“Thank you,” Soraya said, fighting the urge to run, even as excitement fluttered through her. Because whether Sinna Marin had meant to or not, she’d given her an idea. She was right about one thing: godsblood had power, a lot of it.

Maybe it couldn’t help Shim, but Seela was not lost. Not yet.

“Godsblood,” she blurted out, once she’d gathered Seela and Sunny together in the room where Shim continued to slumber, dead to the world but not actually dead, thank the gods. She knew using that term in the presence of outsiders was forbidden, but these weren’t normal times, and the pair of women had already seen more than anyone was supposed to have seen. She would need to be completely honest with them from this point forward if they were to have any hope of solving the problem at hand. Or at least solving it in a manner that didn’t require anyone to be stabbed through the heart.

“What is…what is that? The golden liquid?” The question came from Seela, who was leaning forward intently, elbows on knees. She’d powdered her forehead once more, hiding the three gold leaves.

Soraya nodded. “Yes. I’ve already explained how potent it is, but not its origins.”

“It wasn’t potent enough to heal Shim,” Sunny countered. “And it’s this so-called godsblood that got Seela into this mess in the first place.”

“That is true, to a point, but only because the rat had already been exposed to it and then bit her right when she had also been exposed, or at least that’s my current working theory.”

“So what you’re about to propose is based off of some untested theory?” Sunny didn’t look particularly impressed.

“Of course it is! This is all new ground, so I don’t have the answers, just ideas. But I’ve seen Narcissi’s godsblood work miracles when used appropriately. And it was never going to help Shim because his injuries were inflicted upon him by another who had been exposed to godsblood. Unfortunately, that is one of its limitations in terms of healing.” She’d been talking so fast she was finally forced to stop to catch her breath. Ever since she’d left Sinna Marin in Lostwood, she’d felt energized, as though she’d just drunk her weekly dose of godsblood.

“Did you say Narcissi?” Seela asked during her pause. “Like the ancient goddess who disappeared after She was defeated during the last Blood Tide? That Narcissi?”

“I know it’s hard to believe, but She’s still alive and living in Lostwood. Her blood, Her power, has been leaking through Her roots for centuries now. Lostwood is so vast that it hasn’t really been a problem—not until now.”

“I drank Narcissi’s blood? And was then bitten by a rat that had also drunk Narcissi’s blood?” Seela’s tone made it clear she wasn’t exactly believing the story that was being told to her. Not that Soraya could blame her.