We wouldn’t know if it was truly successful for a few hours, or so Mari claimed. That was how long it would take for the newly forming ba to make noticeable changes to Carmichael’s human physiology.

Nik placed the At marble on Carmichael’s shin, balancing it there with a single fingertip. A moment later, the opalescent At dissolved into a shimmering mist. I caught only a glimpse of that silvery filament of ba before it seeped into Carmichael’s skin and vanished completely.

Mari blew out a breath and brushed a sleek strand of black hair from her forehead. “Well, I suppose we should all get comfortable. This is going to take a while.”

Three hours, seventeen minutes, and forty-two seconds later, Mari destroyed Carmichael’s brand-spanking-new ba. I heralded Carmichael’s writhing passage into oblivion with a one-finger salute. It was a glorious moment.

“We’ll do Constance next,” Mari said as she turned her back to Carmichael’s writhing form, “then your boyfriend, Kat.”

I rolled my eyes, ignoring Nik’s snicker. He’d swapped places with Mari and now stood on my left. I lost patience after a few seconds and elbowed him in the side none too gently.

“We’ll prep Constance,” Aset said, and she and Neffe headed to the quarantined half of the lab. The temporary plastic walls had been erected to keep the disease as contained as possible, and the area within functioned as a makeshift hospital for the few infected people in the compound, Garth included.

I watched them go, my heart yearning to follow. I still hadn’t visited Garth. I didn’t know how to talk to him without telling him there was maybe a chance that he would not only survive the incurable disease but also become a Nejeret. That he’d live forever. I couldn’t not tell him that chance existed, but I hadn’t been willing to get his hopes up. I’d needed to know for sure. And now I did.

“Go,” Lex said, nudging me with her shoulder. “He’s been asking for you nonstop.” She offered me a gentle smile. “Give the poor guy the good news.”

I searched her kind, carmine eyes, looking for some reason not to go. I was afraid to face him. But I needed to, so I pushed off the counter and marched after Neffe and Aset. The two were already beyond the plastic walls.

I could hear Lex and Nik whispering, but I hummed tunelessly to drown out whatever they were saying. Force of habit. Some things are better not overheard.

Mari laughed, and I slowed, glancing over my shoulder to see her sidling up to Nik. “Better get used to it, buddy.” She linked arms with him, and I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I had to force myself to keep going. “Besides, you’ve got a new partner now, and I’m half as crazy and twice as fun.”

Ugh. I threw up a little in my mouth.