Checkmate

by Elyce de Reefe

  “You were up at the burial grounds.”

  “Yes.”

  “I thought you might be.” His mouth tightened briefly. “Listen, Aster, we have to get you out of here. There’s a rumor going around. Marten’s followers are searching for you.” He paused, looking serious and almost commanding. “He wants to mate you. And I think we both know he’s not above trying to force the bond.”

  Her chest felt tight hearing it said out loud like that, but she pushed past it fighting a grimace. Just what she did not need, a knight in shining armor riding to the rescue and ruining all her plans.

  “Dean, don’t be ridiculous. Those are just rumors. There can’t be anything to it. Don’t you think he’s learned his lesson when it comes to taking an unwilling mate?”

  “No, I don’t. I think he sees you as a means to an end. And we all know how little he cares how those ends affect other people. We need to get you to Lucas. He can keep you safe.”

  Right. Like that was a good idea. She barely refrained from rolling her eyes. Lead that maniac straight to her brother. Force Lucas into the very fight she was trying to avoid.

  Yeah, no thanks.

  She stared at Dean for a moment, weighing her options. Then she sighed. “Fine, Dean. I guess you’re right. Go find Gage, he knows where Lucas is. I’ll go get my stuff ready.”

  The moment he disappeared down the path, she grabbed her pack and ran like hell. And she hadn’t seen Dean or anyone from her old pack since.

  Aster sighed and settled back against the headboard, taking another sip of cognac. For such a smart man, Dean had been remarkably easy to manipulate. But then, he’d always thought he knew best. He’d hovered over her at college, refusing to let her so much as go to a party by herself. Not that he was her date. Oh, no. But as a member of her pack, he’d felt he should watch over her.

  She huffed out a breath. Well, that was a long time ago. And Dean, and everyone else, had since learned that Aster Ardennes could take care of herself.

  Chapter 4

  Strategy is the heart blood of chess, and every player has a different technique they prefer. Some tend to favor a more defensive long-game, and some prefer a quick, decisive victory.

  — From the Journals of Aster Ardennes

  Dean leaned against the stone counter of his makeshift lab and confronted a grim-faced Lucas, his probable new Alpha. This was the problem with being Lore Master, or almost Lore Master, as the case may be. You had to provide all the information to someone else—your Alpha—who would then make the final decision on what to do about it. And that someone may, or may not, have a solid grasp on all the particulars. But there was no getting around it. This news had to be shared.

  “There is no doubt. The DNA in these samples is clearly from the People of the Moon. They seem to be trying to use certain strands to create an enzyme that will trigger a gene switch— it’s a fertility switch. It’s ingenious, really. But I don’t have to tell you how dangerous this type of research is for the People.” Dean paused and impatiently pushed the hair out of his eyes.

  “Any geneticist capable of this kind of work would know they are looking at strands of pre-sapiens DNA,” he continued. “That isn’t necessarily a problem. The average human genome contains approximately five percent pre-sapiens DNA. But the People carry upwards of twenty-five percent. At least. Sometimes well upwards of that. Should anyone notice that—”

  Dean blew out a breath, trying not to imagine the chaos that would cause among the scientific community. “Well… we don’t want them asking the next logical question. Which segment of the population is carrying such a high percentage— and why?”

  He ran his hand nervously through his hair and then shoved them both in his pockets. “Right now they’re working with incomplete strands of DNA. Isolating those areas responsible for creating that particular enzyme. But should anyone get curious enough to try to map the whole thing...” He trailed off as the ramifications pinged through his brain like a string of firecrackers, one lighting the next, lighting the next...

  He held Lucas’s gaze, the import of his next words twisting his gut. “If anyone decides to take one of those samples and map the entire sequence of DNA, the People would be exposed.” He pulled in a deep, calming breath. “Normally it wouldn’t be all that likely. Spending all that time and money to trace the entire genome of a random individual— it’s too costly. Especially since all they need is the part of the individual strand that makes the enzymes they’re working with. But in this case, with the kind of money this project could generate— it’s a possibility.”

