Page 57 of Green Ravens

She gulped. “Groundbreaking technology, brilliant scientists who specialize in gene mutation and human-animal hybrids, and a shit-ton of money.”

Valor exhaled slowly, primal power burning beneath his skin. He was a man, a military officer, and now he had the instincts of a feline that had existed for over nine million years woven into his DNA.

Am I more man or beast?

“Valor, the director has other assassins, more Ravens.” She scanned the terrace again in an attempt to find him. “But you and Zorion are different. The organization wants warriors with animal instincts with even fewer human morals than what was stripped from the Blacks and the Browns. Their serums wore off over time. Yours won’t. It’s permanent, and now he’s about to send you both into phase three.”

Valor watched her, weighed her every word. He believed what she was confessing. He could sense her and the hint of desperation she had forhim…not for herself. She genuinely wanted to help him.

“What is phase three?”

“The Emotrixal injections. A serum that will strip you of all emotions. Your ability to feel compassion, love, empathy. You will be nothing more than an evil killing machine. And if I don’t get you out soon, there’ll be no saving you.”

Evil.

He felt keenly aware, invincible, but far from evil. He didn’t have a desire to kill anyone.

If what this woman—this spy—was saying about him was true, then he’d foughtadmirablyfor his country. He’d overseen rescue missions. He’d saved lives, not taken them.

A quiet rage sizzled inside his chest.

“Please trust me, Valor. Use your instincts. See that I’m good and not deceiving you.”

“I believe you,” he said.

This woman knew of other made assassins. She knew the facility well enough to move in the shadows and avoid the guards. She could be the asset, the assistance he needed to get out.

“This other man…Sawyer. I think he’s the one in my dreams.”

Jo was quiet for a few seconds, then nodded. “It’s very possible. You and Sawyer had a connection. I saw footage from when you were in the Ravens camp in Borba. You cared deeply for him.”

“Where is he?”

“It’s protocol that you are kept apart to ensure you’re compatible and—”

“Where?” he said with such force and menace that Jo stumbled backward.

“He’s at the end of the hall. He is called Zorion. He has the mutated gene of the black hawk.”

Valor’s heart soared. Sawyer was the raptor in his dreams. The bird with wings so dark and wide they blocked the light from the moon.

“He is strong, Valor. Zorion means ‘hunter of the sky.’ He radiates power and strength, but he is also your natural enemy, which was not done by accident.”

He is mine.

“They’ll reunite you soon, crossing their fingers that you won’t try to attack each other. The Blacks and the Browns willnever turn on their partners, no matter what. They were made to be most effective and deadly together.”

Her answers were fast and sure, meaning true.

A rumble formed low in his gut. The thought of hurting the man in his dreams made anger burn like lava in his stomach.

“Valor, you are a naval officer. You’ve survived a lot, and you’ll survive this. Stay strong,” Jo stressed. “Stay cooperative. Don’t give the director a reason to believe the experiments have failed because he’ll eliminate all loose ends and start over.”

Valor had already planned to do that.

“I will work out a way to get you out. I have a small team here I’ve formed an alliance with and can be trusted. I’ll come back with my plan when it’s safe.”

She turned and hurried out of his home as if she’d stayed far longer than she’d intended.

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