Vaewolf: Damn the Darkness: The Prophecy's Promise (Hearts of Darkness Book 3) (11 page)

“Nothing more than what Jackson told—wait.” Ramone stopped moving and waited. “There’s something familiar…” A few random thoughts drifted through his mind like dandelion down. “Simone? I swear I sense her…but no tangible thoughts.”

“Could it be she once passed through here?”

“Maybe, but highly unlikely. I’ll talk to her. I know exactly where to find her.”

“You gonna trace? Or you want a ride back to your car?”

“Thanks, but I need to clear this up now. I’ll trace.” Dylan shook the man’s hand and said, “Keep in touch.”

Chapter Thirteen

Genetic Mapping

When Dylan returned to the estate, he felt super charged. Simone knew exactly what the herbs were for. She’d been the one who ordered them from the Witch’s Brew and told them to place the order with Nicodemus. Not that Dylan was pleased about finding smuggling was going on between the Underworld and this realm. At least he knew what the herbs were for, and since they kept the succubus under control, he could hardly blame her. Where she’d gotten the moonstone was a greater concern, and one she didn’t answer, because it was exactly the one he’d seen in his youth his mother claimed had the powers of the light fae and many had died to protect it eons ago.

Dylan checked for Max first in the lab, knowing the man was a workaholic. He took in the sight of the research physician in unusual casual garb and almost laughed. Max knew Dylan was there, but he stayed focused on the slide in front of him.

“Give me a minute, Dylan.”

The research physician had taken to wearing muscle tees and sweats until he learned how to control his demon nature. Given his vampire-berserker background, he claimed he was tired of ripping out his good shirts and pants. His present look was a far cry from the perfectly groomed southern gentleman he’d been when they first met.

When Shelby walked in behind Dylan, Max finally glanced up from the microscope. She gave off an aura of concern, more worried than she let on. After hugging Max and Dylan, she sat next to the microscope and took a quick look.

“Talk to me,” Dylan said.

Max started. “You know most of this, but just to review: Kyle infected Shelby accidentally with the rogue jaguar virus, and now we know, because of her fae DNA she survived. After Kyle saved me from Amyra, we both imprinted on Shelby, creating a relationship the three of us eventually learned how to accept. We suspect that was also because of our DNA. Long story short, until I ended up being the one to turn Shelby when Amyra bled her dry, our relationship was working out fine. But eventually, the mate bond Shelby and I once shared, changed to a sire bond. Shelby’s mate bond with Kyle remained intact, but what once had been a lust filled”—He grinned at Shelby—“relationship with me, returned to our old close, abiding friendship.”

No one expected the friendship between her and Max to grow any deeper after their changes—but it had.

“Shelby and Kyle kept Caitlin alive, giving me time to change her.” Dylan said. She’d stepped forward and volunteered to sire Dylan’s life mate to save him from the loss Max suffered, paying him back for the help he’d given them. Even though Dylan had been the one to perform the official exchange on Caitlin, he suspected the women shared a closer connection as a result of having used Shelby’s blood to turn his mate.

“After observing Caitlin closely, I hoped there would be something to report to you,” Dylan said. “I’m concerned because Caitlin’s own blood must contain rich fae DNA, and yet nothing unusual has manifested. Shelby, you’ve always been here as support. What are you sensing?”

“No other evidence of recessive DNA has materialized, yet?” Shelby asked.

“No, nothing. And all I keep thinking about is what happened to you.”

“Thanks, Dylan. Like finding out I inherited gifts from my sex fae genetics wasn’t embarrassing enough, you and the boys can’t stop bringing that up.”

Max moaned. “It was...memorable. Everyone within fifty feet felt the needing…You were incredible—”

“Am incredible!” Shelby added, took a sip of her drink, and grinned. “Dolt.”

For the first time that night, Dylan relaxed and smiled. “Sorry,” he said, “I didn’t mean any disrespect. It’s just when I add the genetics, I’m astounded at the backgrounds we’ve messed with.”

“I won’t lie, Dylan. I understand your concern. Thinking of the potpourri of genetic material building up in Caitlin’s blood is like researching primordial soup.” Max scrubbed his hands down his face. “Shelby, what do you think we need to be worried about?”

Shelby pointed at Dylan. “Keep in mind, Kyle changed Max. So we have a little shifter, a little demon, and if Max’s natural DNA is an indirect line from yours, Dylan, as we believe, the fae will be dominant because of his and my lineage, not to mention Caitlin’s own fae background. And along with the blood Dylan donated...? I don’t know how all the fae DNA will affect her. But she’s loaded with it.”

