Kory frowned. “Sorry you saw that.”
Alek nodded, sadness entering his eyes. “The DNA from those early super soldiers Alois developed was pretty volatile.”
“So what was it about my sister’s blood that made such a difference?” I asked, angered that Alek made it out like this was all Tonbo’s fault. “I mean, why does it make the Defenders not look like what was in those cages?” I asked, sensing Kory’s eyes on me.
Alek opened his mouth but another man, who had sun-kissed wrinkles and a long, white beard, answered for him.
“Your sister’s DNA is quite unique,” he said through his thick beard.
I glanced over to see who had joined us. No doubt another Ancient.
“Jocelyn, this is Otto, another one of the masterminds behind it all,” Kory stated.
“Nice to meet you, Otto,” I said, remembering it was in his office we’d found the blueprints for Jaxon. Wanting to stay on topic, I asked, “You said it’s unique, how so?”
Otto cast a quick glance at Kory, who gave a curt nod of approval. “Well, let’s put it this way, Sammy or Samantha, whichever you prefer to call her, would have made one hell of a bartender. She knew how to mix the elixirs, if you will. It’s as if she handpicked the specific genomes she wanted replicated from a variety of species and stuck them all in her. She was ahead of her time in so many ways.”
Another vague answer. I wanted details. “So it’s not enough that she has wings, doesn’t age, and can turn invisible? What kind of genes are we talking here?” I figured it was okay if I sounded ticked. Knowing my sister, she would be.
Kory shifted his weight as Otto answered, “From what we extracted from her sample, she has not only dragonfly but also sperm whale and the mimic octopus, of all things.”
This was not news to me, but I had to act as shocked as Jocelyn. “What? Why those?”
Kory shrugged. “We have no idea. Sammy never mentioned it to you?”
“No. Like I said, she kept a lot from me when it came to her damsel life,” I let contempt riddle my words. Kory must have bought it because he wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “So is that what helps with the Defenders? Whale and octopus DNA?” I asked, wanting to glean more from Otto.
Otto shook his head. “Honestly, we aren’t exactly sure. There a few other strains we are still trying to determine.”
“One of which appears to be bee DNA,” Alek chimed in, his silver eyebrows rising.
“Bees?” I repeated, this time with genuine surprise. Both Otto and Alek nodded back at me. “So, what, Sammy can make honey now?” I asked, purposely playing dumb. Kory gave me a patronizing smile as two more men approached.
After quick introductions, I met the other two missing ancients. Ulrich and Rupert. Both were aged, with smiles as bright as their wings. I just couldn’t fathom why these four ancients would join Kory’s cause on their own volition. It made no sense. They purposely shunned the rest of the world, living in the Outskirts. Why would they now be part of creating an army to so-called govern the new world Kory envisioned?
Kory turned to Ulrich and Rupert and asked, “So Jocelyn was just saying how Sammy had visited with Otto and Alek before giving Jocelyn her blood sample. Did she come see you two as well?”
I didn’t miss the way Otto’s eyes widened. Pretty obvious these guys didn’t want Kory to know Sammy had seen them.
Ulrich and Rupert glanced at each other before Ulrich answered, “No, but I wish I could have had the opportunity to meet Sammy. I wouldn’t mind talking to her about her findings.”
Rupert quickly nodded in agreement. “We could only have been so lucky. What an honor that would have been.”
Kory harrumphed and muttered something under his breath. Apparently, he did not like being the last to know—on anything.
“Sammy had come to see me, but I’m afraid the topic of the Defenders had not been brought to my knowledge at that point. Kory,” Otto said, looking at him directly. “You came to me not long after her visit. If I’d known what I’d be involved with, I would have had a lot more questions for her.”
“So what did you talk about?” Kory asked, his jaw hard.
Now I was wishing I could take my earlier statement back. I had no doubt now the ancients didn’t want Kory to know about Sammy’s visit at all. It made me wonder just how loyal they really were to Kory’s cause. Maybe them playing along with it was just an act.
