Cara nodded and her heart started to stutter as the blob infected and changed the cell. “They’ve created a virus that attacks the mates of vampires?” A dull ache pounded in her stomach. “If the cells are from the vampire mate, why wouldn’t the virus attack vampires, too?”
“Maybe the three extra pairs of chromosomes we don’t pass on protect us and the Kurjans from the virus,” Talen said, fury riding his words.
That actually made sense. Cara shifted in her seat.
Kane watched something off camera for a moment before turning back to the group, his eyes narrowing as he spoke. “Talen, you might want to take your mate back to your quarters.”
“No,” Cara protested. “Whatever it is, I want to know.”
Talen looked her over for a moment before giving his brother a short nod.
Kane shook his head and punched in a button. A small woman pacing a cold square cell came into focus. She had dark blond hair, light blue eyes, and milky pale skin—Cara guessed her age at about twenty-five.
“Who is she?” Dage asked quietly.
“She was a Kurjan sotie,” Kane answered after reading something off the screen.
“What’s a sotie?” Cara asked.
“A mate.” Jase answered.
“Why would anybody mate a Kurjan?” Cara wondered out loud.
Talen cleared his throat. “Mating doesn’t have to be done willingly.”
Her stomach dropped. She wished she’d gone back to their quarters.
“The woman was injected with the virus less than an hour before this recording was made,” Kane said quietly, shuffling a stack of papers.
The woman paced the cell before starting to talk rapidly to herself, the words incoherent and full of pain. She slapped one hand against the stone wall and then punched the unforgiving surface several times in quick succession; blood sprayed from torn knuckles as she started to scream in agony. Cara jumped in surprise.
The woman’s hands went to her head with a resounding clap as screaming turned to moaning and then back to screaming before she began to rip blond hair out of her head in thick chunks that soon matted the cement floor. Her eyes wild, her body contorting, the screaming stopped as madness overcame her, and she began slamming herself against the steel bars. The shrill snapping of bones echoed through the camera. Cara’s own bones ached in response but she refused to turn away. She somehow couldn’t leave the woman alone in her misery, even if it had already passed. Dizziness swamped her, and she whimpered in sympathy as the caged woman tried to claw her jugular out with one hand.
“Enough,” Talen growled at his brother.
Kane nodded and the screen went blank. “She broke her own neck against the bars exactly two hours after being injected with the virus.”
“Oh my God,” Cara breathed, taking deep breaths to keep from throwing up. She really didn’t understand. “Why create a virus you have to inject to kill mates? Why not just shoot them?” The scientist in her came awake. “Oh. It’s just the first step. If they evolve the virus until it is airborne, they wouldn’t have to know where vampire mates were located. They could just set the virus free.”
Talen jumped to his feet, his body all but vibrating with violence. “They won’t let it free until they have an antidote or immunization for their own mates.”
Dage shrugged before standing and walking behind them to a computer keyboard and punching in some information. “Maybe. Maybe not. To my knowledge, the Kurjans have never valued their mates to any great degree.”
Cara spoke up softly. “We need a geneticist on this. I’m not experienced with human genetics.”
Kane nodded through the screen. “We’re working on that.” He rustled papers. “In fact, we’re going to need to divert some funds into scientific research—I have a proposal to present when I return home.” He forced a grin. “In time for the colloquium, of course.”
Nodding, Talen leaned back against the wall. “Apparently while we have been modifying weapons the last century, the Kurjans have turned to science.” The anger burning in his belly gave his words a guttural sound. A virus had been specifically engineered to injure or kill his mate, and his need to protect lengthened the sharp incisors in his mouth without conscious thought on his part.
Cara thought fleetingly of her sister Emma, who was at the head of her field in genetic engineering. She also shared Janie’s odd ability to see the future. Cara struggled with her need to solve the crisis and protect her sister.
