CHAPTER THREE
Micah couldn't believe his mate was walking at his side. Not only was she absolutely stunning with her dark brown curls and lavender eyes, her selflessness shined from her soul like a warm sun.
He led her by the hand until they found a table tucked away from the mid-day crowd. "You wait here, I'll grab my favorites for you to try," he suggested. She smiled up at him and nodded.
"Hey Micah, who is that with you?" Marcy asked as he approached her stall. She was one of his favorite vendors. Her specialty was sweet potato fries drizzled in brown sugar and cinnamon. "That beautiful soul is my one and only, my mate," he said proudly.
Around him voices died down. "You finally mated?" Old man Richter asked.
Micah grinned at him. "I sure am."
"Good for you boy. Tell your lady she is welcome here any time," he offered.
"Many thanks," Micah said waving.
Marcy had a shielded expression on her face as she handed over his treat. She leaned in toward him. "Be careful with her Micah, you just broke a lot of hearts."
Micah frowned and looked around. He was shocked to see some of the ladies he knew dabbing at their eyes. He turned back to Marcy. "But they knew I wasn't their mate," he said taking his time reaching for the napkins.
"Which made your kind words all the more special." Marcy shook her head. "Give them a few days to adjust."
He winked at her. "You always take good care of me," he teased.
Even though she was old enough to be his grandmother she blushed before shooing him away. "Go on with you now."
Micah quickly grabbed some crepes and headed back to his mate. She eyed him suspiciously. "You seemed very chummy with that vendor."
He shrugged and sat down across from her. He handed her the sweet treats before murmuring a soundproof spell creating a bubble of privacy around them. "It's not easy being a female in Noctem Falls. It's getting better with Gavriel actively taking a huge role in setting things right. But before Aiden came to visit with his crazy mate and Bethy, the people here romanticized the Victorian Era, including how they sometimes treated women."
Serenity froze holding a fry in front of her. "You're joking right?"
He shook his head. "Everyone was very proper of course and publicly respectful, but I don't think many of the women here heard a kind word behind closed doors." He hummed as he chewed his fries. "So good! Anyway, when I first got here I would wink, flirt and compliment every woman I met. You could see it in their eyes that my silliness gave them just a moment of pride. A unit warrior had called them beautiful. They stood straighter or smiled more. Pretty soon I had a reputation for being a womanizer, but the ladies knew the truth. In all the years I've been here, I've never gone hungry or wanted for anything. Those same ladies would arrange for baskets of food to be delivered to the Unit Level or take in my wash if I was running behind on my home chores. Duties that they normally performed daily, but for the first time, it was something they wanted to do." He looked up at his mate. "I have many friends in the city and about ninety-five percent of them are female."
Serenity's eyes were filled with sympathy. "It's nothing like that in Storm Keep. Women are on a pretty level playing field with men. What matters more than gender are your test scores." She eyed him carefully. "Wait a minute, how are you still here?" She looked him up and down. "You must have tested extremely high."
"You can see my magic?" he asked curiously.
"Sort of. More like a range of color. Yours has amazing depth."
He shrugged. "Like most unit warriors I fudged my test scores so I could come back to the city after testing." He winced then looked at his mate. "And I sort of slept with the proctor's wife."
She started to choke on her crepe. She pounded on her chest before looking up at him. "You what?"
"They weren't mates," he said quickly. "I would never, ever sleep with a mated woman. They had married at her parent's insistence to have more powerful children. I was a weekend delight."
Serenity leaned in. "Which proctor?" she asked her eyes dancing.
He waved a finger back and forth in front of her. "I don't kiss and tell, but needless to say he banished me from Storm Keep for a while."
She frowned. "I may be banished as well."
"Well, you're in good company."
She swirled one of her fries around her plate. "What would I do here Micah? After this virus is cured they won't have a need for a healer."
"Maybe they will. We don't know how long the wolves and kiddos will be here. Plus you could teach healing classes to unit witches, we could always use more healing knowledge amongst the units."
"Kendrick could do that," she started then shook her head. "Never mind."
