Janie stepped out from behind Zane. “Why? I mean, why does anybody have to die?”
Zane grasped her good arm and tugged her behind him again.
Kalin laughed, the low rumbling sound making birds take flight high above in a big flapping of wings. “Oh Janie. It's going to be so difficult waiting until you're of age.” He shifted his gaze to Zane. “I don't suppose you and I could meet up before then?”
Zane cocked his head to the side. “Name the time and place.”
Janie took in the two boys. Kalin was obviously older, but Zane nearly stood head to head with him. An oiliness skirted around the Kurjanâthey'd never be friends. She sighed. “We could fix things. The three of us.” Every window into the future that opened up in her head had different endings. They could make this right.
Kalin made a fist and covered it with his other hand, sending a smacking sound across the distance. “I think we may have different ideas of what fixing this would mean, Janie.” His tone was matter of fact, almost like a grown-up's.
Next to her, Zane's body began to vibrate. “I want to kill you, but Janie's right. We could end the war. So many people are going to die. Is there any part of you that would like to do the right thing?”
Kalin lifted his pale face to the dreamlike sun. “In the real world, I can't feel this. No sun. I won't give up the chance to walk outside in daylight.”
Zane shook his head. “You wouldn't have to. We could find a peace that would allow you to continue research to combat the sun.”
“You know about our research?” Surprise made Kalin's voice rise to a higher tone.
“I know more about you than I'd ever want.” Zane widened his stance like a cowboy in a movie. “We could end this right now.”
Swirling purple eyes glinted for a moment as Kalin glanced at Janie. “What about her? Our oracles have declared that one day she'll align with my people.” He took a step toward Zane, his gaze slashing to the younger boy. “Is peace worth your people losing her? To save the world? Are you willing to make that sacrifice?”
“No.” Zane took his own step forward.
Janie peered around Zane's much larger back. What was the creepy boy talking about?
“Does she even know what you are?” Odd red glints began to spark through the weird colors in Kalin's eyes.
Zane made a low growling noise that reminded her of Talen. “No. Neither do you.”
Kalin hissed out a breath. “Don't I? Well. If the choice were actually hers, who do you think she'd pick? I mean, who's the biggest monster here?”
A sharp breeze shot through the meadow, making Janie shiver.
Zane shook his head. “The choice has been made. It's time for you to leave.”
What the heck were they talking about? Janie shut her eyes and concentrated to push the wind away. Silence settled again and birds began to chirp.
A flash of teeth in Kalin's too pale face provided warning. “If I refuse?”
Zane tensed and dropped into a fighting stance.
Janie grabbed his arm, digging her feet into soft grass. “Now isn't the time, Zane.” She wasn't sure about the rules in the dream world. Could somebody get hurt? Maybe.
Kalin threw back his head and laughed a chuckle much too deep for a teenage boy. “True. Now isn't the time.” He began to back toward the tree line. “I may drop by a time or two to check in.” He winked.
Zane tugged her fingers off his arm to hold her hand. “I hope you'll come looking for me soon.”
Kalin gave a salute like a soldier on television. “You can count on it.” Then he was gone.
Zane turned and tugged her down to the ground until they both sat with their knees almost touching. “Teach me how to open and shut that door, Janie.”
“No.” Zane would open it without her to fight Kalin. She just knew it. “What did he mean?”
Zane shrugged. “I don't know.”
“Yes you do. What are you, Zane?”
Dimples flashed when he smiled. “I'm your best friend, Janie. I thought you already knew that.”
“That's not what Kalin meant.” She studied her friend, his handsome face and pretty green eyes. “What are you?”
Zane took her hands in his. “I'm just me, Janie. He was probably talking about the future, about the fighter I'm to become. It probably won't be nice.” A shadow crossed Zane's young face and Janie shivered. “Now please tell me how to control that door. I need to know.”
She sighed. “All right.” Besides, she'd seen the future in her head. The fight didn't occur in a dream. Unfortunately.
Chapter 10
E
mma's mind clicked plans into order as she followed Dage through the residence facility, passing wing upon wing set up for family, friends, and soldiers. First she'd review the new data and then begin experimenting with the isolated virus. She needed to cure Cara before heading home. Or rather, before finding a new homeâthough pure male temptation with a superb ass strode in front of her.
The sun nearly blinded her as the door slid open and they walked into the warm day. She blinked against the dazzling light, wishing for sunglasses and the ability to control her libido. “I guess summer has arrived.”
Dage slowed his steps on the new concrete and took her hand. “The lab is only a few yards from the residence facility, though I wanted it underground in our main headquarters, which is up in the mountains to the north of here.”
“Underground?” She took in the surrounding trees, summer full and quiet in the nonexistent breeze, following him on the new path. His hand surrounded hers with warmth and a tempting offer of safety.
“Yes. But Kane insisted on special return air vents, so ...”
That made sense. They might end up working with some fairly interesting chemicals, so being underground wouldn't work. “Yeah, he's right.”
