Free Feast of Fools by Rachel Caine

twenty percent. And I also created a stronger liquid version that can be delivered directly into the body by injection.’’
    She blinked. ‘‘Injection.’’ She tried to imagine getting close enough to Myrnin to stick a needle in his arm, especially when he was in one of his bad swings.
    â€˜â€˜It can be delivered through a dart,’’ he said. ‘‘Like an animal tranquilizer, although I wouldn’t use that analogy to anyone else. Wouldn’t be respectful.’’
    She managed a smile. ‘‘That’d be—very helpful. I didn’t try the heating process for drying the crystals. That’s interesting.’’
    â€˜â€˜No reason you should have. I tried it because I didn’t have an unlimited time to dry them—our lab’s busy, and I didn’t want anyone questioning what I was doing. I’ve asked Amelie to provide us with some secured laboratory space at the university. More convenient for you, and safer for me. I can have equipment moved there as we need it, or requisition it through the Council.’’ Dr. Mills cocked his head and looked at her again, brown eyes bright and challenging. Like Myrnin’s, only not half as crazy. ‘‘About my request to tour the lab where you made the crystals . . .’’
    â€˜â€˜Sorry, I can’t.’’
    â€˜â€˜Perhaps if you checked with Amelie—’’
    â€˜â€˜I did.’’
    He sighed. ‘‘Then when can I examine our patient?’’
    â€˜â€˜You don’t.’’
    â€˜â€˜Claire, this will not work if I can’t take baseline readings on the patient and determine what the measurable improvements are as we change the formula!’’
    She did see that, actually, but the thought of putting nice Dr. Mills in grabbing distance of Myrnin made her shiver. ‘‘I’ll check,’’ she promised, and got to her feet. ‘‘I’m sorry, it’s getting late. I need to—’’
    Dr. Mills glanced at his office window. Outside the blinds, the sky was darkening from faded denim to indigo. ‘‘Of course. I understand. Here’s a sample of the new batch of crystals. But before you give it to him, see if you can get baseline information—most importantly, a blood sample.’’
    â€˜â€˜A blood sample,’’ she repeated. He opened a drawer and handed her a small, sealed kit. It had a syringe, gauze pads, alcohol wipes, and a couple of vacuum tubes. ‘‘You’re not serious.’’
    â€˜â€˜I’m not saying it might not be difficult, but if you won’t let me go with you to do it . . .’’
    She could do a lot of things, but she was pretty sure she couldn’t hold Myrnin down and stick a needle in his vein. Not while he was . . . altered.
    She took the kit and put it in her backpack. ‘‘Anything else?’’
    Dr. Mills passed her a gun—a dart gun. He opened the back to show her the fluffy end of the tube. ‘‘It’s preloaded with one dose,’’ he said. ‘‘I only made up a few—it takes some time to distill. Here are two extra, if you need them.’’ As she stowed the gun in her backpack, he said, ‘‘It’s untested. So be careful. I think it will be stronger and longer lasting, but I’m not sure about the side effects.’’
    â€˜â€˜And the crystals?’’
    He passed them over, too. They looked a little finer than the ones she’d developed—more like raw sugar. Those went into the backpack, as well.
    â€˜â€˜Claire,’’ he said, as she hoisted the burden, ‘‘have you heard any rumors about a new vampire in town?’’
    She froze. Her gold bracelet, the one with Amelie’s symbol etched on it, caught the light and glittered— not that she needed the reminder.
    â€˜â€˜Just