  Dean paused, trying to make the calculations. Whatever. It was big number. “If Special-T Pharmaceuticals comes up with a reliable, ingestible fertility treatment, they’re looking at millions of dollars. Probably hundreds of millions.”

  Lucas rubbed his jaw, obviously taking a moment to absorb the news. He was a good Alpha, smart and capable. Not likely to panic and go off half-cocked, even under these dire circumstances. But he had only recently become an Alpha. He was still relatively untried.

  “Is there any mention of the People in the data files or annotations you’ve decrypted so far?”

  “None,” Dean answered. “In fact, I would go so far as to say the notes deliberately avoid making any reference to the source material. Perhaps to prevent competitors from getting their hands on it— but I would say it’s definitely a deliberate policy.”

  Lucas nodded thoughtfully. “Well, that’s something, anyway. This is all coming from the computers we confiscated from that last lab, the one in the abandoned restaurant?”

  “That’s right. But… it looks like they have at least one other lab that’s doing similar research.”

  Lucas closed his eyes briefly. Dean watched as he opened them again and glanced around the lab. He was rather proud of his workspace. It was actually the main room of a refurbished doublewide. The deep blue Silestone countertops were virtually impervious to the various chemicals and other materials that occasionally dropped on them. Against the white cabinetry and walls, the effect was sleek and efficient, but still quite pleasant. For a lab. And since he spent most of his time in here—

  “Is there somewhere we can sit?”

  Okay, that was the one thing that was missing. The trailer contained the lab, one small bedroom in the back, and a bathroom. There was no living space to speak of. He had a stool that he used when running experiments, and there was a chair at the desk in the corner, but that was it. In the bedroom, he had a bed and a dresser. Even the kitchen was just an efficiency along one wall of the lab.

  Dean gestured to the front door. “We can sit outside. I’ve got a few chairs set up out there.”

  Lucas nodded and stepped through the door. In front of the trailer sat two white plastic patio chairs and a small wooden table where he generally ate, unless he was just grabbing a sandwich between experiments. And there was a grill which he used occasionally. He rarely spared the time to join the others for dinner at the pack house. Food just wasn’t that important.

  Lucas glanced around as if he was seeing it for the first time. “I think your outdoor décor could use a little updating.” His mild half-smile didn’t quite take the sting out of the words.

  Dean shrugged. “It’s functional.” Lucas might be into fancy furnishings, but as long as Dean had a comfortable place to do his research, that was all he needed.

  “Barely.” Lucas settled into one of the flimsy plastic chairs. “But we have other matters to discuss.” He drummed his fingers on the table. “I wonder if this is what Aster has been after all this time, or did she just stumble on it?” He turned his sharp gaze on Dean. “Do you think she knows what this is? The extent of it?”

  Dean shook his head. “Doubtful. It’s possible she recognized the DNA chains I showed her, but that was over ten years ago. I don’t think she would stay silent on something like this if she did. If she had known all along… No. I can’t see it. It’s too dangerous. She would have realized the
possible ramifications immediately. It’s more likely she stumbled on the connection between Marten and the labs and thought it should be investigated.” And didn’t want anyone trying to stop her. But that went without saying.

  Lucas sighed and rubbed his face. “I agree. I can easily see her deciding to use that connection to get back at Marten. One way or another.” He shook his head, looking worried. “She’s always been headstrong. So sure she has all the answers.” He made a wry face. “She usually does. Which has never helped make her see reason.”

  Lucas narrowed his eyes in thought. “And for this kind of money… Who knows what these labs would be willing to do? I’m worried she’s going to find herself in real trouble.” He drew in a breath and leaned back in the chair, making it creak ominously. Maybe he had a point about the chairs.

  “Aster is smart. And she’s careful. She doesn’t do anything without thinking it through.”

