it on each of us can we be certain it’s the right cure.”
“Hellisa didn’t look convinced.” Xalen pushes off the wall and grips the edge of the desk. “I’d go as far as to say she looked pissed off.”
I recall the look on Her Majesty’s face when she witnessed my transformation and how I was unweakened as a result of the serum. There had been surprise and hope, but there had also been unease. The way her gaze had darkened, albeit fleetingly, told me she was either skeptical about the serum not being a stroke of luck, or she doubted I’d be able to procure more of it.
“More like surprised,” Ezarith says. “I know my females, and Her Majesty never expected Bravik to come back with the cure of all things.” He looks at me. “How do we get more of it?”
“There’s a stream containing a specific mineral that provides it. According to my mate, this is also where the G.C. base is, it’s run by one of their machines.”
“An android?” Ezarith practically grits out the words. “Fuck, I hate those tin-can bastards.”
Ryzer smirks at him. “I don’t understand why you detest them so much. It is not like they caught you fucking Commander Leoric’s wife.”
“His daughter, but that’s beside the point.” The warrior looks pointedly at me. “I’ll do it.”
“I’ll send you all the necessary details. In the meantime, Varyx, you’ll go after Kalach. You can take Raziel with you, since he so generously offered to help.”
My friend chuckles. “So be it, brother.”
In comparison, Raziel appears to choke on something as he glares around the table. “You bunch of backstabbing motherfuckers, I never volunteered to do shit.”
Before he can go off on a rampage, I drag out my tablet and issue the relevant details to Ezarith. I then send the coordinates and blueprints of the prison to Varyx and Raziel.
“What about us?” Xalen demands, jutting his chin toward Ryzer. “We’re not just gonna sit here with our thumbs up our asses. And like you, our check-ins have been postponed until you get more of the cure.”
I think for a moment. He’s right that it’d be wasteful to have them do nothing. This is why I’ve decided they’ll help Ella and I visit more planets to gain allies in our war. It is beneficial to have them on our side to defeat not only the G.C. but also the poachers, who are growing bolder lately. In the weeks I’ve been gone, they’ve sent two hunting parties to Erebos, and only one was prevented from escaping. The lives stolen at the hands of Captain Rovak will never be restored. Even with the cure, there are too many of his henchmen to eradicate entirely on our own. We can take care of the ones here and on Aurora, but we can’t bring down the entire Galactic Court. Not without more allies.
I relay this to my brothers, and both Xalen and Ryzer immediately agree to my plan. If everything goes smoothly, we should have more of the cure within a few weeks, and then we’ll start strengthening Her Majesty’s army.
Only then can we exact our revenge on the G.C. and Captain Rovak.
“And what of our own cure?” Ryzer asks, his icy gaze intent on my own. “We can’t just pretend what happened on Vorexia wasn’t real. We each bear the mark, except for you, Bravik. Is this female truly the benediction we require to free ourselves of insanity?”
“No,” I answer flatly. “Ella is mine. My benediction. My fucking mate. It’s up to you to find your own virtues.”
“And how do we do that?” Ryzer demands.
“You find a human female who is pure of heart, one whose soul isn’t tainted.” I glance to where my own tattoo had been—nothing but flesh now. “Your mark will burn the moment you are near her; the pain will guide you to her regardless if you want to refuse. Use your instinct to seek her out, and surrender your vice in place of her virtue. That’s the only way to free yourself of this affliction.”
A silence descends among us, unbroken while my brothers consider the words.
“The shaman spoke of no estimation regarding the time of our demise.” I look at Raziel as he speaks, surprised by the quietness of his voice and lack of scorn. “We all know Tyrez was a psychopathic son of a bitch, but he had cracked the moment he woke up. That means any of us could go insane at any second.”
“Yes,” I say,