I push off from the table to approach her. “I already promised we would get more silver reserves as swiftly as possible. We’ll need the True’s help to get in the North Mines though, if Aramastun Wyvox has taken it over.”
“I don’t know who that is, and I don’t care. I’m not talking about the silver. Well, I am.” She tilts her head, pulling at her chin and gazing around the crude stone walls of this damp residence. “We need a bigger house. More room to produce the Silverblood once wedoget the silver cache and Loreblood supply we need to scale this operation. Kep’s fucking basement won’t do.”
I blink at her, because this ambitious businesswoman is not the woman I know. I can’t say I hate it.
“You can talk about allies and togetherness and the Silverknights all you want, dear daughter,” she continues, “but one thing is even clearer than that: Your victory hingeson the Silverblood. Without a vampiric army, the vampiric overlords are weak. Without the Chained Sisters, you have no Silverblood.”
It almost sounds like she’s threatening me to get what she wants, and I admire her audacity. With a small smile, I nod my head curtly. “You’re absolutely right, Mother. You deserve more elbow room to work.”
“Some True-be-damnedchairswould be nice, too. Standing over potion dishes is awful for the back.”
Garroway chuckles behind me. I can feel him smiling, as my dour mother has somehow turned the mood of the room.
“An idea is already coming to me,” I say.
“Good. Then get to it, sweetheart.” She shoos me and turns to walk away.
“How is Cyprilis?” I call out before she can get too far.
I’m eager to learn how effective the Silverblood has been on our test subject. It’s shitty to think of Cy that way, but there’s no point acting sentimental over the truth.
Jinneth pauses in the corridor. Doesn’t turn. Then she slowly, agonizingly does. There’s a sad expression on her puffy face. “Same as ever, my dear. I don’t think the tincture took hold. We’ll need more experiments, more tests . . . which means we need to get started promptly.”
My jaw clenches and my heart sinks.Shit.I hoped the first issuance of the potion would change the entire world. Doesn’t seem to be the case.Unless we have to give it more time to work.My thoughts darken.It’s been hours since she drank it though. When anyone drinks directly from me, the impact is almost immediate. Itisimmediate if we’re doing something strenuous, like fucking.
My mother doesn’t need to know all that. She’s already gone anyway, continuing down the hall.
Vallan lightly plants his fist on the table. “Dammit.”
“How can this be?” Garroway muses. “Is the tincture faulty? Was your surly alchemical grandfather mistaken in his crafting of the elixir, or Jinneth mistaken in the recreating of it?”
I plop my ass against the wall, leaning back and rubbing my temples with the heels of my hands. “I don’t know, Garro. And he’s not my grandfather, ass.” Opening my eyes, I sigh and stare at the opposite wall.
“Do you think it could be because Cyprilis has had your blood before, and therefore the tincture is weaker? The effect not as strong?” he asks.
“That makes no sense,” Vallan replies for me. “Anyone who drinks from Sephania wants—no,needs—more of her blood. Not less. Its impact only grows stronger the more Loreblood you drink.”
“At least for us.” Garroway doesn’t sound so sure. He massages his chin, ducking his head. “I have to wonder if she craves more of your Loreblood like the rest of us do, after drinking the potion version.”
“Why don’t we ask her?” Vall suggests. “The diluted formula not coming directly from the source—your veins—could have adverse effects on its efficacy.”
Ugh, a headache is beginning to build and pulse behind my eyes. There’s no stopping it. I hate trying to get analytical when there are already so many thoughts swirling around in my brain. “I don’t want to upset Cy by teasing her with more of my blood . . .” I trail off, popping my head up from my hands. “Could it be weaker because she’salreadybound to me? Perhaps the tether, or the severance, has nowhere to go?”
Garroway pouts his kissable lips, pressing them together. “A fine thought, lass. How would the bloodbond break if she’s already bound to you—if it has already been broken and transferred to you?”
These are questions we have no hope of answering right now. They’re only making my headache worse.
I shiver and shake my body loose of the confining thoughts. “More tests are needed, like Jinneth said. Until then, we can be working on my plan to get the Chained Sisters a more spacious residence.”
“What do you have in mind, silverblood?”
I flash Vallan a smirk. “Kep isn’t the only one with an underground abode, my big brute.”
He blinks. His dark red eyes narrow. “Are you sending us away on another mission?”
“No. We’re all going together this time, love. Let’s go.”
Chapter 18