35. Peter

35

PETER

T he familiar scent of leather and gun oil filled the air as Peter strapped on his tactical gear.

He adjusted his Kevlar vest in front of the mirror on his locker door and smiled at his reflection. The possibility of prolonging Marina's life had injected him with a new sense of hope and excitement, burning off the vestiges of malaise that had been plaguing him as of late.

It was a win that he had desperately needed, a piece of good news, of hope, a light to push back the encroaching darkness. There wasn't much he could do to save the world from what was coming, but he could rejoice in this victory that promised a better future for Marina and him.

Well, it wasn't a promise, not yet. At this point it was just a hypothesis, but Peter would take whatever he was given and embrace it.

He couldn't wait to share the news with Alfie and Jay, but it was too soon. He didn't want to sell them a dream and then take it away because Bridget's test results didn't indicate any longevity benefit from frequent venom injections.

Jay would probably kick himself for dumping Larissa when he heard about this. Peter could already imagine the regret on his friend's face. And Alfie? Well, this might just be the push he needed to get serious about Lusha.

Peter made a mental note to arrange a guys' night out when Marina got the positive results. This was news best delivered in person, preferably over a few bottles of Snake Venom.

As he holstered his weapon, Peter's thoughts drifted to the wider implications of Bridget's research. This could be a game-changer for many of the clan males who had all but given up hope of finding Dormant mates. Amanda's research wasn't yielding any new results, and the Fates seemed in no hurry to bring more Dormants their way.

Theoretically, immortals had all the time in the world to find their fated truelove mates, but watching others find their happily-ever-after while they remained alone wasn't easy. People were impatient.

As someone who had been in the same boat only a few weeks ago, he had experienced that helpless longing first-hand. Hell, he had even convinced himself that he was in love with Kagra because he had been so desperate for a mate.

Not that he would have admitted it while he had been with her, but looking back, he couldn't lie to himself and claim that he had truly believed that Kagra was the one meant for him. She was a Kra-ell, and although attractive, she was alien in her looks, customs, and beliefs, which did not align with his.

What he couldn't understand, though, was why the clan females did not find mates among Kalugal's males. They were perfectly compatible, attractive, and shared similar values. So yeah, they used to be Doomers, but they hadn't wanted that life and had escaped. They had more in common with the clan than they ever had with the Brotherhood.

The only explanation Peter could come up with was that the Fates had other plans for them.

"You look deep in thought," Onegus said from behind him.

He turned to the chief. "Just thinking about the mission," Peter lied smoothly. "I wonder how many kids will be in this rescue."

Onegus grimaced. "More than the last one. You know what I fantasize about?"

Peter was surprised that the chief was sharing his musings with him. "What?" he asked.

Onegus leaned closer, his eyes blazing with inner light and his fangs elongating. "I fantasize about finding those who want to buy those children and doing despicable things to them. I want to tear them apart with my fangs."

Peter felt his own fangs elongate in response. "I'm in. Just tell me when and where."

Onegus nodded and kept on walking.

The chief's small briefing room was already packed when Peter entered, and as Onegus began the final briefing detailing entry points and contingency plans, Peter's thoughts drifted once again to Marina, the afternoon delight they had shared and the future they might have together.

Shaking his head, he forced himself to focus. They had gone over the details this morning, but there was no substitute for a refresher right before the mission.

When the briefing concluded, the team filed out towards the vehicles. Peter fell into step beside Jay and Alfie.

"What's up?" Jay asked, his keen eyes studying Peter's face. "Everything okay?"

Peter nodded, a small smile lifting one corner of his lips. "Everything's good and getting better."