Relief loosens the tension I hadn’t even been aware of, and I lean my head back against the soft cushion of my chair.
“That’s amazing.”
I can hear the indulgent smile in his voice as he harrumphs in agreement, “It is.” Sam pauses and takes in a deep breath, “Ryn…I—I have some potentially good news.”
I frown at his uncharacteristically hesitant tone, unease making the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
“Okay. If it’s good news, why do you sound like someone just kicked you in the crotch?”
“Do you remember my old lab partner, Ignacy Barlog?”
“The vampire who dated your sister?” My forehead scrunches as I try to remember the few stories Sam has told me about the stoic scientist.
“Yes, the cad. Anyway, he’s put me in contact with a donor who is willing to cover it all—everything we need to get started, and steady funding for the foreseeable future.”
Goosebumps break out over my flesh, and I shiver with excitement.
“Oh my Gods, Sam. That’s perfect! That’s—that’s more than we were hoping for!”
I can hear some rustling coming from Sam’s side of the line, as if he’s shifting papers around nervously at his desk. He clears his throat and mumbles, “It’s Kier Darro.”
I blink. I can feel saliva gathering in my mouth as nausea churns in my gut, threatening to spill my stomach contents.
“No.” My voice is just a whisper, but I can tell Sam heard it when he makes a noise of discontent.
“I know it’s not ideal, but—”
“Not ideal? Are you serious, Sam? He’s the fucking Unseelie prince! It’s insane!” My heart is pounding, and spots dance behind my eyes as my blood pressure spikes.He can’t be serious.
“I know that!” His voice shakes with frustration as he continues, “But think about all the people we could help...now, not years from now, but right now, Ryn!”
“At what cost? Kier Darro is not a benevolent man—nothing good will come from associating with him, and you know it.”
There’s a tension spanning across the line that has never really been present between Sam and I before now. It’s uncomfortable, and I hate that his entertaining of this idea feels so much like a betrayal.
He lets out a heavy sigh, “I agreed to meet with him in a few days.”
He tutts at my growl of outrage and continues quickly, “I want to at least meet him and hear him out, but if you decide we shouldn’t work with him after we see his proposal—I’ll respect your wishes.” His voice is sad, but I’m too angry to feel guilt at being the cause of his disappointment.
“Fine.” Tears prick my eyes, and I swallow against bile as I whisper, “If that’s all, I have to go and feed Wentworth now.” The cat in question perks up a bit at the mention of food, despite the fact that he’s actually already been fed. Treats, it is.
“Okay. I am sorry, Ryn. You know how dear you are to me, but this is my life’s work. It's literally life and death for our patients. I can’t rule Kier out without hearing his proposal.”
I grimace as I nod, “I know.”
And I do—he’s right. I can hear the click of the receiver as Sam hangs up, and I let my phone drop to my lap.
Any objective scientist would be stupid to turn down that kind of offer, but I’m not an objective scientist. Making a deal with Kier Darro would be, without a doubt, catastrophic.
I dig my fingers into my eyes and sniff before grabbing a throw pillow and screaming into it with all of the rage currently boiling in my veins. Now that we have our permit to raise the dead in this region, nothing will deter Kier from jumping in and enacting whatever twisted plan he’s sure to have in mind.FUCK!
I won’t be a part of this. I didn’t leave my fucking family and that bullshit court just to end up pulled back in by the very project that I started to get as far from them as possible.
Determination courses through me like a cooling rain, putting out the fiery rage and allowing me to think clearly. I need to make our project less desirable before that meeting without actually sabotaging anything. Some red tape, if you will.
Seth’s bright blue eyes pop into my mind, and I gasp as an idea takes root. I send a quick text to the psychopomp and wait.
A small smile curls my lips at the thought of seeing him again. There hasn’t been any rekindling of romantic sentiments, but damn it if he isn’t adorably tempting in his daily texts. He might just be the perfect distraction right now. Maybe I’ll blow off some steam and give him another shot to mix business and pleasure.