Micah shuddered. "I respect that man more than any other witch I have met, but I would hate to sit a class with him. His suggestion to Aiden to teach us about childbirth was traumatizing." He shuddered remembering that awful video.
"Gods! He didn't!" Serenity exclaimed before dissolving into a fit of giggles.
Micah stared at her flatly. "It's not funny." His words only seemed to incense her more.
"I had nightmares."
She wrapped her arms around her stomach and toppled to one side on the bench. Her laughter was the only indication he had that she was still breathing.
"Then he had Sebastian serve a stuffed turkey for lunch," he continued.
When he heard a thump he looked under the table grinning. His prestigious mate was on the floor with tears streaming down her face. "Stop, I beg you," she managed to get out waving a hand at him.
He got up and walked around the table to help her up. She was laughing so hard she was practically limp. He held her up by her armpits as she calmed down.
When he looked around he noticed they were getting some strange looks. They must look ridiculous with the soundproof spell still going. He shrugged and the men just nodded their sympathy.
Finally, after a few minutes she took a few deep breaths wiping her eyes and cheeks with her napkin.
He leaned down and kissed her nose. The pure joy in her eyes filled his heart. "I am going to love you until the end of time," he promised softly.
Her mouth opened slightly when she inhaled and he took advantage of her distraction. He wanted to finally get a taste of his mate. He cupped the back of her head and took her lips between his own. He suckled on her plump lower lip groaning at the faint taste of cinnamon and sugar. When he pulled back her creamy cheeks were flushed pink, her lips were swollen and she looked throughly claimed.
Despite the growing problem in his pants he was proud of his work. He knew right then and there he would never get enough of her.
"Please don't break my heart, because I think I'm already falling in love with you," she whispered.
"There will never be anything else in this world I will cherish more than your heart, your love and your trust," he vowed.
He swaggered back over to his seat and sat down. Cursing, he jumped back up, took a deep breath and tried to covertly adjust his pants. Because he was no less affected than she was by their kiss he had almost gelded himself with the zipper.
She gave him a satisfied look. "Let those ladies see what I do to you," she said winking and jerking her head to one side pointing to their captive audience.
Wincing he shook one leg and gingerly sat down again. "Rub it for me later?" he asked leering at her.
She threw her head back and laughed. "Only if you kiss me like that again."
"I fully planned on it," he said in low voice.
When she shuddered at his deeper tone he picked up another fry. He'd have to figure out a way to cover his mate in cinnamon and sugar later. She was now his new favorite treat.
*****
When they wrapped up their snack she stood on shaky legs. Her mate had a way of spinning her world around and making her feel like the most desired woman in the world.
As they walked toward the hospital she caught more than one hateful glare. After hearing her mate's explanation she decided to take a leap of faith. What he said made sense and if he was going to lie, she didn't think he'd confess to sleeping with the proctor's wife.
No, she truly believed her mate just had a heart of gold and enjoyed seeing those around him happy. So, she decided it was her job as his mate to make sure he was happy.
She eyed him carefully as they walked. It didn't look like making him happy would be that big of a chore. He was currently humming and swinging their hands back and forth between them. He was absolutely adorable and not afraid in the least bit to show his affection for her. His declaration earlier by the vendors stalls that he was mated went a long way to easing her fears. She sent up a small prayer of thanks that her mate wasn't a score obsessed bureaucratic suck up from Storm Keep.
When they walked into the hospital she noticed that Laelia and Radclyffe were off to one side with Ellie and Rheia. As they got closer she realized she couldn't hear anything. She waved her hands to get their attention. Radclyffe held up finger and lowered the soundproof spell. She and Micah stepped closer and Micah raised another one.
"What's going on?" she asked.
Ellie looked close to tears. "The antivirals and pain reducers we've been using are no longer working. Thank the gods you arrived when you did. I don't know what we would have done if the children got irate again." Grant massaged her shoulders lovingly.
"The queen did say that was an early symptom. Did it return?" Serenity asked.
Rheia nodded. "We saw last night that the children had a hard time falling asleep. They kept thrashing about complaining of pain. This afternoon they began lashing out at their parents again."
