by Vyne, Amanda
“That’s in the past.”
Vin turned his head and looked at his brother lying on the other side of Brit, hands tucked behind his head, gaze focused on the ceiling.
“Your fight is here now…with us.” Tag rolled to his side and propped his head up on one hand. With his other, he brushed a lock of dark red hair back with such an overwhelming sense of reverence that Vin felt it fill his chest. His brother was wide open to him, no barriers or restrictions—completely vulnerable. The ferocity and purpose in his brother was vivid enough to feel as though they were Vin’s. Maybe they were.
All breath stilled in his lungs, and he released it in a slow exhalation, afraid that any abrupt movement would scatter the fragile bonds once again connecting him and his twin.
Tag caught his gaze. “I can understand why you did what you did, your need to act after Bryce’s death, but understand something—we’re in this together now. All of us.” Tag cupped the natural swell of Brit’s belly where their child now grew. “So if you need to fight, choose your battles wisely. No more vigilante bullshit.”
“Understood.” Vin laid his hand next to his brother’s, letting the energy of their connection surge through him. Another word would be too much. Tag was taking his apology, offering his acceptance, and Vin realized he’d sorely missed it. He hadn’t been dramatic when he said Tag was his true north. His brother, although wild, was solid and grounded. Vin needed that—needed Tag.
“A baby.” Vin sent the thought to his brother, wonder weighting what was meant to be a lighter topic. “From three different genetic sources.”
Tag groaned and leaned in to press a kiss to Brit’s temple. “We’re going to have to hide all the syringes and microscopes during her pregnancy, or she’ll make herself a walking lab rat.”
Brit wrinkled her forehead as though even in sleep she disagreed with them, and shared humor brightened the long-dormant conduit between them.
Chapter Twenty-One
Brit frowned at the information she’d finally coaxed from Raife’s blood. Just as she’d suspected, Kahn had discovered a new antibody responding to an unknown viral infection—a virus she’d unknowingly transferred to Katya during that life-saving transfusion she’d administered. The question was what was it and what effect would it have on Katya. In her mind, she brought forth the images of all the previous cases of viral strands she’d ever encountered in both human and Arcane, and scanned through the data, mentally discarding what she didn’t consider pertinent.
She inhaled and leaned back in the chair. It was like fanning a stack of endless pages in her mind, looking for that one specific word or image. Then she would pull it up in her memory with detailed accuracy and look at it like she would a physical source.
Her mother had called it a gift, but Brit often considered it a burden. That much information could be overwhelming, but she tried to approach it at a practical angle. In her line of work it saved her valuable time by having all the data she needed easily accessible with just a thought. In this case, that data was proving futile. What of data she’d yet to encounter? To research that she would need current medical information contained outside of this lab, which required external access that she did not have.
Brit released the images in her head with a sigh and glanced up at the camera. She’d have to call out for Tag and ask for his. The task was daunting since she had quietly left him sprawled belly down on his big bed just after dawn. An ache was building in her temples, and her stomach voiced its opinion of her neglect. She hadn’t gotten much sleep last night, and she certainly hadn’t stopped to eat before leaving the apartment early this morning.
“When you snuck out.”
Tag’s voice sounded rough with sleep and very, very sexy. Her body, though achy and well used from last night, roused at the feel of that voice in her mind. She blew out a resigned breath. Would she never be able to control herself when it came to the Jennings brothers?
The door to the lab slid open, and Raife walked in carrying a covered tray. She waited until he disappeared into the exam room before she glanced back up at the camera and hissed, “I just need some time to think.”
And the lab was where she felt the most centered.
“Take all the time you need. You have a whole hour until I bring you some breakfast.”
“Taggart,” Brit groaned.
Tag was an unbending, obstinate boor, and now that he’d mated her, she had the feeling he was only going to get worse. Yet somehow, it didn’t seem as threatening as it had a few weeks ago. She’d lived for so long on the outside watching the bonds built between the people around her. Envious. Now, whether she wanted it or not, she was a part of it. Mated. To two men.
