dessert?”

She groaned and thumped her forehead. “Before I’m gone. I’m goo. A slave for the Inkral to screw with.”

“Ah, that’s one other thing,” Atticus said. “We’ve never tried my method on Inkral tech. They’re a complicated race. They create some weird technology.”

“It’s all the goo. It has a different molecular structure to most other aliens,” Estelle said.

“The goo is gross. I’m still digging bits of Inkral out from under my nails.” Daisy grimaced at her hands.

“Yes, different and a bit gross. But their technology is advanced by most other aliens’ standards. There’s a chance my work won’t identify an Inkral invasion in a Human system,” Atticus said.

“What happens if it doesn’t detect it?” Daisy said.

Atticus pursed his lips. “Probably nothing.”

“Probably or definitely?” Rexx almost growled the words.

“Rexx,” Daisy said. “Atticus, what if I’ve shared energy with an Apexian? Would that be a problem?”

Atticus’s forehead furrowed. “You’ve done an energy transfer recently?”

“Two,” Daisy said.

“And you’re still alive?” Atticus looked at Rexx, surprise in his eyes.

“He barely lived through it,” Daisy said.

Rexx waved away her words. “I was fine. Daisy needed it more than me. Will it be an issue, though?”

“Not an issue, but if you have any in your system, the process could detect that. Was it a liquid energy transfer?”

“We used blood.” Daisy glanced at Rexx, her cheeks growing pink. “And a bit of saliva.”

A smile quirked on Estelle’s mouth. “It should be fine.”

“There’s only a trace of my energy left in Daisy. She gave most of it back to me,” Rexx said.

Atticus’s eyebrows shot up. “No kidding. This is interesting. I’d love to—”

“Don’t get side-tracked.” Estelle nudged Atticus with her elbow. “My brother is a giant science geek. He’s always on the hunt for a new experiment.”

Atticus shrugged. “Which is why I had to come when Estelle got in touch. I don’t want to sound mercenary, but if this works, it’ll be a huge boost to my work.”

“And if Daisy dies because of it, there won’t be any more work to do, because you’ll be dead.” Rexx jabbed a finger at him.

“No, we don’t threaten the amazing people helping us.” Daisy sucked in a breath. “Sorry, it’s a stressful time. Rexx gets uber protective when he gets a sniff of danger around me.”

“I noticed that when you were receiving treatment from me,” Estelle said. “He growled in my face a dozen times.”

“Oh, crap. I’m sorry,” Daisy said.

Estelle smiled. “I’m used to it. All my brothers are the same. I have six. It’s exhausting.”

Rexx leaned his knuckles on the desk and gave Atticus a hard stare. “What’s the worst that can happen if Daisy goes through this procedure?”

“The very worst?” Atticus glanced away. “The early trial stages resulted in seizures for some patients.”

“Seizures. How bad?” Rexx said.