Dage slowed. “Ah, I'd like you to wear my cuff, love. I'll give it to you tonight.” He turned suddenly and she walked smack into his chest.
Heat roared in her ears. Desire slid through her veins. Only the most stubborn of souls could've stepped back. Good thing she was Irish.
He mirrored her retreating step, and one broad hand slid to the small of her back to tug her farther into male hardness.
She had to tilt her head back, way back, to meet his gaze. “What's this? Your new approach to gaining my cooperation?”
He raised one eyebrow. “Is it working?”
Hell yes. She'd agree to almost anything if he'd quench this desperate fire he'd lit. “No. Of course not.”
He breathed in deep and flashed a smile. “Liar.” His hand slid down to cup her buttocks.
Her knees trembled. “I appreciate the jewelry gift, but I'm not ready for it.” Even if she decided to stay with him, she doubted wearing a large cuff would suit her style. Besides, her mind rebelled against his being able to find her at his whim.
A dangerously warm mouth nipped her earlobe and tracked down to the pulse beating in her neck. She reached up and clutched both hands into his strong chest, tilting her head to grant him better access.
His mouth enclosed part of her collarbone, then he released her, stepping back. “I don't need the cuff to know where you are any time of night or day.”
The damn marking. Probably better than any beacon. She narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists to keep from stepping into him again. It couldn't be healthy to want this badly. “No cuff.” Desire limited her vocabulary to one syllable words.
He sighed. “All right. For now.”
Retaking her hand, he pivoted and tugged her down the path. They turned a corner. She nearly dropped to her knees. Fear hammered into her stomach. A loud gasp of air escaped her and she stopped dead in her tracks.
Dage stilled. “What?”
Emma gulped. “Ah, nothing.” The white building shimmering in the strong sun had starred in her greatest nightmares for over ten years. She looked around franticallyâthe forest looked different than it did in her nightmares. Angling her head, she took in the expanse of concrete on the other side of the building. That was where the king would slam to the ground in pain.
“Emma.” Dage leaned down, his concerned gaze running over her face. “What's wrong?”
Wrong? This was beyond wrong. She straightened her shoulders. “Nothing.” The cure for her sister lay inside that damn building. Emma had understood her time was limited, but to be face to face with the place she was supposed to die, well...
His hands tightened on her arms. “Tell me.” A warning tone slid into his voice that did nothing but warm her blood further.
She shook her head. “I'm worried about Cara and need to get to work.” Her tennis shoes slapped against the smooth concrete as she yanked Dage into motion. Her time to find a cure for her sister was limited. Besides, she had no intention of actually dying in the laboratory. Fate had given her a warning she'd heed. Destiny be damned.
His boots clomped on the path. “Damn it, woman. Prepare yourself because your shields are about to be ripped to shreds.”
“What about my fragile mental state?” She rolled her eyes, grabbing the doorknob to yank. The door refused to open and she fell back into Dage's arms.
He tightened his grip on her, his mouth at her ear. “I'll take my chances, love. You have one day to lower them. This time tomorrow I invade.” His teeth closed over her ear and sent a hard shaft of need through her body.
She trembledâwhether in fear or desire, she wasn't sure. There was no way she could keep the king out of her head if he decided to plunder.
Dage flipped open a thick cover to reveal a keypad, quickly punching in a code. The door released with a soft click.
For a wisp of a moment, Emma thought about runningâback to safety, away from the lab. But if death wanted her, death would get her. That much she knew. Maybe being able to know the place, if not the time, would be to her advantage. The scent of tulips and fresh earth always foreshadowed the explosion, so she had until next spring when they emerged from the ground. She'd spent plenty of time researching tulips; they only poked out of the earth in early spring.
Was she smart enough to cheat death?
She grabbed the doorknob and opened the door. Dage grasped her hand and tugged her inside a square entryway with freshly painted walls where two armed guards stood to attention. The farthest wall held a maroon metal door next to another keypad.
Dage nodded to the guards, punched in the code, leaning his face toward a small window. “Kayrs24256.” He lifted his head. “We'll get you set with an iris and voice match today.”
The door slid open to reveal another Kayrs brother. “Hi.” He held out a hand. “I'm Kane.”
Emma took his hand, tilting her head back for a better view of the scientific brother. Intelligent violet eyes set in a square face studied her. Deep brown hair fell to his shoulders and was held back in a clip. He had the Kayrs size. He pulled her into a hallway lined with intriguing posters of amoebas and viruses.
“Pretty artwork,” she said, traipsing along. The climate controlled environment settled her nerves. She was back home. In a lab.
“Yeah. I thought so.” He grinned, then lowered his head to whisper in a mocking tone, “Though some of the images gross out the king.”
“Really?” Emma slanted a glance back.
Dage rolled his eyes. “A picture of a creepy crawly is just icky.”