"We're running out of blood from the second batch and we're scared to try any older blood from the third treatment that turned Magnus violent," Vivi continued.
"Why don't we just get the guys to donate again?" Micah suggested. He knew his fellow unit brothers had no problems donating for the children.
"We're afraid that if we continue giving them what we're calling 'younger generation' blood, the virus will adapt and any chance we have at knocking it out completely with the older blood will disappear," Vivi explained looking pale. She ran a hand through her dark red hair. "We're missing something, I just don't know what it could be. We've talked every problem-solving scenario to death."
Marjoram wrapped an arm around Vivi. "Let's head down to the meeting room and go over things again. I've found that new people bring with them fresh perspectives." She nodded to Laelia, Radclyffe and Serenity. "Besides you need to get off your feet missy." Micah lowered the soundproof spell as Marjoram steered Vivi toward the exit.
"That's actually not a bad idea. I'm going to invite Meryn too. I don't know why she wasn't included from the beginning," Rheia added as they all followed behind Marjoram.
Serenity turned to the human doctor. "Does she have medical training?"
Rheia snorted. "Not a lick of it, but she thinks differently than we do. If anyone can help us figure things out, it would be our menace."
Anne chuckled. "I'll swing by her bat cave and the lab to pick up Meryn, Law and Kendrick. I'll meet you in the meeting room." She waved then jogged toward the tunnel before jumping down.
Serenity nearly stumbled turning to Rheia in a panic. "She's human!" she exclaimed.
Rheia laughed holding up a small stone. "The twins made these for us. Meryn calls them her floaty stones. They allow us to navigate the tunnels without waiting for an escort."
Serenity clutched at her chest. "I think I had a heart attack," she complained.
"Pull on your big girl panties because you're about to experience a brain storming session with someone who creates chaos as naturally as she breathes," Rheia looped her arm through Serenity's.
Serenity looked up at Micah feeling a bit out of her depth. He shrugged. "My delicate little flower is an experience all her own."
"What the hell have we gotten ourselves into," Radclyffe muttered.
"Sounds exciting," Laelia teased.
Serenity followed her colleagues to the tunnel wondering indeed what the afternoon had in store for them.
*****
An hour later Serenity simply stared at the small human who kept spinning in circles in her chair. Everyone around them ignored her and began the meeting, starting at the very beginning for their benefit.
Serenity sat next to her mate around a very impressive looking wooden conference table along with Rheia, Anne, Vivi, Ellie, Marjoram, Kendrick, Law, Laelia, and Radclyffe. Meryn's squire Ryuu stood quietly in the corner watching his charge a soft smile on his lips.
"She'll make herself sick," she warned.
Meryn stopped her spinning. "I do this all the time, it helps me think."
Radclyffe turned to Kendrick. "So, we know that DeLaFontaine is the one who distributed virus?"
Kendrick nodded. "We found a very intricate delivery system built into his cufflink. We can only hypothesize that he took advantage of both the welcome bar-b-que for the wolves and the fair to get to his victims."
Meryn began spinning again. "That may be wrong," she said to no one in particular.
Kendrick chuckled. "I did say it was a hypothesis Meryn. It does make sense he would use that opportunity to reach as many people as possible, the timing is right as well."
Meryn kicked out her foot halting her spinning. "That's not what I meant. DeLaDouchebag would poke people and they would get sick right? It's how Magnus got it."
Kendrick nodded. "Exactly. He used his cuff after dinner to infect Magnus."
Meryn tilted her head. "Then why isn't Aiden sick? He got nicked too."
Kendrick froze before turning to Ellie, who looked Law who nodded. "She's right."
Vivi stood her hands shaking. "I need his blood!" she bolted from the room.
Meryn sighed, picked up her walkie-talkie and unclipped it from her backpack. "Work smarter not harder people." She pressed the button. "BooBear, come in BooBear"
"Are you okay?" Aiden came back immediately.
"Yup I'm good. But can you meet Vivi in the lab she needs you."
"Sure thing. Love you."
"I lurves you too, catch ya later." She clipped her walkie-talkie back on her bag.
