21. Marina

21

MARINA

T he Sunday morning sun filtered through the leaves of the trees surrounding the house, casting dappled shadows on the front porch. Marina stood at the window, watching a pair of birds flit between branches.

The house felt empty without Peter and Alfie, even depressing despite how nice it was. At first she had welcomed the solitude, using the time to clean and tidy up the place. But now, with every surface gleaming and not a speck of dust to be found, restlessness began to set in.

Usually Peter had Sundays off, but he was on duty today, attending a meeting with the Guardian chief and his team. They were planning a rescue operation for trafficking victims that had to be done tonight before the victims were shipped out to other destinations.

Marina's heart swelled with pride at the thought of Peter's work, but it also tightened with worry. Even though she knew he was incredibly capable, the dangers he faced never failed to concern her.

"I need to get out of here," she muttered to herself.

After putting her shoes on, she grabbed her bag and headed out the door.

The village walkways were quiet but not deserted. Marina nodded and smiled at the few people she passed by, and it felt nice to be smiled at in return. Thanks to her work at the café, everyone knew her by now, and other than Borga, she hadn't had problems with anyone.

For all the purebloods and many of the hybrids, visits to the café were rare because they mainly subsisted on blood. Only a few of them had a taste for coffee, and she was glad of it. Most of them still regarded her as a second-class citizen, and she was sick of being treated like that.

The café was closed on the weekend, but she could get something from the vending machines. She wasn't thirsty or hungry, but she would get something so she didn't look weird as she engaged in her favorite activity of people-watching.

It had always been a soothing activity for her, a way to quiet her mind when it became too noisy with worries and what-ifs.

Marina made her way to the vending machines and selected a cappuccino and an egg sandwich. With her purchases in hand, she chose a table at the back of the seating area, positioning herself for the best view of the comings and goings.

There wasn't much activity this early on a weekend morning, so when Bridget arrived and headed toward the vending machines, Marina raised her hand in a friendly wave, which was returned with a warm smile.

After getting a coffee and pastry, Bridget surprised Marina when she came over to her table. "Mind if I join you?" she asked.

"Please," Marina said, gesturing to the empty chair across from her.

Bridget settled into the seat, taking a sip of her coffee before speaking. "How are you acclimating to life in the village, Marina?"

"I love it here," she said earnestly. "Working at the café, the relaxed atmosphere, the sense of community—it's all wonderful. But do you know what the best part is?" She leaned in as if sharing a secret. "The feeling of safety. I know that nothing bad is going to happen to me here. It's incredible."

Bridget's eyebrows rose. "Were you worried about your safety in Safe Haven?"

Marina shrugged. "Safe Haven was pretty secure, but people are people, you know? As a woman, I always felt a certain level of vulnerability. But here..." She gestured around them. "Everyone knows I'm with Peter, so all the Guardians treat me like I'm under their protection. It's like having a hundred lethal soldiers for brothers. No one would dare to harm me."

Bridget nodded. "Feeling safe can make a world of difference. I'm glad you've acclimated and feel so at home here." She paused, taking a bite of her pastry before asking, "How are things going with Peter?"

A mix of emotions flitted across Marina's heart--joy and love, but also a touch of uncertainty. "Peter is amazing, and I'm thankful for every moment I spend with him. We are so well matched." She took a sip from her coffee before deciding to confide in Bridget. "He even proposed, and he wants me to start planning a wedding. But I'm hesitant."

"Why is that?" Bridget prompted.

Marina bit her lip, considering her words carefully. "It's mostly about our lifespans." She took a deep breath, steeling herself to ask the question that had been nagging at her. "Bridget, can I ask you something? As a physician?"

"Of course."

"Will being with an immortal who bites me nearly every night extend my lifespan? And if so, by how much?"

Bridget's eyes sparkled with interest. "That's actually a very interesting question, Marina. I haven't given it much thought before because none of our males had ever spent a significant time with a human female who was not a Dormant."

The clan's physician tapped her fingers on the table. "It's certainly worth investigating. The venom has healing properties, and regular exposure could potentially have cumulative effects..." She trailed off, lost in thought for a moment before refocusing on Marina. "Would you be willing to come to the clinic with me? I'd like to take some blood and tissue samples. If you are game, you can be the first subject in the study of the effects of venom on human longevity."

Marina nodded. "Of course. I'd be happy to help, and if you are interested in another subject, Lusha has started dating Alfie, and I can ask her to join your study."

"Lusha has mixed genetics with some Kra-ell in her, so her results might be different than yours, but I'll gladly investigate her case as well. After I take today's sample, I want you to stop by the clinic on Friday for another round, and if Lusha is game, she can come with you. I might not be there, but I'll leave instructions with the nurse."