He mused, “No wonder you made this easy for me. You want me to stay in contact. You want to use me for information.”

“Of course I do.” Arturo leaned forward. “We have great resources. Chief among them is our people. And misconception. How many of the more unsavory characters in the immortal world believe the nonsense about being demons and rejected by God? How many more dismiss the Church as no longer having any influence in matters of state? My office is quiet and efficient. We have a mission to promote God’s kingdom. To keep the Church and its flock—mortal and immortal—safe. I will use any and all resources at my disposal to do that. I think you understand my mission. I think you approve of it. So why don’t you tell me why you were wearing such a thunderous expression when I first walked into the room? Why don’t you tell me the real story behind this ‘elixir’ and why I’m beginning to hear mention of it from various corners of the globe?”

“Which corners?”

Arturo took a deep breath. “Russia. Eastern Europe. A rumor in India. Whispers in the Eastern church.”

“Lorenzo has been producing it in Bulgaria.”

The Spaniard raised an eyebrow. “Do you truly think that is the extent of this madness? One plant?”

His breath caught. “Of course. There’s more, isn’t there? There has to be.”

“What I know about Lorenzo tells me that he is all about profit,” said Arturo. “Livia is about power. But profit trumps power, and Livia is not Lorenzo’s only backer. We don’t know who, but we’re quite sure of that. The elixir is being produced elsewhere.”

“Can it be contained?”

“I don’t think so. Perhaps if we understood it more, but we don’t. Two things have been my priorities: finding out what is does and how it can be detected. For humans and vampires both. We know the formula is given to humans who then give blood to vampires, but what are the effects? We’re getting mixed reports, and nothing like this has been seen as far as I know.”

How much could he tell the human? Carwyn weighed his options and decided that Arturo was a worthy ally.

“Currently, my people don’t know much more than you do. We know that it does appear to heal humans who take it, but there are side effects for vampires.”

“What side effects?”

Carwyn crossed his arms and laid out what he knew. “The first side effects are an immediate cure for bloodlust—”

“Not a bad thing.”

“—and increased strength. I suspect elemental power, too.”

Arturo grimaced. “That is somewhat frightening, considering all the power you already have. All humanitarian arguments aside, why would this be a concern to vampires? Those are all positives for you.” The priest narrowed his eyes. “You said the first side effects—”

“The negative effects come later. Increased sleep. Mental confusion. Lost time.”

“Lost time?”

“Fugue states that seem to strike out of nowhere.”

Arturo’s eyes gleamed. “Now that could be very, very dangerous for those who cannot survive sunlight.”

“Indeed. We’re attempting to learn more. You might contact Lucien Thrax while he’s still in Rome. He has taken it and is suffering the consequences.”

The Spaniard sat up and straightened his shoulders. “The physician? I will do that. For now, I will alert my people that this elixir—”

“It’s a drug, Arturo. Call it what it is.”

He nodded. “Fine. This drug is harmful, and they should avoid it. The problem, of course, is how? If a human has already taken this drug, they are a walking poison for your kind. A danger to the those who would drink from them, or kill them because of the threat. There has to be some way of detecting it. We just don’t know what it is.”

Carwyn sighed and closed his eyes. “Then I suppose I have my new mission.”

“I suppose you do.”

~~~

Plovdiv, Bulgaria

July 2012

Dear Brigid,

We’ve learned more about the elixir, but it doesn’t sound good. Keep on your guard; this had the potential to be very dangerous. I know that you prefer feeding from human donors, but please consider drinking animal blood until I can find out more. We must learn how to detect this drug in humans. Otherwise, any of us could drink it without being aware, and the side effects are beginning to sound more and more severe the more we learn.

Giovanni and I are leaving Rome to try to find more answers. I may not be able to write for some time. I’ll contact you as soon as I get back to Dublin. I don’t want to say too much in a letter. (Also, Bulgaria is beautiful. We should consider coming here for our honeymoon.)

I miss you. I think of you every day. Pray for our safety.

Love, Carwyn

P.S. Would you consider going to Wicklow and fetching Madoc? I’m fairly sure the dog is miserable without me there. Sinead may have mentioned it once or twenty times to Deirdre.

P.P.S. I just realized my dog is going to share your bed before I do. Lucky mongrel.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Dublin

October 2012

Brigid opened the door. Deirdre stood with her hand raised to knock, seemingly startled to be caught in the act.

“Hello,” Brigid said.

“Hello.”

There was an awkward pause. “Am I supposed to call you ‘Mother’ now?”

Deirdre snorted and pushed into the house. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m hardly the most maternal person, and you’ve never wanted a mum.”