Fists clenched, I step into the doorway.

Wolfsheim is greasy, drooling, staring into space with vacant eyes. None of his magnetic presence or commanding power remains.

“Maybe I should try my power on one of you first.” I glance back at Jay and Jordan. “I don’t know if I can do anything with him.”

“Try,” Jay urges. “If you can restore even a little of his mental faculties, just enough so he can take care of himself, it would make life a lot easier for my staff. Besides, we may need him eventually. He brought a lot of his people with him to confront me, but Cody suspects there are more of the Progeny out there. If they ever decide to come knocking on our door, I’d like to have their leader functional yet still under our control, so he can call them off.”

I draw in a long breath. “Earplugs in, just in case.”

Jordan and Jay insert the earplugs, while I crouch in front of Wolfsheim. The rank stench of him nearly knocks me over.

“It’s been a while since you tried to kill me.” I start in a normal tone, gradually notching my voice down into the familiar, soothing register. “The strangest thing is, I haven’t needed to dissociate since that night. I don’t have terrible dreams about Tom or George anymore. Breaking you healed me, I think. Isn’t that ironic?”

I’m there now, in that space where my words carry the deceptively silky weight of an irresistible command. “Wolfsheim, I need you to wake up, just enough to drink blood like a normal vampire and take care of your body’s needs. But you’re not going to attack me, or Jay, or any of his people, human or vampire. And you’ll keep following these rules even when I’m not here, speaking to you. Do you understand? Nod if you understand.”

Wolfsheim lifts glazed, bloodshot eyes, and his shaggy head bobs.

I motion for Henry to come forward. He moves past me, into the cell, his arm extended.

“Wolfsheim, you’re going to drink a little from Henry. Just enough to show you can understand and obey me.”

His head lolling heavily, Wolfsheim pushes himself upright. His fangs extend slowly, and he manages to bite Henry’s wrist and suck a little blood.

“That’s enough,” I tell him, and he stops immediately.

Goose bumps break out over my skin at the instant obedience. My thrilling, terrifying voice is still here. Still mine.

I thought I’d be fine with it if my power went away. But now that I know I still have it, I’m beyond glad. I’m ecstatic. Maybe that’s evidence of my lingering insecurity. I’m clinging to any power I can grasp to keep myself safe.

Or maybe I just like being dangerous.

“I think we’re done for today.” I glance back at Jay and nod. “We’ll see how long my influence lasts.”

Once Henry and I exit the cell, Jay secures the door. He removes his earplugs and stares at me, half-awed, half-triumphant. “You can still do it.”

“Yeah.” I can’t help smiling.

Jordan plucks her earplugs out too, looking less pleased. “Well…it makes things more complicated, for sure. But it’s cool to know that you’ve got our backs if any more First Gens come nosing around.”

“I don’t think there are enough left to challenge us,” Jay says. “But it doesn’t hurt to have a secret weapon.”

I meet Jay’s eyes. We haven’t told anyone that my dad has the ability as well, and that’s how it’s going to stay. Dad tested it on Jay just that once, but he has vowed to himself and my mother not to use his power again, especially since his voice affects humans much more strongly than mine does. Neither Jay nor I would ever ask him to break that vow. But I do plan to learn from his example of restraint.

“Thank you, Henry. Thanks, Jordan.” Jay nods to them both, a mild dismissal. “I’m going to take Daisy down the hall to the lab. Dr. Cheznick will want to run some blood tests and do a body scan to check the placement of her new organs.”

Henry gives a slight bow and walks away, but Jordan steps toward me, her face tight with repressed emotion. Stiffly she holds out her arms.

“Oh my god, I get a hug? From a death-defying goddess?” I fan myself. “I can’t believe it.”

“Shut up.” But she breaks into one of those magnificent Jordan Baker smiles.

I hug her tightly, while Jay turns and walks on, giving us a moment.

“You know I would never hurt you, right?” I say.

“Yeah, I know.” She squeezes me tighter. “You’re good people, and so is Jay. Whenever I’m scared shitless about what you can do, I’ll remind myself of that.”

“If I ever get out of line, you can decapitate me. Cool?”

“Cool.” She laughs, pulling back.

“Thank you, by the way. For texting me that first night about the party. Why’d you do it, anyway?”

She shrugs, tracing the toe of her Puma sneaker along the concrete floor. “I heard about Tom. A lot of us did. And I saw some people taking his side over yours, kissing his ass on their socials, believing his lies. Pissed me off, I guess. I wanted you to know you still had someone in your corner. Even if we weren’t as close as we used to be.”

Tears swell in my eyes. “You’ll never know how much that meant to me.”

“Damn, girl.” She swipes at her own eyes with the back of her wrist. “Go get your body scanned or whatever. Text me later. I’ve got a new idea for a stunt.”

“Can’t wait to hear it.”

With a wink and a wave, she follows Henry toward the exit, while I head up the hall after Jay.

Past the prison cells, this underground complex contains a small medical facility and one of Jay’s numerous research labs. It’s also home to the vault where Jay keeps his vampire serum. I’ve been to the medical center before, when I got my special dose.

I find it ironic that Wolfsheim is incarcerated not far from the lab he wanted to find and the serum he wanted to destroy. Serves him right.

Even if I could, I wouldn’t ever completely restore Wolfsheim’s mind, not after he ordered the slaughter of Jay’s people. At first, I was surprised Jay left him alive at all. But it makes sense to keep him around, just in case we need him to give orders to the remaining members of his vampire cult.

That’s the reason Jay always gives, but I suspect he has another motive as well. Despite the killing he’s had to do, Jay is kind. He knows Wolfsheim isn’t a threat now, and he’s being merciful. It’s one of so many things I love about him.

Impulsively I take his hand, and he looks down at me, delighted. Such a simple thing, holding hands. Walking together. But after eight years apart, neither of us takes it for granted.

“We made a breakthrough with the blood substitute last week,” Jay says. “We’re doing preliminary testing on the captured First Gens, with some very encouraging results. Soon we might be able to switch over entirely to synthetic blood.” His brown eyes shine with eagerness, with hope.

“That’s good news. I’m really looking forward to the whole fake-blood thing. Drinking from my mom is just way too awkward.”

He shrugs. “I’ve drunk from so many people it doesn’t feel awkward anymore…but I get it. Once you’re a little further past your transition, you can drink from me sometimes. Occasionally you’ll still need a nice fresh human, though.” He winks at me. “Here we are, darling. Time to play doctor.”

“If only.” I give him my best sultry smile.

He chuckles. “Maybe sometime you and I can play in here. For today, you get Dr. Cheznick. She’s the world’s first specialist in vampiric health.”

After the blood tests and body scans, Jay and I leave the underground complex behind and head upstairs. It’s a rare rainy day in late August, a welcome respite from the pounding glare of the southern sun.

I wander through the screened porch that leads to the pool area, and I place my hand against the cool glass of the back door, watching plump raindrops chase each other and merge into flat streams. I can hear the patter of every distinct drop against the concrete patio.

And I can hear the faint rustle of Jay’s crisp dress shirt and neatly pressed slacks as he comes up behind me.