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“Venom and blood first.”

“How do I know you aren’t going to throw me out on my ass after you take my venom and blood?”

“You don’t. Now, get out. I have to prepare for class.”

I turned again.

“Oh, and one more thing.”

I lifted a brow.

“You tell anyone about a couple of nights ago, and I will find a way to destroy you.”

I smirked at her, knowing very well that even though I could come forward with proof of her intrusion, her name would easily bail her out. The Ministry was made specifically to keep the peace between all Occults and humans, but having a name like Nygaard came with power. Her family knew people in high places. Hell, her family were the ones in high places.

“I’m sure you will,” I responded. I noted the spark of offense painting her face before I left, not allowing her to get another word in.

12

ONE MORE DAY

AURA

Surely, I’d lost my mind. Why the hells did I agree to work with a lycan I wanted nothing to do with? Why did I agree to give him access to the library?

Long after Sylvan left, I felt on edge. I fetched the letter opener from the floor and stared at it, then at my hand. Why had I listened to him when he told me to drop it? Maybe my logic had saved me from making a dire mistake. I’d truly wanted to plunge the dull instrument into his neck. I needed to get past this rough full moon duration.

It was wreaking havoc on my moods.

Tomorrow, I would collect samples from Sylvan, watch him like a hawk in the library, then send him on his way. Perhaps once he was back where he belonged, I could move beyond this strange ordeal.

Just one more day and things would be back to normal.

One more day and I would be one step closer to finding a cure.

Before leaving for the night, I checked in on my distillations. With the full moon basically at its end, a few processes were complete. I painstakingly labeled them, placed them into the medicinal case, and slipped the case into my bag.

Instead of going home, I headed to a pub frequented by vampires and other Occults—The Nexus. Music poured from inside, drunken laughter and joviality permeating the atmosphere. I entered, moving toward the corner where a familiar human awaited me. The man’s slender frame was hunched over a mug of ale, his eyes vigilant with collected suspicion. As I drew near, his hand dropped to a weapon no doubt concealed at his waist. Then his body relaxed, recognition setting in.

Devlin didn’t look like much of a threat. He wasn’t necessarily strong, but he was stealthy, quick, and masterful with the use of poisons. He was my most consistent client, frequently stocking up on lycan repel, strong doses of sedation, healing drafts, and various other potions to assist him in his monster hunting. Before hiring him, I heard tales of him and had been lucky to corner him one day just outside of The Nexus.

He wasn’t quick enough to combat the speed of a hybrid, and I offered him a deal. He got to keep his life, and I got to utilize his services. Our arrangement had evolved as I learned more about the constitution of Lobofebris. When I theorized I would need venom and blood, I offered him severely discounted potions and powders in exchange for his procurement of the ingredients I needed.

So far, he had yet to disappoint me. I had three samples of six. Unfortunately, some of the lycan lands were heavily guarded, even against humans. Then there was the Lucerin clan, which no one had found for years.

“Good to see you again, Aurelia,” he said, as I lowered myself into the chair across from him.

“Likewise, Devlin. What do you have for me today?”

He reached into the interior pocket of his jacket and pulled out a wrapped fabric bundle, sliding it across the table. I emptied the gems into my palm, my fist closing around them, and the moment my body confirmed their purity, I nodded. Devlin quirked a brow. “I still don’t know how you do that. You just feel that they’re genuine?”

I didn’t deign to respond to his question. I folded the gems back into the fabric and tucked them into the leather pouch at my waist. “Thank you,” I said. I lowered my voice. “Any luck with the Lucerin pack?”

He shook his head.

No surprise there.

“But I was able to obtain venom from the Crystal pack in the east,” he said. “It was easier than I expected, actually.”