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"Yes," I said

Eli grabbed me and yanked me out of the chair "No, Riley, you don’t understand!" he said, infuriated "Have you ever witnessed a pack of dogs penned up without food or water for teeks? Do you knohat they do to anything remotely edible?" He pulled his face close to mine "That’s what the Arcoses would do to you, as well as Seth and the other newlings" He shook ht, though, my dear It is risky We"--he motioned with his hands to his family--"would certainly have to be extra-dosed by Preacher"

"Papa, you’re not seriously considering it?" Eli said

"It’s her decision, not yours"

I didn’t even have to think about it "Yes It’s what I want to do" I looked at Eli "I’ll be okay I want this over with, Eli I want my brother back safely"

Eli stared at h "Oh my God, Riley" He walked off, hands around the back of his neck "Fuck"

"Don’t let his terave;re," Elise said "He’s very protective over you, as you can see"

"Besides," said Gilles "With the herbs out of your system for just one day, your blood won’t reveal full potency Maybe, though, just enough"

"That’s a relief," I said, and gave him a sincere look "Thank you"

My internal clock had returned to ht, sleep all day Only, Eli was pissed, and he wasn’t about to let ry, desperate to changesex No, as potent as that was, ed He stormed off even more pissed than he had been before We worked out in the donjon He kicked my ass

Preacher came by with a supply for the Duprés--the third one that day Talk about getting tanked Phin held his washboard stolass "I’m too full"

I found that weird and hilarious at the sa sloshed with unknown herbs just to keep frorinned Josie grinned

Eli rehtfall, ere ready

"Only one thing to do, rave;re," Gilles said "You must wait to do it Too early and you’ll cause a frenzy that even my children, I and Elise, and your dark brethren may not be able to control"

"Okay," I said "What’s that?"

He pulled a blade from my belt "You must cut yourself and expose your blood In its watered-down state it may not have the potency it usually does"

"Great," I said, and nodded "Okay"

"Wait for Eli’s word," he warned "Understand?"