Mikal (Second Wave Book 3) (22 page)

Epilogue

The next morning Mikal and Chance had just entered the dining room with Charlie when he looked up and saw Indrid walk into the room followed by a half dozen Hyperboreans.

As if on autopilot, Mikal walked towards his father, staring curiously at the mix of men and women behind him. One of the women looked like Chance, with the alabaster skin, and the other had the same midnight skin as he and Indrid. Two other Hyperborean men shared the same dark flesh.

The room became deathly quiet as Indrid smiled at Mikal and his family before motioning to those behind him.

“Most of our people rest in a state of hibernation in a chamber beneath the castle. It is the guardians who are charged with awakening them as they are needed. These are the family members of the females that you found. It is the DNA of their loved ones that was used to create them. The guardians awakened them to care for the girls and teach them,” Indrid explained.

Mikal clutched Charlie tightly to him, determined that he would not give up his daughter to a family she didn’t know. He glared at Indrid, wondering why he hadn’t warned him and Chance.

Indrid patted Mikal on the shoulder.

“Don’t fear, son, the guardians did not awaken anyone for Charlie. It seems they also believe she is better with you and Chance,” he said with a smile as Mikal breathed out a sigh of relief.

“Will they remain here?” Mikal asked, knowing that Katie and the others wanted to stay at Base Beta.

Indrid nodded and watched the newly awakened families tentatively reaching out to Katie and the others.

“Yes, they will do what is best for them. Families are strong among our people, and they will be welcomed for the gifts that they are. Here, they will be able to learn of both of their people-the hybrids and the Hyperboreans,” Indrid said, well pleased with the care and love the females would receive here.

Indrid turned to the hybrids that had made their home here.

“That is, if you do not mind their presence among you. I believe they would be happy to share what knowledge they can with you,” Indrid offered.

Lauren stepped forward as the highest-ranking hybrid.

“We are grateful that you are allowing us to stay in the home of your people. It would be an honor to learn from you and live among you as we raise our people together,” Lauren said then bowed in respect to Indrid and the other Hyperboreans.

“It is an honor for us to consider you as friends,” Indrid said, returning Lauren’s bow before he turned to Mikal.

“Son . . . I would like to come see you, maybe see what your team does. I think there is much we could learn from one another,” Indrid asked softly.

“I would like that very much,” Mikal said, surprised at the request.

“I definitely would like to see you again and again,” Indrid said with a smile as he tickled Charlie’s belly.

Mikal barely held on to Charlie as she lunged out of his arms and into Indrid’s. He hugged her close and kissed her cheek.

“You be a good girl for your mommy and daddy,” Indrid whispered as he gently formed a mental connection with the child.

Charlie nodded her head and hugged him back before Indrid handed her back to Mikal and took Chance into his arms, gently forming a connection with her as well. He was taking no chances of losing them; this time he would be there immediately if one of them needed him.

“Thank you, for making my son happy,” Indrid whispered to Chance as he hugged her.

“He’s a wonderful man; he made it easy,” Chance said as she smiled up at Mikal.

Indrid cleared his throat and pulled away from Chance, turning to look at his son.

“I have missed you every day since you’ve been gone. This is the first time I will start my day looking at you and will end it knowing where you are and that you are safe. I love you, son,” Indrid said hoarsely.

“Thank you for never giving up on finding me. You’re welcome to visit or help, anytime. Be safe in your travels, Father, and we will do the same,” Mikal said, watching the tears well in Indrid’s eyes when he called him “father” for the first time in 147 years.

They turned at the commotion in the doorway and saw Liam running half naked from the hallway that they’d come down, through the dining room and out of the door, followed by an angry Trick and Mir.

Moments later, a robed Dree stomped into the room, heading towards the same door they’d left from.

“I thought this was worked out last night?” Mikal asked as Dree passed him.

Dree snorted and continued out the door without a word as Chris came in from the outside, shaking his head at her.

“I hate to get in the middle of your goodbyes, but we should go,” Chris said as he walked up to Mikal.

“What’s wrong?” Mikal asked, noting the concern in his brother’s energy.

Chris shook his head and tried to ignore the others in the room who were listening to every word. Not that it mattered if they were because he was sure the information was going to be all over the Shengari’ soon enough.

“Dad took over everything to do with the labs. Including the hunting of the DNA donors, and you know Dad, he went in with a bomb when a thumbtack would have worked. He forced the orange-tinted ass to resign, released a sex tape on another to make him resign, and he’s let loose a ton more deleted emails from that hidden server, because that pathetic bitch still won’t give up her personal crusade to rule the world. We need to get in the middle of this before he inadvertently takes out one of our informants,” Chris said in frustration.

Angel walked in with Drago and almost spat her disdain.

“That haggard old broad still has a ton of delusional people donating money to her and that’s why she’s still in it. She’s broke, remember?” Angel said sarcastically.

Chris ran a hand down his face, frustrated that things were getting so out of control. He was desperate to keep some of their informants safe and needed to get a handle on things immediately.

“I want us to finish off the rest of these assholes-not Dad so gear the hell up and let’s go!” Chris shouted to the room in general, knowing his siblings would hear and send the message to the ones lagging behind.

Chance looked up at Mikal as Chris left. 

“Are you guys always in such a hurry?” she teased.

“Not always,” Mikal said as he leaned down to give her a kiss.

To my Readers:

Thanks so much for all of your patience with the changes that we’re making to First and Second Wave. We have a lot of exciting things that we’re hoping to have live for you all next year including a wiki with character details, relationships, and book and chapter summaries, as well as a very talented professional artist who will be bringing our characters to life!

We’re still averaging a new release every 8-9 weeks and will continue that into the new year.

Mac

Coming in December 2015

Manipulating Mikey

Private first class Mikey Davis had known something was wrong when he stumbled upon a roadblock in the White River National Forest. The soldiers and deputies blocking the road didn’t look quite right, and everything in his instincts told him something was wrong. The last thing he remembered was a flaming alien craft headed straight for him.

Mikey awoke in a military hospital and believed he was safe, but it didn’t take him long to realize just how horribly wrong he was. After two tours in Afghanistan, he’d seen the horrors of war, and brought them home in his mind. Still, nothing he’d seen on the battlefield compared to the insanity, pain, and rage he endured. Only one thing helped him cope—the beautiful eyes of the only person kind to him. 

Dr. Lauren Campbell had rarely been out of Fiorn’s Folly, but when she was called to try and help the damaged soldier, she found herself drawn to him in a way she never expected. His pain and loneliness called to her own and she soon set aside any reservations she had about getting close to a patient.

Rescued by what he thinks is the enemy, Mikey will do anything to restore his good name with the military and rid himself of the alien disease, and Lauren will have to use every skill she’s ever learned in order to prevent the mentally broken man from turning against them all and destroying the only chance for them both to find happiness.