“And if you eat like a good girl, I’ll get you access to an outside server.”
Brit snorted and glared up at the camera. She shouldn’t be shocked by her lack of privacy—even in her own head—since Tag had never given her one moment’s peace before he became her mate. Vin was different. At least one of her mates respected her privacy.
“Don’t fool yourself, baby. Vin’s right here with me. He just gives you the illusion of privacy.”
Brit rolled her eyes. There went that theory.
“I swear, Kat, if you don’t eat, I’m going to smash all this high-tech shit into tiny pieces.”
Brit followed the sound of the belligerent threat to the exam room. Katya was propped up with three different laptops opened in front of her, an untouched plate of food pushed off to the side.
“I’m sure Tag would have something to say about that, Raife. These are his.”
“I’m not afraid of that bastard. I can take him.”
Brit held her smile and pulled her lab jacket from a hook. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to have someone who hovered, someone willing to get his ass kicked to ensure her continued health.
“I wouldn’t be too confident, Agent Merrick,” Brit said calmly as she slid into the white jacket.
Raife shot a glance at her, and his nostrils flared. “Damn. Both of them, huh?” He cast a considering glance to Katya and the untouched food. “I’ll still risk it.”
Katya rolled her eyes in exasperation but didn’t look away from the screens.
“Anything new to report, Doc?” Raife asked as he tried to remove a laptop and got his hand slapped for his effort.
Brit sighed and pulled her lab coat closed. “My initial suspicion was correct. You have been infected with an as yet unknown virus which was transmitted to Katya during the transfusion we performed.”
Katya jerked her head up and turned her pale blue eyes on Brit. “He’s sick too?”
“Not in the same way, no,” Brit said as she watched Raife take advantage of his mate’s distraction. He swiped two laptops off her table and replaced them with the tray of food. Katya cast an irritated glance at the tray and then her mate. Brit almost smiled at Raife’s triumphant grin.
“Never been sick a day in my life,” Raife told his mate, pressing a kiss to her pale hair. “Now eat. I’m sure the doc has some kind of theory.”
“I cease to be amazed at the incredible symbiotic biological response between mated pairs. Agent Merrick’s body has never failed to adapt to provide what you needed. It’s my understanding that this biological response is expected between mated Drachon, so I theorize this virus is his body’s natural response to your genetic mutation.”
“He’s sick because I’m sick?” Katya frowned at Raife when he uncovered the omelet and attempted to feed her a bite. “How can that help?”
“A virus is one of nature’s ingenious devices to transfer new genetic material between organisms. A mechanism of evolution,” Brit murmured as she studied the monitor printouts and read Kahn’s notes from the night before. Katya’s improvement was remarkably fast and appeared to be stable. Brit wanted to do another blood workup to be sure.
“That’s what the Triumvirate did to Katya; why she was so sick when she first got out of that hellhole,” Raife said with dawning understanding. “
They used a virus to infect her with that damn blood-magic gene.”
Brit pursed her lips and set her papers aside. “Yes, she was having an immune response to the virus, which is a risk of using a virus as a vehicle for gene therapy. However, I believe your body has developed a counter to the foreign genetic material, creating a virus to deliver new genetic material. Possibly to repair the mutated gene or suppress its expression. Unfortunately it’s a lengthy process to determine what kind of genetic material the virus held, and I can’t be certain of long-term effects.”
Katya gripped Raife’s hand. “But it looks good, right? I feel better.”
Brit smiled at them and turned to grab her collection tray off a side table. “You appear to have stabilized. Your blood count looked good from this past evening, although I want to check it again this morning.
“You may as well accustom yourself to blood testing. You’ll require regular monitoring through the pregnancy.” Brit frowned as she tied the tourniquet around Katya’s upper arm. After the baby was born, she’d want to watch Katya until her hormones stabilized. “And probably for a couple of months after the baby is born.”