“Sammy wanted to know if there was anything we,” he glanced at Alek, who nodded back at him, “could do to help her and Samantha be one again. She said she’d hoped transforming into a damsel would have been enough, but it wasn’t. She came to us when she was in control.”
Alek caught my gaze and firmly said, “She was looking for a cure.”
Chapter 33
I knew my mouth gaped open, but I couldn’t help it. I didn’t know what to believe. Had Sammy really stolen away to the Outskirts in the hope of curing us? And then what, she gave up and went home to warn Jocelyn to stay clear of Kory? After which, she willingly handed over her blood to make the bug army stronger? None of this made any sense. Just when I thought I was getting it, finally understanding Sammy better, I felt like I was starting completely over again.
Kalepe, who’d stood back listening, stepped forward, motioning to Kory. “I think we are ready for the ceremony now.”
Alek and Otto’s explanation must have appeased Kory’s earlier anxiety because a grin spread across his face.
“Wonderful, Kalepe,” he said, “Shall we continue this down on the beach? The Defenders have something special planned for us tonight.”
Now my anxiety heightened. Just what kind of ceremony were we talking about? Surely, Kory wouldn’t try injecting me now, right? Knowing how jumpy Jocelyn felt about this, he wouldn’t dream of making a public display of her injections… would he?
Kalepe let out a loud whooping noise as we wound down the fire-lit path to the beach. I was surprised to hear several other Tongans match the sound. It reminded me a bit of wolves in a pack, howling to one another. Not sure if it was an island or Defender thing, I stepped a bit closer to Kory. For some reason, the mild-mannered Kalepe was giving me a different vibe now. There was a manic energy about him, a wildness in his gaze when he glanced back at me. The grin that had dimpled his cheeks, giving him an almost boyish feel all day, now left me feeling sick with adrenaline.
Kory gave my arm a squeeze. “Relax. They have some songs they want to sing and dance to; it’s nothing too scary.”
“Okay,” I said, noticing how more and more Tongan men were crowding around us as we waded through the soft sand. They still wore their lavalava skirts, but now I noticed they wore some kind of grass skirt around them as well, adding color and fullness. All were bare chested, and a few of them sported flowered leis around their necks.
The bonfires from earlier were now raging, three total, one definitely larger than the others. It was at this fire that we gathered around. Two old lawn chairs stuck out like sore thumbs. When Kory beelined for them, I supposed they were meant for us. With the others sitting directly on the sand, it felt funny to be the only ones sitting in chairs. With a yelp from Kalepe, all the Tongans were on their feet, and we were the ones being dwarfed.
Somewhere, drums began to droll out. I found the source quickly as bodies moved to clear our view. I could only stare. One monstrous Tongan was in the forefront, manning four drums by himself, each drum easily five feet high, three feet wide. Three more Tongans were behind him, forming a line, each one drumming furiously on one tall drum. I’d never heard such a rhythm before. My entire frame shook with the reverberations.
With the drumming, the energy around the fire spiked. I watched in wonder as Tongans began catcalling out different sounds and rhythms, their bodies beginning a slap dance like I’d never seen before. The drums didn’t stop, just increased in speed and force, and the Tongans frenzied movements sped up too.
Kalepe danced around in and around the other men, cal
ling out commands I didn’t understand. Then, as the drumming reached the pinnacle, the fire leaping around, lighting up the bodies leaping and bounding around us, Kalepe let out a call that I did understand.
“Defenders! Transform!”
I gasped, my eyes darting to Kory. His eyes danced with the same manic energy Kalepe’s had. This was the big ceremony? The sound of angry flesh being torn away, along with roars and screaming, assaulted my ears. I couldn’t help but jump to my feet, readying to bolt. Really, I wanted my own wings to burst out and take me from this.
Kory grabbed on to me, shouting to be heard above the insane noise surrounding us, “Don’t worry! These Defenders are perfectly safe!”
