Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
No kidding. “Is everyone up to date with the injections?” They needed the shot once a month to be able to venture into the sunlight. For now, anyway. Vero hoped that their bodies would take over for the injections and make the process a natural one that they’d pass down to their children through the years. He needed more time in the lab to make that happen.
“Almost,” Fizzlewick said. “We’re keeping to a regular schedule of so many per day. I’ve finally seen positive results in the blood I’ve been studying. Yours is the most changed, and I believe you’re close to not needing the injection every month. Right now, no one else is near your level. I have enough of your blood in stock to study but haven’t figured out why it’s different. Do you think your brother will put enough resources toward this endeavor?”
Vero kept his expression blank. “I don’t know. I just met the guy in person a month ago.” Paxton played both sides right now to try to keep the peace, but he had shown loyalty, at least, to the Kurjan nation. A peace treaty didn’t require them giving up details that could get them killed should they go to war again.
Fizzlewick rubbed his neck. “Does he understand the importance of the Convexus next week during the Dark Solstice?”
“Yes.” If Pax didn’t reach an agreement with the Cyst on that night of all holy nights, it’d never happen. “It’s all or nothing. He gets it.” Vero strode out of the makeshift examination room/morgue and outside down the steps. He had to find the killer before the Cyst descended on the territory for the Convexus. A cool rush of air hit him, and he breathed in deep. Canada had always been one of his favorite places, and not just because they could live in the mountains surrounded by snow with very little sunlight. The mountains stood solid, the weather predictable, and the people jovial. He paused at seeing his brother pacing on an icy trail, speaking on the phone.
Paxton clicked off and looked up. “You get your injection?”
Vero smoothed out his expression. “I did.”
“How bad do you need it?” Pax asked.
Vero shrugged. “Not sure. What do you know about the concoction?”
“Not a damn thing,” Paxton said. “It’s not something I’m worried about right now.”
Vero tucked his thumbs into the black pants of his uniform. Accustomed to wearing the black outfit at all times, he considered obtaining jeans and more casual clothing now that vampires and demons mingled in the territory. It’d be nice to dress down once in a while. Even as the king, today Paxton wore ripped jeans, snow boots, and a black puffer jacket.
“We need a larger medical and scientific building.” Vero had agreed to move to their current location, but the infrastructure needed to be built faster.
Paxton looked up at the bulbous clouds above them. “I’ve let the construction crew know the order of priority, and additional materials are being ordered as we speak. After they finish the construction for the meeting area, which is outside, they’ll move to the other projects. It’s going to snow again.”
“We’re in the middle of Canada by the Yukon River,” Vero said slowly. “It’s always going to snow again.”
Paxton grinned. “That’s a good point. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions.”
“Go ahead.”
Paxton looked toward the main lodge. The chill in the air kept most people inside except for the patrolling soldiers and the mechanics working on different snowplows and snowmobiles near the river. “Does the Kurjan nation have any sort of police force?”
Vero stared at him. “No. Not really.” The last three weeks had been spent moving from Eastern Canada to Western Canada and rescuing any kidnapped females they could find. They really hadn’t sat down and discussed how Paxton planned to govern the nation.
“Yeah, same with the Realm.”
Vero shook his head. “Usually, the enforcers take care of any problems, but we’ve never had anything like this.” He still couldn’t fathom why anybody would’ve killed that poor female. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with frigid air. “We’ve never had a crime like this, and you should look at the demons and vampires you’re slowly filtering into the community here.”
Paxton blinked once, his silvery-blue eyes blazing. “You think it’s one of mine?” He paused, then shook his head. “Wait a minute, they’re all mine.” He tapped his chin thoughtfully. “I need to get my head around that. Sorry. I only discovered I was a Kurjan three weeks ago, and then you pretty much made me king.”
“Yeah, I feel for you,” Vero said dryly. “You need to look at the newcomers because this isn’t something that happens in Kurjan territory. If somebody wanted a mate, they took that person as a mate.”
“I get the feeling that things haven’t been all that consensual around here,” Paxton drawled.