Inaya said, “You’ve clearly decided to take control of the Elixir problem.”

“Lucien and Makeda have found a cure,” Saba said.

“What?” Inaya’s eyes went sharp.

Lucien added, “But there are conditions.”

Inaya ignored Lucien and turned to Makeda. “You have found a cure?”

“Yes.” Makeda spoke simply and directly.

“How?”

“It’s linked to my previous research in thalassemia and other human-specific inherited blood disorders affecting hemoglobin,” Makeda said. “Do you truly want the details?”

“Not really.”

“I didn’t think so.”

And yet not once did Inaya seem to doubt Makeda’s confident assertions. It was… rather brilliant actually. Lucien wondered if Makeda had planned it. By remaining silent—during the dinner, amid the chaos of bloodlust, in the face of Inaya’s outrageous flirtation—Makeda had ensured that when she spoke, others would listen. She was no flatterer. No silver-tongued politician. Inaya believed her immediately.

“As I said, there are conditions,” Lucien said.

“I imagine the cost for the cure will be steep,” Inaya said. “Don’t fear, vampires will pay it. We are already paying a fortune for the testing kits.”

“And you’ll need to keep ordering them,” Lucien said. He’d already conferred with his mother on how they would present the treatment. It was best that details weren’t mentioned until vampires agreed to Saba’s terms. “Elixir will never go away, though wide-spread production will be halted as soon as Kato takes control of Alitea.”

“Laskaris,” Inaya hissed. “I knew he was spreading it. I just didn’t have proof.”

Saba said, “I am no human court to demand evidence and testimony. Be assured Kato and I will rid the world of Laskaris’s factories, but there is no guarantee that another will not try to profit from this drug. Remain vigilant.”

“But you have a cure.” Inaya pointed at Makeda. “She said so.”

Lucien said, “Humans infected with the Elixir virus—”

“I don’t care about the humans.” Inaya waved her hand. “We can control them. What of vampires?”

Lucien bit back the retort that threatened and turned to Saba. “Mother?”

“They will come to me,” Saba said. “Any vampire who needs the cure will come to me.”

Inaya’s eyes narrowed. “And you will cure them?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“By making them mine.”

Inaya’s fangs dropped, and Lucien realized she must have someone in her court affected by Elixir. None of her children or she would cure them herself, but there was someone.

“We cannot be reborn to another sire,” Inaya said. “Others have tried. It is not possible to break the blood tie even when a sire is no longer living.”

Saba said, “It is possible when it is me. Do you question my power, daughter?”

Inaya calmed. “Of course not.”

“Those who want to be healed have one option,” Lucien said. “Saba. If they submit to her, she will heal them. It is the only way they will survive.”

“Some will choose death before submission.”

“That is their choice,” Saba said. “But if they reject my offer, they must expect a swift death. I will not have this plague spread by ignorance.”

Only Lucien noticed Makeda’s flinch.

“I understand,” Inaya said. “But know that not every leader will allow a vampire—particularly a valuable one—to submit to another’s aegis. It will depend on the immortal’s connections. Some of the most powerful would be killed rather than lost to a new master.”

“So be it,” Saba said. “But they must know their new elders will not abide their presence if it puts others at risk.”

Lucien said, “There has been little to no encroachment of Elixir in the East, Inaya. Do you know why that is?”

“Does it matter if I know,” Inaya asked, “when you seem so keen to tell me?”

“It’s because the elders of Penglai kill any human or vampire affected by it,” he said softly. “Quietly. Immediately. That is how they have contained this disease.”

Inaya was silent.

“The word of Kato and Saba’s plan will spread from this place,” Lucien said. “See that those who carry such rumors understand the consequences of defiance.”

Beirut, Lebanon

Lucien watched from Kato’s side as two more immortal leaders fell at his feet, kissing the hand Kato extended to them. They were in Beirut for a meeting with the vampire lords of the Levant and Cyprus.

Ramy and Amal were Druze siblings who had taken control of the scattered immortals of Lebanon, Syria, and Cyprus fifty years before but had been immediately plagued by territorial disputes both believed were the work of the Athenian council. Laskaris had wanted the territory for himself but could not appear outwardly hostile. While Amal did her best to maintain order in Beirut, she had near-constant leadership challenges. They only stayed in power because Ramy, who controlled Cyprus, was phenomenally gifted in business.

Lucien made a note to speak to Ramy about taking part in Kato’s new administration.

“Father Kato,” Ramy said, “how may we prove our loyalty to you and our honor in front of the council?”