Kory’s crazed stare was enough to make me look away and meet the horror before me. No longer men, the Defenders’ enormous heads turned, black, bug-like eyes all gazing back at us. One stood out from the rest, and from the shredded remains of his lavalava, I knew it was Kalepe. Though not as scare-ridden as Jaxon, their heavy-corded wings, oversized frames, hunched shoulders, and elongated claws reminded me of the bug Jaxon tried to overcome within himself. To my shock, none of them rushed us. If anything, they continued in their chants and half-slap-half-jumping around the fire. With monstrous roars, Kalepe seemed to be calling out commands still.
“See?” Kory called back to me. “The Defenders are completely in control of themselves!”
I sickened at Kory’s pride—at the impossible feat we had before us. How can we stop this now? We can’t just destroy them. If they could be reasoned with, maybe I could convince Kalepe he was being misguided. That Kory didn’t have their best interest at heart.
Maybe I could…
My thoughts were shattered by a long, high-pitched wail making its way through the dancing and beating drums. The timbre was definitely female, the note surprisingly on key for how loud it was. The drums suddenly stopped, and with it, the dancing. The Defenders suddenly appeared restless, more black eyes glancing my way than I’d like.
Kory stiffened and turned to stare at the shoreline, swearing.
“What was that?” I asked, my nerves already frayed by the sight of the Defenders slowly meandering closer to me. Why didn’t Kory notice them?
“The Irukas,” Kory muttered. The feminine cry sounded again. This time, the melody was haunting.
Knowing Jocelyn wouldn’t have a clue what that meant, I asked, “The what?”
He didn’t answer me, just marched away, motioning for Kalepe to follow. I shrunk back, almost tripping against the lawn chair as Kalepe went to pass me. I didn’t trust bugs, no matter what you called them. Kalepe glanced my way, inhaling deeply. His black eyes gave me a questioning look before he hustled to catch up to Kory, who had made his way to the shoreline. Being away from the light of the bonfire, they may as well have disappeared for all I could tell.
Something brushed my arm, and I jumped, spinning around at the same time. An enormous black head peered down at me, the eyes too far apart and the nose too small.
“Hi… you’re a… one of the Defenders? Right?” I asked, trying to dodge the lawn chair and move back a step or two.
The Defender nodded, its mouth splitting into a wicked grin as it inhaled deeply through its pinched nostrils. “Yes,” he purred back at me. “And you are not what you seem.”
I wasn’t sure what terrified me more, his proximity or the fact he knew I was a fraud. How can he possibly know?
I was surprised to hear Kory crow loudly, and thankful I was saved from the Defender bearing down on me. He moved back quickly, perhaps not wanting Kory to see him pressuring me. Kory made his way back toward me, the fire lighting up the whites of his eyes and teeth with how big he was smiling now. What could possibly make him happier than seeing his Defenders dancing around the fire?
My answer came with arms and wings pinned back by Kalepe’s monstrous Defender form. His head was held high with his blond hair wet and curling at his neck.
Blake.
Chapter 34
I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood. I can’t cry out to him. Not here, not now. What was he doing here? Had he come searching for me and the Irukas caught him?
Blake met my gaze. In the light, I made out a blackened eye and a bloodied lip. I had jumped forward a few steps before remembering Jocelyn would not show kindness for Blake’s predicament. Jocelyn’s disdain for him was pretty clear in her bedroom two days ago. Or had I been gone longer?
I couldn’t blame Blake for coming after me; I would’ve done the same thing in his shoes. Reading relief in his expression, I knew he’d been worried over my safety. If only he’d waited a bit longer to come! I was going to make my escape tonight. Although, seeing how the Defenders kept casting glances at me, I began to wonder just how easy escaping would’ve been after all.
“Well, well, well. What have we here?” Kory drawled out as a few of the Defenders hooted.
“Kory, this is madness,” Blake said firmly, not seeming to mind the Defender holding on to him.
“Madness? You showing up here is madness. I must say, I thought you’d come a bit more prepared. I mean, what did you expect to find?” Kory’s laugh was mirthless. “I knew you’d figure out what needed to be done, eventually. See the wisdom in my plans. So I’m going to assume since you came so… unarmed… that you must be ready to join our great cause.”