"I am really loving my call sign right now Meryn," Micah said grinning. Serenity raised an eyebrow. "Casanova," he replied.
"Of course, it is," Radclyffe said rolling his eyes.
"Serenity needs one," Meryn said tapping the table. She grinned at her. "You have the same name as my car."
Serenity eyed the small human. "Firefly or Sailor Moon?"
"Firefly," Meryn admitted. "Though, thanks to Anne I have a whole new appreciation for anime. One of the furries in my cult suggested something called hentai, I can't wait to Google it."
Ryuu stepped forward looking concerned. "I would not suggest that denka."
Meryn eyed her squire. "Why?"
"It's a lot of tentacle porn," Anne explained. When all eyes swung her way, she blushed and ducked her face into Kendrick's chest.
"Well, well, well," Kendrick murmured.
Anne popped up and flicked his ear. "Whatever you're thinking, just no." He continued to grin as he rubbed his ear.
Serenity turned back to Meryn. "Wait. Furries? Cult?"
Rheia put her pen down and leaned back in her chair. "She means her shifter friends on Facebook and her Facebook group." She stood. "Okay, let's work under the assumption that Aiden was infected, what could be possible reasons why he's not sick?"
"Grant isn't sick either and he has every reason to be. He's been around the kids from day one and has been coated in just about every substance you can think of. He's fine," Ellie volunteered.
"Could it be because they're both Alpha Born?" Kendrick asked. "I haven't studied how their physiology differs from regular shifters."
Serenity spoke up. "I have. There were multiple volumes dedicated to Alpha Borns in the Water Temple. From what I've read, they are stronger and faster, but they are physiologically the same as any other shifter. Most changes seem to be metaphysical rather than scientific."
Rheia pursed her lips. "There goes that theory. We also have to keep in mind that none of the witches or fae are sick either."
Serenity shook her head. "Witches are more susceptible to sickness than the fae."
Meryn kicked off the table and started spinning again. "What if it isn't a race thing?" she asked.
Serenity just rolled with it. So far, this brilliant human gave the scientists the first break they had in weeks. "Keep going," she encouraged.
Meryn stopped. "This is Noctem Falls right?" Everyone nodded. "The home of the vampires and mostly vampires. Like they are nowhere near as diverse as Lycaonia right?" Again, everyone nodded. "Aiden, the witches and the fae have another thing in common." She smiled at them. "In a city of vampires anyone who is fae or a witch is a unit warrior. None of the warriors are sick either and they've been helping from day one too."
Rheia gasped. "Oh my god! The reports! Adam's reports!" she screeched and ran from the room.
Meryn sighed. "I hate it when they do that. I wish they would share with the class before running out like a manic."
Marjoram exchanged excited looks with Ellie. "We'll head back up to Level Six and work on keeping the children calm and comfortable. Let's leave the geniuses to work."
Anne, Laelia and Radclyffe stood. Laelia nodded to Marjoram. "We'll come with you. We couldn't help in a lab anyway." She turned to Serenity. "You go check up on Vivi and Rheia and keep us updated."
Meryn yawned the stood. "I'm heading back to my bat cave. I am introducing Pip to Magic Pudding and Doctor Who."
"If anyone deserves a reward today it's you Meryn," Marjoram praised. "Extra cookies for you later."
"Yes!" Meryn pumped her arm in the air.
"Come along denka, you can be amazing in your bat cave," Ryuu said steering his charge out the door.
Ellie and her helpers withdrew after Meryn leaving Serenity, Micah, Kendrick and Law in the meeting room.
Serenity shook her head. "She really is brilliant. How does she see things so simply?"
Kendrick frowned. "She said her grandmother used to tell her that her broken brain focused on the wrong things." He growled. "That hateful woman has had me seriously contemplating raising the dead, just so I could smack the shit out of her."
Serenity rolled her eyes. "You're always so dramatic."
Law watched their interaction with wide eyes. "She's not awed by your powers at all," he said sounding impressed.
Kendrick just grunted, and she beamed at him. "I love annoying him too much to be in awe of him," she admitted.