Did the King of the Realm just say icky? Emma stifled a laugh as Kane directed her into a large room. Then she sucked in air as they entered a large lab equipped with genetic analyzers, computers, printers, and high-tech equipment that must've cost a fortune. “Is that an ABI Prism 3100 analyzer with ninety-six capillaries?” The one at her previous lab had only forty-eight capillaries.
“No.” Kane followed her into the room. “This Prism has four hundred eight capillaries.”
Impossible. Emma shook her head, the truth of the matter sitting before her, waiting for her to push the buttons. “That's incredible.” The vampires had some serious clout, money, or designers. Even the printer sitting peacefully in the corner was an array printer she'd only dreamed about.
“It will do.” Kane tugged her over to a round table overflowing with papers. “Okay. This is our private labâonly members of the Kayrs family are allowed here. I'll give you a schematic of the rest of the building. We have four clean rooms sealed by vacuums and you have access to them all. There are fifty researchers on the other side. They have access only to the first clean room as well as the twenty labs on the other side.”
“Humans?” Emma asked, her mind spinning.
“Yes.”
She turned, pinning him with her gaze. “Do they have any idea what they're researching?”
“No,” Dage answered from behind her.
She pivoted, both hands going to her waist. “Just like the Kurjans. You're treating humans just like the Kurjans treated the researchers at my lab. Like they treated me.”
Dage shrugged. “I don't give a shit.”
Angry breath caught in her throat as temper had her eyes widening on his. “Excuse me?”
Dage lowered his chin, his gaze hard. “The words were clear, love. We're paying the researchers plenty for their help and they may even cure some human genetic diseases on the side. But under no circumstances are they allowed to know about us.”
She sucked in air to keep from kicking him in the shin. “Listen here, buddy. It's impossible to conduct research without a complete picture of the matter at hand.”
“Too bad. It's your jobâand Kane'sâto put all the data together in one complete place. The humans are workers only. Period.”
She saw red. Plain and simple. “I'm not saying we announce to the world that vampires exist, Dage. But breaking all of the research into small sections isn't the best way.” They were talking about a biological weapon with unknown implications and final results. As many good brains as possible needed to be solely focused on saving mates. On saving Cara.
Kane chuckled low. “Much as I enjoy a good marital spat, I've had my ten top researchers working on their individual projects for several months now before moving them here. As a process, I'm pleased with the results, which I'm happy to go over with you right now, Emma.”
“No marital spat. We're not married,” Emma hissed, stalking around the table and dropping into a thick orange chair.
“Yet,” Dage said with a hard glare, which he turned on his brother. “I don't like these ten people having access to the residence, Kane.”
“I know. But they need a place to live until we buy them houses, Dage.” Kane's calm façade didn't waiver.
Emma shook her head. “Where do the other forty people live?”
Kane shrugged. “Somewhere in Boulder. We bought out Colorado Labs last month and put their geneticists to work for us. They already lived here.”
“I want the humans out of our residence facility within a week, Kane.” The king strode toward the door. “I have some calls to make from Kane's office, and we'll meet again in two hours to discuss our options with Talen.”
Emma gave him a glare while Kane nodded, glancing back and forth between them with a small grin. “Sounds good. See you then.”
Â
A pounding set up at the base of Emma's skull a couple hours later. She sat between Kane and Dage on one side of a large oak conference table facing Cara, Talen, Maggie, and Katie. Jordan paced behind Katie, the muscles vibrating along his forearms, a vein standing out on his forehead.
Emma tried to be inconspicuous in her survey of Maggie, who looked like the girl next door with curly brown hair and deep chocolate eyes. How could this pale woman change into an actual wolf?
“So”âCara leaned forward, hope filling her eyesâ“what did you find out?” The shades behind her allowed in enough light to bathe her in silhouette, turning her into an angel.
Emma shook off the fanciful thought and twirled her key card in her hands. The card that granted her access to every half-painted lab in the building. Labs with a myriad of test tubes, centrifuges, incubators, and autoclaves. Top of the line. “Well, we already knew Virus-27 attacks the twenty-seventh chromosome of mates and shifters.” Every single twenty-seventh chromosomal pair in every single cell of the body.
“But definitely not vampires,” Kane said. His broad hand tapped papers together before him.
Talen raised an eyebrow. “How do we know that for sure?”
Emma turned toward Kane. They didn't know that for sure. Did they?
Kane shifted, his gaze going to the papers he shuffled. Silence pounded around the room.
Dage pushed back from the table, his jaw clenching shut as he stared at his younger brother over Emma's head. “You dumb bastard. You did not.” Disbelief combined with anger in his voice.
Emma frowned and realization dawned. “You didn't.” She'd just spent two hours with the man going over her results, and he hadn't even mentioned the risk he took.
Kane shrugged. “It was the only way to make sure. I mean, it's not like we own animal test subjects who have twenty-seven chromosomes.”
Katie frowned. “I don't understand.”
Dage's eyes blazed a hard silver. “My dumbass brother infected himself with the virus to see if the bug impacts vampires. He used himself as a
lab rat
.”