“Do you even hear yourself?” Blake demanded. “You’re creating monsters! Why on earth would I want to be a part of that?” Blake shot the four ancients who hovered near Kory withering looks.
They dropped their heads, refusing to meet his gaze.
“Because, my dear, old friend,” Kory drawled, “this is all inevitable. Dragons are the superior race. We’re stronger, faster, and live so much longer. Humans will be a thing of the past. And when this new world begins, there will need to be some kind of order to the madness. I don’t know why you refuse to see it. I’m not creating monsters; I’m creating trained soldiers who can help keep things from unraveling. You can’t keep sticking your head in the sand. When are you going to man up?”
Blake’s eyes narrowed. “Man up? Is that what you were doing when you injected my brother? Tricked him into becoming something you knew nothing about? Now he fights a demon within himself. Then you had the gall to trick me into killing him for you! Was that all you manning up, Kory?” he retorted. His words caused a ripple through the crowd.
Apparently, the Defenders knew nothing of Jaxon. Still, the four ancients would not meet Blake’s piercing gaze. Amazing how he could command so much authority with his arms still pinned behind him.
“I agree with you on one thing,” Blake continued as Kory shifted his weight. “I won’t stick my head in the sand anymore. I can’t pretend the Dragon Fae world doesn’t exist. Because it does, and I’m proud to be a part of it. But,” his word rang out over the crowd, “creating super soldiers from bug DNA is not the answer. We can’t control them. We will never be able to control them.”
The Defenders looked to Kory, their black eyes widening.
“Oh,” Kory crowed, “that’s where you’re wrong. These are good men. They want to defend the innocent. I’m sorry, truly, for what happened with Jaxon. I never meant for it to turn out like that.” Kory frowned. “Jaxon came to me, begging to be able to help watch over you, his kid brother. I thought the desire to protect and fight for something he loved would be enough to keep the monster at bay. But I was wrong.”
“You never told him there was a difference! You never gave him a choice. Which makes me wonder—did you even give these people a choice? Did they know they didn’t have to become bugs? That they could still fight and be warriors as dragons? Why give them the extra demon to fight within themselves?”
As the argument moved between the two, I noticed how the Defenders’ gazes would shift, listening to both intently. Maybe this was the moment we needed. Maybe Blake could reason with the Defenders, make them see whose side they should be on.
“They’ve ov
ercome their demons, and now they have the strength of thousands of dragons. And yes, I did give them a choice,” Kory retorted.
“How?” Blake demanded. “If what you said is really true, how did they do it?”
Kory snorted. “Your precious girlfriend helped us. Or didn’t you know that already?”
Blake shook his head. “Samantha has nothing to do with this.”
“Not Samantha—Sammy. I must say, Blake, you’re one dirty dude. Got yourself two girls for the price of one. That’s the thing of daydreams, right?”
Seeing Blake straining to lunge for Kory, his wings a blur of movement, I hauled back and punched Kory in the arm—hard. Kory whirled around, shock in his eyes.
“Hey, that’s my sister you’re talking about,” I hissed back at him, praying Jocelyn would have had enough decency to defend my honor.
Kalepe’s monstrous form had easily stopped Blake’s struggling, holding him in place. Hearing no cry of anguish, I hoped the popping sounds I’d heard weren’t Blake bones. Maybe Kalepe wasn’t trying to actually hurt Blake. Not yet, anyway.
Kory seemed to consider me for a moment, his eyes sweeping my frame, leaving goose bumps across my skin. Can he tell? Maybe the gag is up.
“You never cared what I said before,” Kory muttered under his breath, but then he shrugged, pointing to Blake in Kalepe’s arms. “Well, I can’t just let you go, now can I, Blake? You know where my Defenders are. I can’t risk you running off to tell Tonbo.” He gritted his teeth. “I can’t stand how you worship that man.”
“Don’t kid yourself; you only wish Tonbo still held you in high regard. You’re nothing more than a spoiled brat,” Blake sneered.
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