“I’m just glad that my baby won’t be alone here,” Katya said distractedly as she returned her attention to her breakfast. “It’s bad enough our babies will have to be stuck inside the Incog building, but at least they’ll have each other to grow up with.”
Brit dropped the small tube she was holding. A baby? How had she forgotten? Raife told her that Drachon mating always ended in pregnancy. She was mated to two Drachon. Good God, would there be two babies? Warmth flooded her cheeks. Vin and Tag had both come inside her last night. The memory of it flooded her with heat.
Her hand shook as she reached for another test tube.
“Dammit, Kat, do not shock a doctor when she’s sticking needles in your body.”
“Oh, Doc, I’m so sorry. I thought you knew.” Kat set down her fork and laid a hand over Brit’s arm.
“I knew,” Brit said and shook her head. “Or rather I understood it on a scientific level; I just didn’t realize.” Her hands finished filling the three tubes absent of direction from her brain, which had stalled on the realization that she was pregnant.
“No could about it, love.” Vin’s voice rang clear and warm in her mind.
“You smelled all sweet and ours this morning. Definitely pregnant.” Tag sounded smug.
Brit inhaled to calm herself as she removed the needle and pressed gauze over the site. She cast a narrowed glance up at the camera and said a bit louder than she intended, “My hour is not up yet, Taggart Jennings.”
Raife cocked an eyebrow at her from his post on the other side of Katya’s bed.
“I didn’t promise anything,” Vin said from the door.
In her surprise, Brit spun and knocked the used syringe off the surgical tray. They were reducing her to a walking catastrophe in her own lab. She pressed a palm to her cheek and drew in another steadying breath.
“Can’t I at least have a little space?” Brit groused as she leaned down to retrieve the needle.
“Good luck,” Katya muttered and swiped the loaded fork from Raife’s hand when he tried to feed her. “It’s impossible with one of them; I shudder to think of being mated to two.”
“I’m beginning to believe it will be quite suffocating.” Brit tossed the used syringe in the sharp’s container and turned to glare at her mate.
Vin watched her from the door. “Sorry, love. I’m afraid biology necessitates we keep in close proximity for all of our continued health.”
Raife watched Katya take a bite before turning his bemused gaze to Brit again. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen the doc so flustered. It must have been a damn good mating.”
“Raife!” Katya slapped him in the chest. “Give her time to adjust. Carrying one of you people around inside you is like Invasion of the Body Snatchers in real time.”
“You never complained about me being inside you before.”
Katya’s face went pink, and the monitor squealed as her heart rate leaped.
Brit flicked the thing off with an impatient gesture and met Vin’s gaze across the small room. Despite his negligent posture against the door frame, he watched her as though he was afraid of her reaction. It was obvious he wasn’t as confident as he put on. That realization steadied her.
“Eat your breakfast, and I see no reason why you can’t be comfortable in your own apartment,” Brit told her patient, her gaze lingering on Vin. “But”—she focused on Katya—“I want you off your feet for the next couple of days. I will regularly check in and draw blood. Agent Merrick, one Drachon in her is the limit until further notice.”
The smile left Raife’s face, and if she wasn’t mistaken, a little flush took its place.
Humor warmed her from the inside out, and she realized it wasn’t just hers. She could feel both Vin and Tag inside her, could feel their amusement filling her center, blending with hers. It made her feel connected—a part of something.
Brit walked to Vin without any thought as to what she would do once she reached him. Not that any thought was necessary. As soon as she crossed over the threshold into the lab, Vin pushed her against the wall with his body and fitted his lips over hers. That comforting warmth spiraled into something altogether hotter, but before she could decide if that was a good or bad thing, he broke away from her and sank his face into the curve of her neck.
“Vincent.” Brit sighed and swept her fingers over his thick hair. She felt dwarfed by him, but his bulk was reassuring instead of intimidating. His breath fanned the crook of her neck.
“I know things didn’t start off well for us, but I’m yours. Whatever you need from now on, I’ll make sure you get it.” He inhaled shakily.
