Broods Of Fenrir - By Coral Moore Page 0,35

build if he gave money to some research fund.” He swiveled his eyes to Alice. “What do you know about this?”

“Bioden processes a lot of my samples. They made a bid to buy my lab earlier this year.” The fear on her face bled into the brood bond. “What happened, Alice?”

“Erik told them the lab wasn"t for sale. That"s the main reason he"s been having this issue with them.” 96

“Why did they want to buy your lab?”

“They never said. It"s strange. I"m not published or anything. Nobody knows what I"m doing. It"s all privately-funded research.”

He knew she was a biochemist, but what she actually did went way over his head. “Give me the layman"s version.” She shrugged, and looked uncomfortable with the course of the conversation. “Erik"s interested in learning more about our metabolic processes, to see how similar we are to humans. He"s having me collect samples and test them.”

“Just so I"m clear, you"ve been taking samples from Erik"s brood and sending them to a lab down there?”

“The lab isn"t actually down there, but that company owns adjoining property to Erik"s construction site.” His hand clutched the door of the Escalade. “And now the trail of two in Erik"s brood ends right here? Was Lucas one of the ones you sampled?”

“Yes, but there"s no way they could have found that out. I didn"t tell them where the samples came from. They wouldn"t even know what I was doing.” The rage felt so good, so right, as the moon roared above him. “No way? You"re absolutely sure of that?” She stammered for several seconds. “I don"t think…” She stared at her hands in her lap. “I want to say I"m sure, but I can"t, not without doubt.”

Uncertain how much longer he could control the anger and not wanting to focus it at her, he tore his attention away from Alice. Bera recoiled from his gaze when his eyes turned her way. “Do you feel anything from Erik?” Her head shook in a miniscule motion. The set of her mouth made the extent of her concern obvious. That she"d held herself together so long was a testament to her strength.

She"d been able to feel her mate for every waking moment of her life for over a century.

Brand put his hand on Bera"s shoulder. “If he"s in there, I"m going to get him.”

97

Dagny sat in the driver"s seat, her hands resting on the wheel with a light touch. “What do you want us to do?” He admired her calm. The more tense the situation, the more composed she became. He could think of no safe place to send them, not until he knew more about what was going on.

“I think there"s an empty lot up ahead on the left. Wait there.

Keep the engine running.”

She nodded.

It wasn"t enough. Irrationally, he felt as though he were leaving them defenseless. He walked around the vehicle and leaned into the driver"s side window. Closing the remaining distance between them, he drew Dagny into a kiss. Her hand came up around his neck. The parting of her lips was accompanied by a small sigh that got lost in his mouth. Her hand tightened against the back of his neck.

He stroked his thumb against her cheek as he pulled away. “You"ll know if something happens. Get them out.” Her slow nod was reassuring. She radiated confidence—cool, like the first touch of frost. With her at his side, he could do anything. When he let her go, he felt bereft.

He turned away fast and raced down the street without looking back. The streetlights along the sidewalk were all out, which suited Brand just fine. Moving at a speed that would be a blur to human eyes, he kept to the deepest shadows. Running free under the moon gave him a rush he hadn"t experienced in too long.

He approached the Sorenson Enterprises construction site and slowed. Leaping over the fencing without effort, he landed with almost no sound on the other side. He loped across the construction site at a jog.

The Bioden warehouse came into view as he approached the far side. He scaled a construction trailer parked next to the fence so he could see what was beyond. Brush crowded the building along every wall, and the grass grew long.

Brand inhaled, pulling the air into his mouth and over 98

his tongue. No distinct scents were present. He let his gaze wander over the brick walls. He noticed no obvious security measures, and no movements or sounds. The blacked-out windows