“Cara?” Moving into her line of vision, Dage’s eyes deepened to zinc. A base intent cascaded out of him and a tingle tickled Cara’s mind. Like spider legs tiptoeing across her skull. She mentally shoved him back.
She shook her head as Talen placed both hands on her shoulders from behind. He squeezed and then moved to block her from his brother.
Dage closed his eyes for a moment before they flashed open in a blaze of silver light. “Your sister is more than a geneticist, isn’t she?” His gaze roamed the angles of her face. “She’s a psychic.”
Talen froze in his tracks. Cara didn’t answer, her gaze wary on Dage. How did he do that?
“She is?” Talen asked in surprise before staring at Dage. “It makes sense, but that wasn’t in the Intel I received. And stay the fuck out of my wife’s head.”
Cara started. “You received Intel on me?” She turned to face him.
Talen nodded. “Of course. I told you Dage sent information to my smart phone.” He looked to his brother in question.
“There wasn’t time.” Dage ran a frustrated hand through his thick black hair. “We heard about the order to acquire them just in time to intercept, and we’ve been dealing with the Kurjan research facilities since. We haven’t done a complete background check yet.” He sighed. “I apologize for invading your thoughts.”
She ignored the apology—she’d deal with the king later. “You already know the Kurjans are chasing Emma for her genetic research.”
“Cara.” Talen swiveled her chair around and crouched down to her eye level. “They’re not chasing her for the research. They’re chasing her because she’s psychic and therefore a potential mate.”
“Oh God,” Cara whispered, blue eyes filling with tears. “Emma.”
“And apparently good at hiding,” Dage said grimly as he read the information flashing across the computer screen before a picture of Emma smiling in a lab coat filled the space. He stilled, every muscle in his impressive body tightening before Cara’s eyes.
“What?” Fear chilled her blood and she shivered.
His head swiveled toward her as if in slow motion. “She looks a lot like you, Cara.” Shards of navy pierced the silver in his eyes, swirling to a color not even close to human.
The emotions coming from the king were too strong for her to block. Anger. Determination. Impatience. “So?”
“So we need to find her before the Kurjans do. It’s just a matter of time.” Dage typed a series of commands into the computer. “I’m sending everybody we have—and I’ll join them tomorrow.” His jaw hardened to granite.
Talen stepped up to the computer, typing in her e-mail account, then her password, which she’d shared long ago. A message from [email protected] came up on screen. Cara lurched forward to read.
Hey sis—I had to move. I’m safe, no worries. Love to the kiddo. E
Cara sighed. If Emma said she was safe, then Cara could believe it. She stepped back from Talen as fury swept through her. “I don’t understand. Why the heck is it so important to find women with enhanced traits?”
A startled cough came from Jase, and the rest of the Kayrs men remained silent as several pairs of eyes turned to look at Talen. He opened his mouth to answer just as Kane came back on the screen.
“I don’t mean to interrupt, but we just decoded ten more discs labeled with different female names we need to view.” His voice was an angry growl.
Cara’s knees knocked together as she turned back toward her seat. “Okay. I’m ready.” The I
ntel they’d taken from the Kurjan facilities was the best chance they had in ending all of this so her sister could stop hiding.
Talen lifted her off the ground and into his arms where she gave a startled yelp. “You’re going back with Janie, Cara.”
“No, I’m not,” she protested as he pivoted around and headed for the door, his strong face determined, his jaw set hard. “I can help, Talen.”
“There’s no need for you to see the tapes. If we discover anything dealing with either genetics or information regarding your sister through the viewings, I promise I’ll retrieve you.”
Now in the hall, she started to struggle in his arms. He tightened honed muscles, effectively stilling her movements. “Don’t argue with me, mate.” His voice held no quarter.
With an irritated huff, Cara allowed him to pull her closer into his chest. “What if the Kurjans find her first?” Cara stifled a sob.
“Then we’ll deal with it.” He dropped a gentle kiss on her head. “But she’s hidden successfully not only from the Kurjans but from us. Chances are she’s safe.”
