Chapter 409

A black mass about the size of my hand slithered under both their skins like an animated tattoo.

Antonia clutched Isabella's shoulders with a surprising strength, pretty much the only thing keeping her granddaughter upright. Healing magic pulsed out of her hands.

I pushed up Drio's sleeves to touch his bare skin and streamed my magic inside him, praying it would be enough to keep him stable until Antonia could get to him with the full force of her power.

Antonia knocked my hand away. "No magic. Not even healing. It feeds."

All the worst things did.

Isabella swayed, catching hold of the counter. The mass had doubled in size, crawling over her skin.

"You destroyed the virus," I said. "Magic should kill it."

"It's inside them now." Antonia wrung her hands. "Mutated to the next stage."

Fuck!

Drio sagged sideways and I barely caught him, his chair tipping back.

"Does it hurt?" I said.

"Just dizzy."

"I need to lie down." Isabella stumbled out of the kitchen.