Page 80 of Lorran
“The eggs were not viable,” Mylomon said.
“Not in the slightest. Whatever engineering that Suhlik had done, it failed. The eggs I supplied to Ulrik and Saavi were rejects.”
“But still useful,” Saavi said. “We can study the modifications the Suhlik made and plan accordingly. These samples were particularly interesting. It seems they are trying to replicate a past success.” She stared at Mylomon, as if wanting him to inquire about the past successes.
He remained silent.
She sighed. “We can upgrade our biochemicals to better attack Suhlik genetic material. Discarded shells are useful.”
“Such material is still a crime,” Mylomon said.
Saavi waved a disinterested hand. “Your morality bores me.”
Lorran did not like this female either. “If the Suhlik had your son, you would not be so tolerant—”
“If the Suhlik had my son, he would be dead like my mate,” Saavi snapped. “Ulrik gave his life so that Mikah and I might escape.”
“Your research brought the Suhlik to your ship,” he replied.
“Are you so naïve that you believe they would have ignored a ship alone? They require no reason beyond slaughter.”
“They wanted revenge for what that one took from them.” He pointed to Caldar. “The lab with the incubators…some of the eggs were viable, were they not?”
Saavi shook her head. “No, none.”
He did not believe her. “When we return toJudgment, Paax will not let your crimes go unpunished. He will inform the Council.”
She huffed. “They will deny everything.”
“And then he will do as he sees fit. If you were Mahdfel, he would end your life for such a crime,” Lorran said. Paax’s judgment often ran harsh, but Lorran never believed the warlord to be unjustified in his actions.
Lorran glanced at Caldar. A slippery male, Paax had said. Caldar might dodge criminal charges from the Council, if they truly knew and if they had been secretly funding Ulrik, but he would not evade Paax.
Caldar’s posture changed, shifting from relaxed to defensive. Yes, the same thought occurred to him.
“I know of Paax’s research. I know what the hypocrite did to his own brother,” Saavi said. “He is not fit to judge me.”
True enough. Lorran did not understand the specifics of the research Paax conducted in the years before he became the warlord. He injected a serum into his twin, Omas, to save his life. Instead, it twisted Omas into a nearly unstoppable brute. Omas had been a good warlord until that point, but he turned bitter and violent, twisting the clan until he nearly destroyed it.
“It’s imprisonment for you, Saavi. I’m sorry. I’ll take the blame,” Caldar said.
“You cannot do that for me.” She lifted her chin. “And my son? Will this warlord make my son an orphan? What of him?”
“Training at the Academy or some other place will be found for him,” Mylomon said.
“You swear? Mikah is a good male. He should not be punished because of decisions his parents made.” Saavi held Mylomon’s gaze, unwavering, until the male nodded.
“I swear. Now, pack a bag. We are leaving within an hour.” Mylomon turned to Lorran. “Fetch your mate.”
* * *
That morning,Lorran divulged his intention to leave soon, possibly that day. To his relief, his mate had nearly finished packing when he arrived. Clothing littered the bed in neat piles and a messy heap. Wyn sat in the middle, folding.
“We are leaving,” he said. “Now.”
“I’m almost done.”
“Now,” he repeated, lifting the pink suitcase to the mattress. He stuffed her garments into the suitcase. “Prepare yourself. I will finish this.”