If anyone could do it, her big sister could. She thought for a moment as Talen’s sure steps echoed on the rough stone floor. “Talen? Does Dage read minds?”
Talen sighed. “He has the ability but he’s promised to stay out of our heads. Usually, he does.”
“Humph.” She’d have to learn to block him. Another thought occurred to her. “How many vampire mates are there?”
Talen shrugged. “I don’t know. We’re spread across the world, I don’t know an actual count.”
She shook her head. “But there can’t be that many. It seems like a waste of resources for the Kurjans to spend so much time on a virus to kill us.”
Talen’s grip hardened. “Who knows why the Kurjans do anything.” He put her outside the door to their quarters before placing his palm against the rock. “However, they are well aware that our mates are our lives—take ours and you pretty much destroy us.” The door opened to reveal Janie gleefully putting the finishing touches of the bright pink polish on Max’s hands.
“Nice timing,” the soldier said with a grimace.
Talen snorted. “You’re relieved, in case you need to powder your cheeks.”
“Funny.” The soldier tweaked Janie’s nose as he stood and ambled for the door.
Talen gave Cara a kiss on the cheek before turning to follow Max. “I’ll be back when I can.”
Cara walked into the room to plop with a sigh next to her daughter who looked at her with wise eyes. Too wise. “Everything is going to be all right, Mama.”
Cara straightened and searched her daughter’s face. “Are you sure?”
“I promise.” Janie reached over and grabbed a remote control. “Let’s watch the pony movie, you’ll like it.”
Talen returned several hours later when Cara was making a big pot of macaroni and cheese in the tiny but well appointed kitchen. The appliances were stainless steel and top of the line.
“Smells good,” he said as she turned to study his face. Sharp lines cut through his cheeks, his eyes hardened to dented metal and a pulse pounded in his jaw. The tension vibrating through his shoulders set her teeth on edge, and she wondered what he had seen in those tapes.
“Bad?” She ran a gentle finger down his enduring face.
He briefly closed his eyes. “Yes.” He looked around. “Where’s Janie?”
“Napping.”
He pulled Cara to him and touched his lips to hers before diving deep with a groan. She responded as if she hadn’t seen him in days. Her hands reached up to clench in his hair while his hands wrapped around her buttocks to yank her into his erection. They both panted for breath when he lifted his head. The imprint on her hip pulsed in demand.
The anger still blistering in his eyes made her take a step back.
“What?” She turned to stir the noodles.
“The virus isn’t meant to kill,” he said soberly.
Cara turned around in surprise. “Not meant to kill? How?”
“Seven of the eleven women killed themselves to escape the agony of the virus.” Talen dropped into a thick wooden chair at the round granite table. “The others survived it.”
Cara sat down across from him. “They survived being infected? I don’t understand.”
“The purpose of the virus isn’t to kill—it’s to change the mate back to human form.” His eyes were metallic flints of rage.
“Oh. Why?”
Talen took a deep breath. “So they can be mated to a Kurjan.”
Cara wrinkled her forehead. “They created an entire virus just to steal your mates?” She gave a disbelieving laugh. “There aren’t enough human women in the world to go around?”
Talen remained silent, his gaze serious on her as she caught up.
“There aren’t enough women,” she murmured as realization dawned. She jumped to her feet. “Don’t tell me. Only those with the stupid enhanced abilities are able to mate with you.”
“And bear our children,” Talen snapped back.
“Oh God. How rare are we?” Fear for her daughter overrode all else.
“Extremely,” Talen confirmed, his eyes narrowing.
She took a step back from the table. “You knew. You knew that when you mated me.”
Talen unfolded to his feet. “I knew you were my mate when I mated you.”
A small voice made them both turn. “Mama?” Janie rubbed twin fists in her eyes. “I’m hungry.”
With one last glare at Talen, Cara hurried over and picked Janie up. “I made your favorite sweetheart—come and sit down.” She carried her daughter to the table and placed her gently on a chair.
