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“How long have you been taking Salma?”

“Since...” She paused, then avoided my gaze. “Since I can remember.”

She had been a child. A damn child...

Horror spread through me, and once again I was convinced that these people were the spawn of hell in person and that we had to destroy them before they gained too much power over this island.

“The Circle...” I murmured grimly, staring out through the glass front, across the town, toward the Blair district.

“The Councils.” I looked back at Julie. “The Councils are the problem.”

It was one of those moments when I forgot that she belonged to these people, that I couldn’t trust her. We had made a pact, but that didn’t guarantee that she wouldn’t turn against me. And I needed to remember that.

I turned away from her and walked past her to the examination table.

“Have you taken Salma today?”

“Not yet,” she replied with a contrite tone in her voice.

“Good.” I opened a drawer and took out a box of sterile needles. “From now on, you won’t take any more Salma. At least not in the twenty-four hours before the blood tests.”

“But...”

I turned around.

“Are you trying to argue with me?”

Her cheeks flushed, sending that strangely pleasant tingling sensation through my stomach again.

“No...”

“Good,” I murmured. “Are you feeling rested?”

It was lunchtime, and I was glad she had no lecture to attend, but I could well imagine that as a pregnant woman, she was struggling with exhaustion and fatigue. Another reason why I cursed myself for experimenting on her now of all times.

“Have you eaten enough?”

“Yes...” she replied with hesitation in her voice, and I just hoped she wasn't lying about that.

If she lost consciousness, it would be my responsibility, and I didn't want to be the one to blame if something happened to her child.

The dog in the corner of the room, rolling back and forth on the floor and tangling itself in its leash, was more than enough for me. He’d better be potty-trained, the way he had been last time in my university office.

“Have a seat,” I sighed.

Julie obeyed, stepping over to the examination table and pulling herself up on it while I prepared three syringes.

I had only taken her blood recently. Enough of it.

Damn it, why did she have to take Salma?

With a slight feeling of anger, I turned to her.

Could I blame her for it? Did I even know why she really did it? No. Still, it affected our research, and she should be aware of that. She was smart, got the best grades...

If she weren't a Quatura, then... Then what, Quentin? Would she be your favorite student?

I snorted and stepped closer.