“I can’t even consider my future right now.” Brit gripped him tighter when he stiffened, and pressed her cheek to his temple, absorbing him. He radiated strength. Determination. He was a real warrior. Scarred inside and out, and she realized she wanted everything he had to offer, but she couldn’t take it.
Not yet.
Her sister was out there somewhere—infected with ARSA-2. Brit wasn’t sure what had caused the gene to mutate in Katya, but what if it mutated in Meghann before they found her? It would kill her before anyone even knew what was happening. Brit could still see the image from Vin’s memory of little Meghann attacking a full-grown Guardian to defend her. Her sister had died, or almost died, to protect her. Now it was Brit’s turn.
Vin lifted his head, and his eyes were hard. “You will not risk yourself again. Not even to save your sister.”
Brit stepped back from his embrace. She pulled the edges of her lab coat together against the sudden loss of his body heat and folded her arms. Vin didn’t try to draw her back in. He just watched her. Waited. Brit looked past him to the slim column of windows on the far wall. She could see the rising sun reflecting golden off the glass of the neighboring buildings.
She maneuvered around him and moved to stand in front of those windows. She’d stood here countless times and stared out into the offices of that structure, watching the humans work and imagining their lives. Some of them had to have wives and husbands. Children. And she’d dreamed…
She splayed her hands over her belly and thought of her life now, imagined her own unborn child, and heaved a sigh. Meghann deserved as much.
“She’s out there, Vin. That gene is a time bomb waiting inside her. She could be hurt. Alone.” Brit lowered her voice to an aching whisper. “No one deserves to be alone.”
Vin came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, layering his hands over hers. “She’s not alone, love. She’s just away from us right now, but we’ll bring her home.”
“Consider this,” Tag chimed in from the door, where he held a cellophane-wrapped tray of food. “Mating us was a very strategic move on your part. You just acquired a very diverse and talented group of individuals—all dedicated to helping find your sister.”
Vin
’s laugh moved his chest against her back, and his humor slid through her.
“Irreverent boy.” Kahn stepped in behind his son with a shake of his head and a frown. His expression lightened as he approached them and reached for Brit’s hands. Vin released her to his father, and Brit started when the big Drachon drew her in to press a kiss to her forehead.
It had been so long since she’d been a part of this type of easy affection. It was unsettling.
“Finally. Britony, welcome to our clan. You will make a perfect addition to our nest in Arizona. My little Amali will be thrilled with you.”
Brit knew her reflexive smile was weak at best when she cast a questioning glance at Vin.
“My mother,” he supplied.
“I…” Brit glared at a smirking Tag around Kahn’s shoulder. “Ah. Thank you, Dr. Jennings.” Amali. Brit was mated and didn’t even know her mates’ mother’s name. Suddenly she felt very much out of her realm. Awkward and unbalanced. It was a feeling she didn’t favor, and she glanced back at her lab table with longing.
This was ridiculous. Brit shook her head and firmed her voice when she turned back to Kahn. “While I appreciate the sentiment, I can’t leave Incog. I’ve got a responsibility to cure this mutation.”
Vin’s and Tag’s astonishment swelled around her, and she felt their impending protests.
Kahn lifted a hand, and his sons settled back. His expression was difficult to read as he stared at her for a long moment, and she was relieved when he finally gave a slow nod. “I understand.” He motioned back toward the lab. “I’d like to continue to assist in any manner I can. Several of the Drachon here with me are very respectable scientists as well. They are at your disposal.”
Brit sighed and nodded, grateful that Kahn was able to comprehend how important her objectivity was right now. Too many lives and not just Meghann’s depended on Brit being able to isolate what caused the mutation in Katya’s ARSA gene. So many of the crossbreeds they’d rescued from the research facility had been injected with the synthetic gene. None displayed the mutation Katya experienced, but Brit couldn’t discount the possibility it might happen in the future. And what of her sister? Her files clearly stated she was injected with the gene. What if she already displayed symptoms of the mutation? What if they found her too late to help her?