Emergence (The Primogenitor Chronicles Book 1) (18 page)

The grounded appeared to be oblivious to the silent call. At least most of them were. He met Jays’s eyes and blinked when the doctor leaned back, watching everything. Chris reluctantly pulled his attention away from that particular grounded so he could nod to the Hunters he passed.

Once acknowledged, they returned to their meals, but he could see that a part of their attention stayed alert to their Alpha.
It’s like all their focus suddenly centers on Nick. And you don’t even see it, do you, Nicky? I’ve always noticed it, heck I feel it too, but I’ve always taken it for granted. Why? What is it?

He swept the room again, avoided Jays’s knowing stare, and crashed into Donald’s. The other Hunter sent a questioning look his way, and Chris nodded ever so slightly.
Well, I think this sixth sense is going to come in handy now.

He picked up a tray and followed Nick through the line, absently filling his plate with his usual farm-style breakfast. His brother’s odd food choices caught his attention. He stopped sweeping the room for threats and nudged Nick. “That’s a bit unusual for you, isn’t it? You don’t usually like sweets much.”

The first shiver of alarm started to run through Chris as he looked down at Nickolas’s tray, piled with sweet fruit and pastries.

Nick shrugged and grinned self-consciously as he added another scoop of sugar to some strawberries. “It’s just what I’m craving today.”

“You’re going to give me a toothache watching you eat all that. Here.” Stabbing a hunk of steak, Christoff dropped it on his brother’s plate. “That should at least balance out the sugar high.”

Christoff shook his head and waved toward an empty table by the back wall. “Let’s take that one.”

Ian turned his wrist up and glanced at his watch.
Jays should be here soon.
Tiredly he leaned his elbows on the table and rested his face in his hands, rubbing his eyes.
I’m definitely too old for this. All-nighters are for the young.
A sigh escaped and he sat back before turning to look resignedly over at the cabinet on the wall.
Well, it’s time. I should get it over with.

He pushed away and stood. Every step was a battle to force himself over to the wall. With a viciousness he seldom showed to anyone other than Jays, he yanked the door to the cabinet open, revealing a pharmaceutical refrigerator along with shelves of supplies.

He pulled a vial out and then prepped a syringe before replacing the bottle in the fridge. He grabbed the rest of his supplies and set them down on the adjacent counter before closing the cabinet doors. Rolling up his sleeve, he used his teeth to tighten the tubing he wrapped around his arm and brought a vein to the surface. Then he picked up a needle and inserted it into his vein. A quick tug with his teeth and the tube released, and the vial started to fill with his blood. When it was full, he carefully changed it for the vial he had drawn from the bottle in the fridge, and he quickly gave himself the injection.

A hiss passed his teeth when the drug entered his system. He dropped the needle into the sharps box and dumped everything else into the cabinet. Then he closed his eyes at the brief wave of dizziness, grinding his teeth as he made his way back to his chair.

And Jessica doesn’t like what she’s given.
He shook his head then focused on the monitor again, trying to ignore the pulse of the drug. Jessica was still lying on the bunk asleep, though her slight movements showed that her sleep was not as deep.
She should wake soon. I had better get this paper work done and my copies put away.

The words on the page squirreled around and he rubbed his eyes. A few minutes later, the door opened and he smiled slightly.
Prompt, as usual Jays.

He set his pen down then divided the papers and tucked half of them into his leather folder. The other half he clipped onto Jessica’s chart. He smiled tiredly at Jays. “I hope you had a good night’s sleep?”

His young protégée settled on the corner of the table and nodded. “Sound enough. Doesn’t look like you’ve been to bed though?”

“Not yet. I sent the others off to sleep a few hours ago. But we can’t leave her unmonitored yet. After her next meal, I’ll get some rest. You should only have a few hours alone before the others return.”

“How’s she doing?”

He slid the chart over to Jays. The young man picked it up and started leafing through it. Ian rose out of his chair and stretched, rubbing the soreness in his arm.

“So, you were able to go in and get some of the tests done?”

He focused his eyes on the coffee pot that sat on the counter across the room then forced his feet to stay in line as he walked to it. He managed to pour himself a cup without incident. “Yes. After Nickolas got her to eat, her body couldn’t sustain the outpouring of energy any longer. She fell into a deep enough sleep that we were able to take in some of the portable equipment. I wasn’t comfortable taking her out of the room yet. We couldn’t get all of the tests done of course, but we managed several. The results are there.” He gestured with his cup at the chart Jays was holding. “Do you want a cup?” he asked, holding up an empty mug.

“No, thanks. I just came from the cafeteria.” Jays looked up from the papers and over at him, smirking. “They’re gathering already. You should have seen the response when Nick and Chris showed up.”

“I’m not surprised. I’ve kicked them all out of here quite a few times since she arrived. They’ll look to Nickolas for orders. They always have. Speaking of which, keep an eye on him for me, will you?”

“Why?”

“I noticed some odd behavior last night.” He cradled his cup and walked back to the table where he sank into his chair, absentmindedly looking at the monitor. “Beyond your report of him stopping Jessica’s suicide.”

