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)
“I know,” Vero said, grimly.
Paxton lifted his head, his chin firming. “The only person to leave camp and come back within the last week was Silas.”
“Yes, and I have him in a cell. I’m going to leave him there for some time before interrogating him, to keep him off balance,” Vero said. “I’ve known him longer than you have, and I’ll be able to tell if he’s lying.” Maybe. At several centuries old, the male probably had perfected a few talents through the years. “I have to tell you I don’t see it being him. I just don’t.”
“Then maybe I should interview him when I return in a couple of days,” Paxton said.
Vero liked that Paxton apparently thought he’d find success. “If he hasn’t broken by then, he won’t. I’ll try and maybe come in sympathetic. We need to figure this out.” Nothing in him could see Silas mutilating a human female like that, but Vero had been hit with enough surprises in his life. He should be ready for anything.
“Keep me informed.”
“I will.” Vero ground one fist into his right eye, trying to push back a looming headache. “I don’t want this investigation to interfere with my plans for the females this afternoon.”
The human females who wanted to leave had all signed the NDA and accepted the seven-figure bank accounts. He didn’t expect any of them to talk—or remember their time in the wild. A fact he had chosen not to share with Lyrica. “I want to stay on schedule with releasing the rescued females today.”
“I agree,” Paxton said. “They want to go home and they have every right to return to their lives. How many females decided to stay?”
“Twelve,” Vero said, surprised. “I guess immortality is a draw.”
Paxton nodded. “If they continue to stay, we can invite them to my wedding in the spring.” He paled slightly.
Vero exhaled slowly. “Spring’s going to be here before we know it. Are you certain the Realm is prepared for Kurjan soldiers to attend an event?”
“I’m certain,” Paxton said. “If we’re going to ally with the Realm, we need to do it sooner rather than later. I’ve been looking through Kurjan records, and it appears there are probably five hundred Kurjans alive across the globe and one hundred Cyst soldiers. Is that true?”
“I think there are a few more that we’ve lost track of,” Vero admitted. “More than half decided to stay with the nation when you took over as the king, and we need those forty Cyst leaders. You have to convince them to join us.”
Paxton remained quiet for a moment. “I will. You have my word. How many soldiers at that main camp do you think want to take me down?”
“I don’t know,” Vero said. “Obviously a couple of people or they wouldn’t have bombed your room the other night. I haven’t had any luck figuring out who that is. It’s going to take me a while to interview two hundred soldiers and their mates about the bombing and dead human females. The somewhat good news is that I can combine those interviews with Lyrica’s since she’s speaking to all of the mates.”
“Fair enough,” Paxton said. “Hunter should be up and talking within a few days. Do you want him to give you a call?”
“No.”
Paxton studied him. “All right. I’m not going to push that, but you have to remember he was doing his job when he infiltrated the Kurjan nation.”
“I remember,” Vero said.
Paxton chuckled. “Well, if nothing else, I get to miss your little get-together with newcomers tonight. I hate cocktail parties.”
“As do I,” Vero groused. “But it’s Kurjan tradition, and Lyrica is excited to meet the twenty new couples, so she’s organized it.” The group was a small band that hadn’t liked the former leadership but had agreed to join the current nation—so long as Paxton succeeded in bringing home the forty Cyst soldiers. “They should arrive any minute via our helicopters.” He hadn’t wanted to put off the meeting. More soldiers could only help at this point.
Movement sounded outside his office and Lukas Macrame stood in the doorway. “You wanted to see me?” the kid asked.
“I have to go, Pax. Talk later.” Vero ended the video call.
Lukas took a deep breath and strode inside.
Vero released the pen he had been holding. “Have a seat.”
The kid stood tall at about six foot seven and remained gangly. His skin carried a tone slightly deeper than pale, complemented by striking amethyst eyes and pure black hair lacking any red. As one of the babies injected with the Sunshine Cure in utero, he hadn’t required additional supplements until he turned three years old.
At that time, the Kurjan scientists realized the in-utero cure only lasted a few years, sometimes less. So now the kid received injections just like the rest of them. Lukas had good looks and faced Vero without flinching.