“This discussion is tabled, not finished, wife,” Talen said in a deep growl as he flipped open his buzzing cell phone and read the text message. “I need to go. The most recent information revealed another lab in southern California, and we need to raid it tonight.” He snaked out a hand to tangle in her hair before lowering his head for a quick kiss.
“Emma?” she asked softly as he stepped away.
Talen shook his head. “The lab looks like a research facility, but we should gain more information from the raid. I’ll keep an eye out, Cara.”
“Do you have to go?” She felt safer with him; besides she wanted to finish this fight and see where they stood.
He nodded. “Yes. I’m the head of security for the Realm.”
Cara shook her head in surprise at this new information. “There’s so much we don’t know about each other, Talen.” She stepped back.
Golden eyes narrowed. “Then it’s a good thing we have centuries, isn’t it mate?” With a small kiss to Janie’s head, he was gone.
The rest of the night was spent playing Old Maid, watching movies, and finally tossing in bed for several hours. When Cara was able to sleep, she dreamt of pale white monsters with blood red teeth laughing as they buried her in a coffin made of granite.
Chapter 23
Cara awoke in the sprawling bed with a cry, only to have a strong male arm wrap around her and drag her into his body, spoon style. “Go back to sleep, it’s early,” Talen murmured drowsily in her ear.
Her body melted back into his warmth, and she tamped down on the instant stutter of her heart. “Did you raid the facility?”
“Yes. We’ll go through the data later. We found much of the same information as the place in West Virginia.” His hair roughened leg caressed her own smooth one.
“No mates?” Her voice caught on the last word.
“No.” His breathing deepened and his body relaxed into sleep. The warmth surrounding her lulled her into comforting dreams this time.
She awoke alone in the big blue bed. She leaned up to see a full basket of clothes on the granite floor—her clothes. Her heart jumped a bit that Talen had her clothes brought to Colorado, but that voice in her head reminded her about her doubts. The doubts screaming Talen wouldn’t have married her without some strange gene she’d inherited that g
ave her not only enhanced gifts but the ability to breed a vampire child. Duty to his people rode him hard.
With a shrug, she took a quick shower in the attached bath before donning jeans and a blue sweater and heading into the hall. She followed muted voices to the kitchen where Janie and Talen ate scrambled eggs and discussed the best colors of the rainbow.
“No way,” Talen said with a grin. “Golden yellow is the best.”
Janie shook her head sadly. “Grown-ups are so blind.” Her hair fell in perfect braids on either side of her head when she refocused on her breakfast.
“Who did your hair?” Cara asked.
Janie smiled in delight at Talen, who gave her a smug grin. “He did.” Then she started bouncing on the chair. “Guess what? We get to go to our new house today.”
Cara frowned. “Is it safe?”
Talen nodded. “Yeah. I have men sweeping the house and grounds—the Kurjans have no idea where we are—even if they had time to mount a raid. We’ve hit too many of their facilities this last week, and they’re scrambling to protect themselves.”
Cara ran a hand down Janie’s hair before taking a seat at the table.
“What about all my stuff?” Janie asked before shoveling in a bite of eggs.
“Just bring your clothes and dolls, Janie. I have duplicates of everything else already at the house,” Talen said.
“Dupl … duplicates?”
“Um, the same. You have the same bed, dollhouse, and rug at the house.”
“Cool.”
Talen’s phone buzzed, and he flipped the top open to read the text before standing. “Our allies raided another facility in eastern Europe—no mates found but a lot of information.” His gaze pinned Cara’s. “I’ll go meet with Dage while you two pack Janie’s stuff. Be ready to go in an hour.” His expression told her louder than words their discussion from the previous night remained on the table. She frowned in response.
Cara bypassed breakfast to help Janie pack her things. They had just finished piling everything into the myriad of laundry baskets delivered by Max when Talen returned to take them home. Several soldiers followed to help carry the baskets.
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