  Lucas gave him a dark look but didn’t say anything. Actually, that was what Dean liked about Aster. Her confident intelligence, her quick grasp of any situation— That, and the graceful way she moved through the world without disturbing so much as a blade of grass…

  The Alpha turned his gaze out toward the trees, obviously deep in thought.

  “If I could just convince her to join us. Working together, we’d stand a much better chance at getting this shut down before it blows up in our faces.” Lucas shook his head. “But she won’t. She’s got some plan, and she’s determined to see it through. Plus she’d be reluctant to draw Marten to us.” He sighed and turned back to Dean.

  “Tell me about this other lab. Is it the only other one you’ve found reference to?”

  “The only one so far. My decrypting skills aren’t anywhere near as good as they could be.” They would be non-existent if it weren’t for the games he and Aster had played back in college. Something he couldn’t stop thinking about. Back when they spent most of their free time together. Back before Peter…

  “I have a probable location for it. Something that should be checked out. I need to get my hands on whatever it is they’re working on there. From what I can tell, the research is similar, but not quite the same.” His hands clenched involuntarily. He needed those samples. He made himself relax his hands and tried to keep his voice even too. “I don’t think we want them to know we’ve been there, though.”

  Was it just wishful thinking that made him imagine there was a connection between that research and the Sickness? Dean rubbed his jaw. What were the chances? What would be the motivation? And more ominously, how would they even know to look for it?

  That was what he wanted to be working on. As fascinating as this fertility research was, it was pulling him away from his main goal. Finding a cure for the Sickness. That was what the People needed. Or at the very least, if he could just determine its cause—

  But Dean had been working on that puzzle for the last fifteen years and had very little to show for it. It was why he’d gone into genetics in the first place. And whatever information might have once been in the archives had long ago reverted to myth and lore. The only thing they all agreed on was that it was associated with living too closely with humans. The Human Sickness, it was called in the oldest texts. Which was a definite concern for the Rabbit River Pack, since all the women were human. It was hardly definitive though. The Willamette Pack of Oregon lived among the humans with seemingly no ill effects. That was a relatively recent development, though…

  “You’ve done good work here Dean, as much as I might wish the results were different. If you hadn’t recognized the danger the research at the restaurant posed and investigated further we wouldn’t know how serious the threat is.” He gave Dean a level stare. “Now we need to formulate a plan.”

  Dean resisted the urge to shift uncomfortably. Sometimes he felt woefully inadequate to the task of Lore Master, or even Apprentice Lore Master. In these troubled times, the People needed someone with true genius. The questions were momentous. The alarming increase in the Sickness. The unexplained birthrate issue. And now these labs.

  Lucas tipped his head back and gazed up at the sky, absently rubbing his neck. “We’ll have to take action. Close them down. Destroy all the data… Do you have any idea where they might have their headquarters? There must be some central location. Somewhere they keep all the records and handle the administration.” He tapped the table with his fingertips and gave Dean a shrewd look. “Follow the money. They’ve got to have an Accounts Payable Department somewhere.”

  Dean shook his head. “So far, I haven’t been able to find any reference to a headquarters. We need to find it and make sure we locate all their subsidiaries before we act. And with the way they like to hide the labs away...”

  Lucas nodded. “I don’t like their tendency to set up shop in old abandoned warehouses and empty strip mall stores. Makes them very hard to track.” Lucas sighed. “We could really use Aster’s expertise on this. My parents were delighted when she decided to study cyber security. What an asset for the pack, especially in these modern times. She probably has tracers embedded into all their e-mail traffic. Plus, she will be checking the files of each of the facilities she finds. Give that girl a computer and she will ferret out all its secrets.”

  He looked at Dean, a haunted expression in his eyes. “I can’t deny that the information she’s digging up is important. Perhaps even vital to the survival of the People.” He glanced away, his face grim. “But I wish it wasn’t my sister who’s doing this. It feels like she’s thrusting herself further and further into danger with every layer she uncovers.”