"Between you and the twins it's a miracle I got anything accomplished in the past hundred years," Kendrick said grumpily.
"Come on librarian, let's head to the lab to see what your elemental plates tell us about what type of magic is in the virus. The results should be in today," Law said standing.
"Archivist," Kendrick corrected.
"Why would you need..." Serenity started and saw the way Kendrick's eyes cut to her. "You know what, never mind. I'm more curious to discover what had Rheia running out of here like that."
Kendrick stood and bowed. "After you my lady."
"Thank you, kind sir," she said, walking past him.
Later she would ask why he was running tests to figure out which element was in the virus, because it had nothing to do with curing it, that could be accomplished regardless. She was still wondering what the grouchy witch was up to when Micah wrapped his arm around her waist. "We need to get you a call sign."
She smiled up at him sweetly. "How about CasanovaKiller?"
"Serenity, one. Micah, zero." Kendrick said behind them.
Micah heaved a great sigh. "I am so abused," he said dramatically, placing the back of his hand to his forehead.
"You like it," she teased under her breath.
He opened his eyes and winked. "You'll find out later."
*****
When they walked into the lab Vivi and Rheia were talking a mile a minute and Aiden's eyes looked glazed over.
Feeling sorry for the bear-shifter, Serenity caught Vivi's attention. "Do you need him anymore?" she asked pointing to the Unit Commander.
Vivi shook her head. "Nope, I already have his blood."
Serenity turned to Aiden. "You're free to go."
"Thank the gods! Call me if you need me again," he said quickly and before she could blink he was shutting the door behind him.
Over the walkie-talkie Ryuu's voice came through. "If possible, could Law relieve Etain guarding Meryn? Etain has been called to the hospital."
Kendrick picked up his walkie-talkie as Law left. "He's on his way."
"Many thanks," was the squire's polite reply.
Vivi was mid-sentence talking with Rheia when she stopped. "Why was Etain called to the hospital?"
"Oh, that. Ellie has been asking the fae warriors to rotate shifts at the hospital. They can easily lift the children, as well as the adults for sheet changes. It makes keeping the patients comfortable so much easier," Rheia explained.
Vivi blinked. "That makes sense. I'm really the worst person when it comes to nursing. Give me a microscope and slides any day."
"Speaking of slides, what had you running out the meeting with your hair on fire?" Serenity asked Rheia.
Rheia blushed. "It's what Meryn said about the warriors not getting sick. Normally I would say it's because they are paranormals and paranormals don't get sick right?" She waved her hand about. "Except we now know they can get sick. We have shifters and vampires ill up on Level Six, but not the warriors."
"What does that tell us? How are they different?" Serenity asked thoroughly confused.
Rheia grinned wickedly. "Last year our menace conned the public works of Lycaonia into completely updating our clinic. But the downside to that was that they started asking for weekly reports on what was being done, kinda checking to make sure the money was well spent. Well, short of having the warriors break each other's bones on a weekly basis, which would have gotten really old, really fast, I suggested that we give all the guys physicals."
Micah nodded. "Doc St. John did those here too. He said that the warriors' care had to be uniform across all four pillar cities."
Rheia clapped her hands excitedly. "Exactly! The physicals included inoculations getting everyone an updated shot record!"
Serenity felt around for a stool and sat down. "One of the vaccines made them immune?"
Rheia and Vivi nodded enthusiastically. Vivi held up a slide. "That's what we're hoping anyway. If we're right it will take some time to isolate which one it is, but we finally have a direction to go."
Vivi turned to Rheia. "I want to apologize. When you first suggested Meryn I was skeptical about what she could contribute, I thought she would distract us. But she really came through."
Rheia gave a smug smile. "Our menace is amazing."
Kendrick nodded. "That she is."
As Vivi and Rheia entrenched themselves with the new testing Serenity made her way over to Kendrick. She looked over to Micah and made a circle with her finger. When her mate was done casting the soundproof spell she leveled her gaze to Kendrick.
"Do you want to tell me why you're testing for elemental presence when it has nothing to do with a cure?"