“Like what?”

“I think…” He trailed off as his mind slid pieces around on the mental game board that overlaid his world. Something was still missing. He looked up at his protégé and took a sip from his cup. “He wasn’t as foggy as he should have been.”

“Oh no. Chris hadn’t taken his pills yesterday. Flynn had to force him.”

“Chris I could see, it wouldn’t be the first time. But, Nick? So what happened?”

Jays rose and started to pace. “I don’t know where my brain went. I guess I got distracted by seeing Jessica again after so many years…and her condition…. Anyway I was still in shock that we succeeded in stopping her psychic suicide and I opened my big mouth. I used the word Caster in front of Chris. He picked up on it right away and nearly ripped my throat out. I couldn’t talk to you last night ’cause the others were still here.”

Ian pulled out the chair next to him. “Sit.”

Jays slid into the chair but continued to bounce his legs agitatedly. “So, Flynn pulled a trank pistol on him. But the damage was done. He knows there are different types of Valkyries now and has already placed Nickolas as not a Hunter.”

“Well that explains what Christoff wanted to talk to me about last night.” He stared off into the distance and took a sip of his coffee.

“Do you think he’ll tell Nick?”

“What do you think?” He set his mug down and leaned back in his chair studying his Second in command. “I think that is a definite, though he’ll wait until he learns more, which he’s already started trying to do. After which, I think we can count on him telling Nickolas.”

They were both quiet for a moment, then Jays asked softly, “Is that such a bad thing?”

“It depends on the timing.” He picked up his coffee and took a drink. “I guess we’ll see what state Nick’s in when he gets here.”

“You don’t think he’ll take his pills? He was certainly edgy last night but not as aggressive as his brother.”

“He wouldn’t be. At least not yet.”

Jays groaned, and he chuckled. “But it does mean that we might have a fledgling Seer practicing in our ranks. We’re going to have to be alert. We can’t let Gabriel find out if Nick is coming into his power. So, now, we have two to watch.”

“Jessica and Nickolas. Speaking of which, she appears to be waking up,” Jays commented, leaning forward to look at the readouts from a monitor in her room.

His gaze shifted to the video display and he watched her yawn, sitting up slowly, the confusion plain on her face. “Jays, go page Nickolas and get some food for her. Let’s see how she responds today, shall we?”

Chris glanced around the table at the three Valkyries who had joined them. The dance of rank was a subtly fluid thing. Determined by strength and situation. But strength could mean so many things; physical, mental, or numbers. The one rank that never changed was Nickolas’s Alpha.
But even that isn’t quite true. He has to yield when enough of us push.

Nick shoved the plate of steak to the side.

Donald caught his look and shoved the plate back then continued his conversation. “So, she fought through the tranks? I’ve never heard of that. Not even you did that, Kieran.”

Kieran rubbed the Celtic knot around his neck and turned a glare on his cousin.

Nick shook his head, his eyes unfocused, and slathered a thick layer of honey on a piece of bread. “She did a lot of things I wouldn’t have thought possible, Donald.”

Chris shuddered at his sugar intake. “Eat the meat, Nicky.”

“We’ve all been over to the Hub to try and get a look at her, but Ian keeps kicking us out.” Kieran sat up and his pendant dropped to the end of its chain. “We were hoping you might be able to tell us anything?”

Swallowing his bite of bread, Nickolas pushed the steak aside with a bland look. “There’s not much yet to tell. She’s strong. But her metabolism’s still unstable, so they’re probably trying to stay on the safe side by keeping her isolated. She still isn’t resigned to her fate and keeps fighting us. Give it some time. You’ll all get a chance at her soon enough.”

Irritated, Chris pulled the contested plate in front of himself and started to cut the steak up into strips. Nickolas continued to down an entire bakery in between answering the three Hunters’ questions. Transferring some of the sliced meat back onto Nickolas’s plate, he met his brother’s exasperated look and locked stares.

Silence hit the table. Then, with a grimace, Nickolas looked down and stabbed a piece of the meat. He started to eat it and a collective breath released from the table’s occupants. He and Donald exchanged a look, and his Second bridged the turbulence and engaged Nick with talk about the schedule for the day.

Such an obvious challenge had a better than even odds of turning physical. The fact that it hadn’t caught attention. Chris scanned the room. Every clan member watched their table. Worry on their faces.

He smacked Nick’s fingers when he started to reach for the honey again and pointed to the meat. Donald slipped the jar of honey to the other side of the table. Chris cast him a thankful look.

“Chris,” Nick sighed. But before he could finish his sentence, Nickolas caught his breath; his body drew rigid and his face had turned pale as a sheet.

“Nick?” Christoff asked softly. He met Donald’s eyes across the table. The same concern he felt reflected back at him. “Hey, Nick. Look at me.”

Slowly, like he was moving through molasses, Nickolas turned toward him, and Chris could see the horror that filled his brother’s eyes. Nick took a deep breath and his fork clattered to the table unnoticed when he unclenched his hands. “It’s all right, Chris. I’m fine, it’s passing,” he said raggedly.