She sighed and picked up one of the reports Max handed her. “This looks like an ancestral family tree. There—” She pointed to a spot on the page. “That may be a fae link to both of you as well as me.” She tilted her head, and moved her hand to another spot. “But I don’t know anything about the berserker background.”

“No problem there,” Max explained, “It’s men who inherit the berserker DNA. Like color blindness, the gene is on one of the X-chromosomes. Women are usually carriers, born to pass it on.”

Shelby roughly sketched what looked like a mind map. Once she added labels. Dylan realized it was a simple ancestry chart.

“The jaguar is of little consequence, but Kyle’s survival was the result of his wolf-shifter background. If there’s an up side to all this, Caitlin should make friends easily among the various packs.”

Shelby pointed to a box with Caitlin’s name, then to one above Kyle’s and Max’s and hers. “What of Baphomet’s demon blood—here—from Amyra? The blood I inherited from Kyle through Max becomes the contributing factor for our concern...here.” She drew a line from Amyra’s box to Caitlin’s.

“That is a concern,” Max agreed.

“Consider what the possibilities are so far.” Max said. “When Niccolai’s half-sister, Amyra, turned Kyle, she not only turned him vampire, she also contaminated his blood with the blood she shared from the ancient demon, Baphomet. Caitlin has blood from...let’s see...”

After Max listed the litany of possibilities, Dylan felt worse.

Shelby continued to take notes. “Let’s pray Caitlin’s light fae DNA counter balances the demon’s blood, as it has with mine.”

Shelby was right, despite being Caitlin’s formal maker, she was young and inexperienced, not to mention a physician. Killing, any sort of killing, took a toll on her light. In fact, all four of Dylan’s new friends, including Victor Salazar, were physicians with a penchant for saving lives not taking them.

“We need to map the DNA, like a genealogy chart,” Shelby added. “And think about all the potential ancestry effects.”

“Aye, a family tree on steroids, I’m afraid.”

“We call it gene mapping, another way to consider what the consequences of turning Caitlin with Shelby’s blood means to her metamorphosis,” Max interjected. “That concerns me.”

“Aye, and me as well...along with the lack of information about Caitlin’s true parentage. She and her brother were adopted. I assumed she had to have some random characteristics to be a true psychic—fae, witch, or druid. In reality, I should have thought about consequences.”

“No blame.” Max tapped a pen on his notepad. “We need answers, and it would be helpful if we had them before Caitlin goes through metamorphosis. Shelby, do another blood draw for a DNA test, and I’ll call Victor with the results. See if he has any ideas on the subject.”

“Sure thing.” After gathering her equipment, Shelby squeezed Dylan’s hand. “Don’t worry, I feel the bond between Caitlin and me growing stronger every day. I won’t allow anything to happen to her.”

Using Shelby’s blood to turn Caitlin, created Shelby’s special attachment to her, and any qualities Caitlin inherited from her blood—along with any other blood and genetic material in her system or background—would become a fixed part of her during metamorphosis.

“She’ll be dealing with a variety of characteristics when she emerges,” Dylan noted. “Once the DNA melds with her own, she’ll need to learn how to deal with her new abilities, and our help with her training.”

Max added. “We may not know much about the process, but it hasn’t been that long since we went through stasis ourselves. Once Victor arrives, we can figure it out together. We’ll find the answers she needs.” Max stood and placed a hand on Dylan’s shoulder.

“I have one other problem, Shelby,” Dylan stopped her. “Caitlin needs to be prepared for the mausoleum. You know she has a problem with the concept of being buried alive. Any suggestions are welcome.” Dylan put a hand on Shelby’s shoulder when she shivered.

“Don’t we all? From what I’ve learned about your FBI psychic, she’ll want to be all matter of fact and handle her fears herself. My advice is ignore what she says. Get in her head and control the fear. The process is difficult enough without adding anything negative to the equation.”

“I plan to do exactly that when I take her into the crypt, but someone may have to save my ass when she finds out.”

The grunt and head shake from Max told Dylan he was on his own.

“There’s something else bothering me,” Dylan admitted. “When Shelby offered her blood so I could turn Caitlin, I never thought about the repercussions. The fact that I also fed her my blood —Niccolai’s blood—first, to keep her alive long enough to get her through the change, has to be the reason her transition is happening so quickly.”

