blur of preparations fo

outine, a counterpoint to the chaos of his r

library at Kingsbridge, reviewing guest li

ere, her usual prist

dishevelled,

her voice shaking with fury.

er vehemence. "I have no idea w

d. "He collapsed! The doctors.

felt a chill. Th

ng to do with this?" he aske

"You're angry I don't want you! You

prisingly strong. "Come with me.

him from the library, through th

private room, pale and

alist Ethan recognized as Dr.

fast-acting. There's only one known effective counter-agent, derived from the Arctic Moonpetal flower. Extremely rare,

rted with anguish and accusation. "Thi

the sort, Clara,"

an, his eyelids flutteri

dropping rapidly. We need that Moonpetal extract, now

with a desperate res

an emergency resource. Your family controls it. You can authorize access

his," Ethan repeated, frustrated.

reamed. "And it's be

ds, clearly summoned by Clara

yes?" on

, pointing at Ethan. "He's not

an protested as the guards t

Julian. Then she turned to Dr. Albr

or use as an antidote is a complex process, Miss Hayes. And using

ity." She then looked at Ethan, her eyes like chips

uress, finally nodd

an, who was now held

wanted me. You can't have me. So you tr

not true

ed up a heavy medical tex

of his pain," she said, he

g the book, its hard spine connect

ibs. He gasped, doubling ov

ked out. "You'l

Julian," she said, her eyes unbli

low, then

against the agony, the

the last thing he saw before

n bed, in his family

ough the window. How

e etched with worry and

. You've been unconsc

t potent, foodborne toxin from some improperly stored shellfish he ate. Nothing mo

ching ribs. Each br

ured, the name lea

mehow orchestrated the food poisoning. She actually had the gall to come here earlier, dem

n in his body was nothing comp

he said, his voice weary. "She means

e door to his

ly composed once more, a chillin

ly overheard