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“Using Rakta. It’s produced by a gland behind an Alpha Varu’s heart. Greater Alphas produce the strongest.”
“Our enemies used it when they battled the Mah and to kill the first Anubis. And human infantry got itany waythey could.” Johnathan filled both hands with biscuits, and Danny left a water in the chair cupholder. “It’s why there aren’t very many of them left.”
Reese’s stomach rolled. “They killed them for it?”
“More like slaughtered them,” Seung said.
Of course they did. What else did Reese expect of the human race?
“If this Rakta can remove the ichor, then why didn’t they do that to the first Anubis rather than destroy it?”
“I don’t think anyone even considered it possible. And, at the time, the only thing the Varu and humans cared about was surviving.”
Reese wrapped his biscuit back up and set it in the cup holder on the other side. “So this Isaiah plans to cure Nash with something that’s only killed people in the past?”
“Basically,” Johnathan said.
“Nash would smell the lie.”
“Not a lie if Isaiah believes there’s a way to administer it so the host will live and the ichor will purge.”
“Which is?”
“Smaller doses.” Johnathan ate a biscuit in two bites and chased it with some water. “Not sure why that makes a difference, but apparently it does.”
Reese shrugged. “By giving the Rakta in smaller doses, it could have a cumulative effect on the ichor, weakening it then causing it to purge before it even knows there’s a threat, and lowering the chances of killing the host.”
Seung and Johnathan looked at each other.
“What?” Reese said.
Seung answered. “We were always told we only had one chance to kill a Sarvari with the Rakta because if they lived, they’d be immune. That’s why they always used large doses and got it deep into the body. They didn’t want to take a chance the ichor wouldn’t purge.”
“Insects and parasites exposed to small doses of toxic chemicals develop an immunity. It’s why the agricultural industry has to change what they use on crops and animals. The same with bacteria. The wrong amount of antibiotic, not administering it long enough, or prolonged use promotes resistant bacteria.” Reese realized how that sounded. “Not that the ichor is any of those things.”
“I never thought about it like that before,” Seung said.
Johnathan knocked the crumbs off his shirt. “You think we could make some sort of vaccine?”
“For what?” Reese said.
“The Rakta.”
Reese squinted at Johnathan. “Why would you need a vaccine?”
“Because if a Mah can becuredof the ichor, then Varu leaders, the Senate, and Wardens, can strip us of our wolves. It’s why our ancestors went to the Anubis. It’s why we want to perfect the VrK rather than claim Luca for ourselves to take a Fenrir. By removing the ability to be threatened into compliance, fighting them becomes a matter of living or dying. Those are stakes we can accept. Having the wolf taken from us?” Johnathan shook his head.
“The wolf is everything,” Reese said.
“You have no idea. I had no idea. But once it was here.” Johnathan bumped his fist against his chest. “I thought I was someone before the Sarvari, Dr. Dante. When in fact, I was a shadow of someone.”
Why didn’t Nash feel that way? He must not if he would give up the Anubis. Or was there something even more important than the Anubis driving Nash to do it?
If so, Reese was pretty sure he knew what—or in this case—who it was.
The jet engines rose in pitch, and the aircraft taxied onto the runway. Vibrations rode up through the landing gear as they gained speed.
Reese shut his eyes.