  Dean felt the old familiar clutch in his chest. The idea of Aster—exquisitely fine-boned Aster—out there on her own always got him. He’d never been able to see that delicate frame without wanting to wrap her in cotton wool. Trusting her to take care of herself? Yeah, he’d never been good at that. And now he was paying the price.

  Lucas sat back in his chair, regarding Dean thoughtfully. He needed Dean here analyzing the data. The young Lore Master was gifted. Usually, no one attained Lore Master status until well into their forties. Dean was only mid-thirties and had already completed the studies of a full master, plus received a PhD in genetics. Never mind that he refused to join the pack and accept the title officially. Yet. He would though. Lucas was almost sure of it.

  “I’ll send Jesse,” he said finally. He felt his lips twist in a wry smile. “His B&E skills are exceptional. As are his tracking skills.”

  He thought for a moment. Ever since Elizabeth had been kidnapped, Lucas was reluctant to leave the pack. She’d been snatched off the street right under his brother’s nose. The idea that something similar could happen to Mari…

  Lucas shook his head, trying to dispel the thought. There was no reason to believe Mari was in any kind of danger. Unless Marten decided to use her as a hostage. A bargaining chip. He cut off that line of thought. The man might have reverted to medieval tactics, but he was too busy chasing after Aster to bother with Lucas’s new pack. At least… he hoped so.

  “I’ll send Boaz with him. And Zeke. Boaz is pretty good with a computer. He should be able to get you the files you want without alerting the lab. How are you planning to get the samples? If those go missing, someone is bound to notice. And we can’t torch another lab without raising suspicions.”

  “They’ll have to take a small portion of each sample, or as many as they can manage. I only need a tiny amount. Send Zeke to me. Or Jesse. I’ll show them how to do it without contaminating them.”

  Lucas nodded. “I’ll send both. The two of them can work faster, and Boaz will be busy with the computer files.”

  Lucas stood and Dean followed suit. “I’ll leave you to it.” He glanced around at the uncut grass and weeds that comprised the ‘yard’ of Dean’s trailer. He took in the rickety wooden table and the pitiful plastic chairs.

  “Join us for dinner at the house tonight. You can spare an hour from your work to eat.”

  Dean opened
his mouth to protest, but Lucas forestalled him with a raised hand. “Please,” he said.

  The young Lore Master subsided with a sigh. “Okay. I’ll see you later then.”

  “Don’t be late,” Lucas reminded him with a smile. “You don’t want to get back on Elizabeth’s bad side.”

  The other man grinned and shook his head. “That was one time. I was in the middle of a project.”

  Lucas nodded, suppressing a fond smile. Elizabeth was a great cook, an asset to the pack, but she ruled the kitchen with an iron… skillet. Poor Dean hadn’t stood a chance.

  “I’ll send Jesse and Zeke over now. That way they can leave for the lab right after dinner.”

  “Fine,” Dean said, sounding less than pleased, but Lucas knew he’d cooperate. Even if he wasn’t officially Pack yet, he’d still follow orders.

  Lucas turned and headed down the short tree-lined path that led to the main house. Bright spring sunshine dappled the ground. A pair of tiny kinglets flitted and danced through the underbrush, but couldn’t quite lighten his mood. Even the crisp scent of pine wasn’t enough to ease the tension from his neck and shoulders. He should go for a run. After dinner, he’d circle the perimeter with Gage. That would help.

  He rolled his shoulders, feeling the tight muscles stretch. He didn’t like the way things were developing. He wished Aaron was around, but he and Lyla were still in seclusion. Lucas smiled slightly. The honeymoon phase, as Cray liked to call it. It would be at least a week and a half before he could talk things over with his second. And he’d have to find someone else to watch Lyla’s store. Aaron’s three brothers had been doing the majority of it, but if he was sending Boaz and Zeke with Jesse, that only left Eli. He didn’t like anyone off pack territory alone— they were too vulnerable. Marten had already sent his flunkies to attack the store once.