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Caleb crosses his arms and considers the Fae, keeping a brave front while Maddy’s life hangs in the balance. Weakness won’t serve what he needs to get out of Alec. “Everyone has their own intentions. What’s in it for you?”
“I intend to live. Survival isn’t certain with Orion running around. He’s chaotic and prone to random actions. So, I intend to ensure that both Orion and Sylvan are dead at the end of all this.”
Caleb’s eyes widen as he studies Alec. “You’re going tokillSylvan, too? And I’m supposed to let you?”
He gestures to Caleb. “You need me to work the magic in the Fae book, don’t you?”
“Yes,” Caleb draws the answer out, already growing suspicious of the ulterior motives. “That’s right.”
“Then it’s the cost for my help, and you will swear you won’t interfere.”
“I’m not sure I can do that.” Caleb can’t stand by and allow Alec to murder anyone.
“You don’t have a choice.”
Caleb wants to argue with him, but he’s right. They don’t have a choice. They need Fae magic to find the weapon, so they need Alec to help work the portal book without injuring anyone. “Fine. When it’s time, I won’t get in the way, but you’re going to help me save Maddy.”
Alec nods once. “But first we need to get the obsidian back from the Faerie kingdom. It means we must rescue Quinn.”
Caleb clenches his fists as he takes a step toward Alec. The power churning inside him makes the pendant warm against his skin. “I won’t help you rescue anyone until Maddy’s safe. She’s my top priority.”
Alec gives him a long look. “To save Quinn, we need to keep Maddy alive, and the only way to keep her alive is to remove Spider’s venom.”
“How do we do that?”
“You must remove it from her blood.”
Caleb crouches next to Maddy’s body. “So, how do we do that?”
“She has to be drained of her poisoned blood. I’m sure you have someone within your friend-group who is capable of doing that.”
Alec’s new level of condescension is beyond insufferable. Yet Caleb’s at least pleased with the ideas for helping Maddy. He doesn’t trust Alec, but their purposes are currently aligned. “Are you sure this will work?”
“Of course. I’m familiar with Fae magic, and I know how to combat Spider’s work especially well.” Alec looks bored as he stands near Spider. He studies his manicured nails and waits as though he’s being inconvenienced by having to deal with ‘foolish mortals.’
Caleb groans. If only he was still a vampire, he could sink his teeth into Maddy’s neck and handle it all without having to hurry anybody else along. As it is, he now needs Cora to make a quick recovery. They don’t have time for her to continue her slow wake-up on the other side of the room. He jumps to his feet and crosses to Cora’s side. He grasps her upper arms and shakes her gently.
Caleb glances back at Maddy before shaking Cora once more. “Cora. Come on. I need you to wake up.”
Her eyes flutter, and she scowls almost immediately. “What happened? My head feels like somebody’s trying to drive a tent stake through it.”
“Spider attacked Veritas.”
Her eyes widen, and she sits up, wobbling slightly as she comes fully upright. “Oh, maybe I shouldn’t have moved so quickly.”
“Well, I’m going to have to ask you to do one more thing. I need you to drain Maddy.”
She stares at me as though she’s struggling to process my words. “What?”
“I need you to drain Maddy. It’s the only way to get Spider’s venom out of her blood.”
“Are you sure?”
“If we don’t try, she’ll die for sure.”
Cora presses her lips into a tight line as she studies him. When she starts to try to climb to her feet, Caleb helps her. “Where is she?”
“Over here.” He leads her to Maddy’s side, and she sinks to her knees beside the love of his life. Maybe it’s the wrong thing to do, but it makes sense. “Drain the venom out of her.”