“If what you think is true and those demons are still after her, it doubles the target on her back. And as soon as she completes metamorphosis, Amyra’s DNA in her blood will begin calling out to the demons. But at least she’ll be immortal.”

Shelby frowned, and for a moment the sweet, curly-haired redhead looked ferocious. “Caitlin will need extra protection until we settle the demon issue.”

“Done.” Dylan said.

“Don’t worry, Shelby. I’ll dig more information out of Victor as soon as he arrives,” Max said. “Why don’t you see how our patient is doing?”

Dylan’s ability to read minds wasn’t necessary to see Shelby was anxious, and he wanted an opportunity to speak privately with Max. The maker bond would prevent Shelby from concentrating on her work until Caitlin was safely encased within the tomb for her metamorphosis. That brought up another situation. The Parrish needed a visiting doctor to help out at the clinic where Shelby worked while Caitlin needed her maker.

He’d have to make arrangements. “I need a few moments with Max. You and Caitlin should talk.”

“Okay, and Dylan, don’t worry. Max will have a look at the blood samples right away.”

Like a whirlwind, she kissed him on the cheek and gave his arm a gentle squeeze, then repeated the affectionate hug for Max with further instructions. “If you’re still here when I bring the girls by, you will behave yourself.”

“What?” Max’s eyes opened in wide feigned innocence. “You act as if I’m some kind of Lothario. I’m doing my best. Can I help it if my demon imprinted on the woman, and my berserker burst through? I’m doing everything I can to get used to the idea. I’m giving her space like everyone suggested, even though it’s killing the damned beast inside me.”

“You could try seeing the situation from poor Genevieve’s point of view, since she’s obviously attracted to you, too. This world’s foreign, and she’s an innocent dealing with the loss of her parents and caring for her younger sister in a new world among strangers. Some
stranger
than others, I might add.” Shelby raised an eyebrow in his direction.

“Wait a minute—” Max growled.

“Just giving you a hard time.” Shelby patted him on the cheek and began texting. “Talk, and when I get back with the blood, you can run a few tests. If the girls get here first, mind your manners. Try not to burst out of your clothes and shock them.”

“Got it. Point taken,” Max griped. “No full Monty, naked-demon-berserker”

The way the two life-long friends, Shelby and Max, bickered was a farce. They cared deeply about each other. But she had a point. The first time Max Hamilton met the eldest Halfling, his demon imprinted on her. Then inexperienced as he was, he was unable to control the berserker within him. It burst through his defenses, and Max, in all his berserker-demon glory, had popped out of his clothes.

To the young woman’s credit, she’d held her own against his affections by dropping him with what Dylan thought was some otherworldly karate move and a knee to the groin. Even now, Dylan found it hard to keep his smile from breaking into a grin. Hell, when was the last time he’d been surrounded by so many caring people?

Over three hundred years.
He’d been a mere lad back then.

Suddenly, he was acquiring friends like tics on a dog in the woods, and they’d all somehow turned into an odd family of sorts. Instead of keeping his distance as he once had from everyone except Garr and Jackson, he was branching out. The idea was almost ludicrous. Him having friends. But it had him experiencing a warmth in his heart he barely recognized. The darkness, which grew within him over the long years, faded with each person he decided to care for. Maybe there was hope for his soul after all.

“I spoke to Victor last night, and he offered his aid with the jaguars and the demons, as well as Max’s research regarding Caitlin’s blood,” Shelby said.

Since Max had been working with Victor Salazar on the jaguar virus and the vampire infertility problem, he’d checked Caitlin’s DNA and hadn’t found anything other than the expected strand of fae chromosomes. After the metamorphosis was complete, he’d probably recheck her to make certain there weren’t any recessive supernatural DNA traits lurking in her genes...ones they didn’t know about.

Dylan couldn’t help the niggling worry in his gut. Hell, he didn’t need any more surprises. Cocking his head first to one side, then the other, he allowed the tightness in his shoulders to loosen. “Good. We’re building our forces.”

Chapter Fourteen

Meeting Victor

When Dylan arrived back at the estate, he was surprised to find a large group assembled outside the guest cottages. Victor had arrived by car and a large guy stepped out from the other side. Ramon was already there with Max. Dylan asked Shelby if was Kyle coming by and she said he was because Victor had a surprise for him.

“That’s Julian,” she said looking in the big man’s direction. “He hadn’t turned yet when Kyle was in Guatemala, but he’s the young jaguar shifter who saved him from Amyra by getting help from Victor.”

“Kyle is going to be shocked and pleased, I’m sure.”