eel and blue LED lights. It sm

om Aria's arm. He pressed a co

they arrived, checking the exits, checking the labels on the

the exam table. Her feet

e waited for the results to print. The w

ff and turned to Ari

"Derived from the Cerbera od

d forward.

staggered. You've been ingesting small amounts for months, building a

o I have?"

Organ failure in sev

into a fist. Aria hea

e said. It wa

rutal. It strips everything from your blood. Calcium, magne

," Ari

Kane, "she needs dialysis. Da

nal," Aria said. "I h

be in an ICU,

go to a hospital, the board decla

Kane. "I need t

ill,"

injection. "This

sn't

it felt like liquid fire. She gasped. Her

gainst his stomach. He covered her ears with his

murmured into her h

abric until her fingers turned white. She

nutes. When it faded, A

up. He carried h

," Aria whispered

d buckled her in. He walked

ediately. He pulled out his

rtable dialysis unit. High flow.

us

st or the method. I need i

hun

at him. "W

hard, guarded. "We're allies now, r

ugged at Aria'

ight. Aria's phone li

n cal

n who had poisoned her. The man

out and pres