“Makeda is… special. She is under my aegis, McTierney, so tread carefully. She has powerful friends. Added to the obvious fact that she’s extremely bright. Makeda is the one who initially came up with the idea to treat the Elixir by treating bone marrow, so you understand why she’s feeling protective of the trial.”

“I already have four human volunteers and two vampires,” McTierney said. “They’re ready and waiting as soon as you and Dr. Abel finalize the protocol. Any word yet?”

The biggest holdup was on his end, and Lucien grimaced when he thought about what he had yet to do. He’d been cagey with McTierney so far, and that didn’t engender confidence from the other man, who would be effectively turning over his own patients to Lucien and Makeda’s experimental treatment.

“As soon as I have a donor identified for the immortal patients, I’ll let you know. The humans—”

“Are already starting on a course of chemotherapy. Radiation will follow that. Stem cell donors have been identified for all four. Are you sure you want to proceed with the HSCT?”

“You’ve explained the risks?”

“Yes.”

“Then I say that’s our best option. Time is against us on this.” Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was risky, but it was also the best option for rebuilding the humans’ immune systems from the inside out. “Especially if we’re catching patients in the early stages of Elixir infection when they’re still in their first bloom of health. Dr. Abel pointed out that the initial upswing could carry them through the worst of the chemo and radiation, allowing their systems to bounce back stronger with the new stem cells.”

“I agree.” McTierney paused. “Ioan would have loved this. Seeing you collaborating with a partner.”

The corner of Lucien’s mouth turned up. “He would have loved taking the piss out of me.” Ioan had often teased Lucien about finding a nice immortal instead of his serial monogamy with humans.

“It’s not that,” McTierney said. “Working with Julia has been one of the singular privileges of my personal and professional life, Lucien.” Julia was McTierney’s wife and partner in their medical practice. “There’s something special about sharing a professional passion with the person you love.”

“Calm down, Brenden,” Lucien said. “We’re colleagues.”

“Of course you are.” The doctor smiled. “Let me know when we’re ready to go. We need that immortal donor, Lucien. None of these patients has a living sire. If they did, they wouldn’t be with me.”

“I’ll do my best.”

He used a pencil to push the End button on the laptop. Makeda had been regaling Gedeyon with tales of the Nocht system she’d beta tested, and his brother was almost falling over in excitement. Gedeyon loved gadgets and new technology, but he was stuck with the human variety until he could order equipment from Ireland.

Hirut tapped on the door. “Lucien, are you finished?”

“I am.” He pushed away from the desk. “Did your assistant need to get in here?”

Hirut’s human was a young woman who looked to be university age. She was the one who maintained the satellite link and computer equipment in Gedeyon’s small office.

“She’s fine, but I was wondering if you wanted to take Makeda’s blood to her.”

“I will.” He glanced at the clock. He’d not realized how close it was to dawn.

Most of Makeda’s nights were taken up with training now that there was little they could add to the trials until they were truly under way.

Just the donor. He still had to approach his mother. And yes, he was putting it off for as long as possible. Though they would need to test her blood for compatibility, Makeda theorized that Saba was the vampire equivalent to mitochondrial Eve for humans. It was likely most, if not all, vampires could accept her blood and stem cells.

But would she be willing?

Saba had stopped siring children soon after Lucien had turned. She had hundreds, if not thousands, of vampires in her extended clan, but for direct descendants, there were few still living. How would she feel about possibly siring more?

Because though they wouldn’t take her bite, any immortal treated with Saba’s stem cells would effectively become her child. On that, Lucien and Makeda both agreed. Whatever line they came from would be broken. Whatever element they controlled would be dead to them. They would be born anew into Saba’s blood, and he wasn’t sure if his mother would be willing, not to mention the victims.

If she wasn’t, then any hope for vampire Elixir patients without living sires was dead.

He wandered around the island, searching for Makeda. Tana Genet was tiny, and he knew she must be going stir-crazy, but he was trying to keep her safe for as long as possible. He wasn’t sure what Saba was plotting, but Lucien guessed she’d pull him into it some way or another.

“Makeda?” He turned when he scented her. She was on the water, perched on the smooth stone where she and Kato often practiced, looking at the horizon, which had begun to lighten. He stripped off his shirt before he dove into the water and pushed through the murky shallows until he reached her. Lucien surfaced and climbed onto the rock. “Makeda, you need to get inside.”

She said nothing, and her face was wrecked with sorrow. Bone-twisting grief was painted on her face.

“Makeda?” A needle of fear worked itself into his heart. “What are you doing?”