37. Chapter Thirty-Six

Chapter Thirty-Six

Remmus gaped, along with the rest of the delegation, when they discovered that Rukia was with child. Evidently, her pregnancy was a result of the Heat that'd taken place only five months ago.

That much was apparent from the territorial way her mate, Isaiah, guarded her. Perhaps Raeth and Elemental ancestors were more closely intertwined than anyone had originally thought.

"Rukia!" Nina's elated voice echoed from the doorway. "You're pregnant!"

The Elemental grinned. "Must be something in the water."

When the two women clutched each other in a hug and began murmuring excitedly about their upcoming happy events, Remmus couldn't help but notice the way Zeke and Isaiah hovered at their backs like shadows. Their eyes locked onto each other.

A trickle of electricity prickled the air around them. The two dads-to-be were clearly discussing their similar experiences, complete with minor facial expressions that betrayed their exasperation.

Around them, as the other delegates began congratulating the two women, Aidan asked the question everyone was dying to know. "And how is the future daddy, Rukia?"

"Gah, he's been a nightmare." Rukia admitted, swatting at him with one hand while Isaiah rolled his eyes. "Just completely off the deep end, this one."

"I feel your pain." Nina quirked a brow at Zeke. "Our cross to bear, I suppose. Shall we begin?"

While the delegation shuffled toward their customary seats, Riaz gave voice to their amusement: "Perhaps this time, we can conduct our meeting without half our number being whisked away for the duration?"

Nina's cheeks flamed. "I'm fairly confident we won't have to worry about that for quite some time."

Zeke hovered behind her like a dark wraith, the intensity in his jade eyes daring anyone to look at his mate wrong.

It instantly made Remmus want to toe the line. When Ava grabbed his hand and gave it a quick squeeze, he decided to put his mischievous urge on hold. Instead, he got busy massaging his mate's hand. He could practically feel her wolf brush up against his mind as he soothed the muscles and gave in to his need to care for her.

After the Heat, he'd worried he'd never mate or get the chance at having a family. Now, he'd gotten both. Ava was more than he'd ever dreamed, and with their matehood came an entirely new world: life within a pack.

"Remmus, unfortunately, was psychically poisoned as a result of that interaction."

He perked at his name, his attention drawing back to the meeting. Nina was explaining the situation that'd led to the destruction of the Citizens' facility, and everyone who didn't already know the story shot him evaluating looks.

Beside him, Ava's wolf growled low in her throat, and he draped his arm around her shoulders.

"Easy killer. I don't think I'm on anyone's hit list today."

"Remmus and Ava were able to infiltrate the plant and gather incriminating evidence on the Citizens members who worked there. This morning, Hannah Preston was arrested and will—most likely—be slapped with multiple felonies and jail time."

It'd been the highlight of Ava's day: watching from a street corner as the Citizens leader was handcuffed and tossed in the back of a squad car.

Though the computer he'd hacked had burned along with the facility, Remmus had gathered enough information to put her away for decades. More than one member of the terrorist group would be going away—Hannah was merely the first.

Uncle Sam would be unweaving the threads he'd gathered, and he had no doubt they'd pursue the evidence of unlawful activities. Though his technopathic ability remained slightly affected, he was still able to ensure nothing about the immortal societies would be compromised.

"When Ava blew up the facility," Nina continued, "she met the Raeth who's partnered with the Citizens."

"You met him?" Drake asked.

The Greek vampire that functioned as one of the two administrative figureheads of vampire society and Kane, the second part of that duo, sat beside Nova.

"I did." Ava nodded. "Managed to take a chunk out of his neck before getting outta dodge."

Riaz' grin was legendary. "That's my beta."

"Perhaps Ava should lead all our attacks on the Citizens' property."

Drake's calculating look hit a nerve. Remmus leveled a malevolent stare at the offending immortal. "Absolutely not, Dracula. My mate isn't cannon fodder."

The vampire held up his hands. "Fair enough. But Ava, I'd be interested: who was he? Did he give any reason about why he'd partnered with the Citizens?"

"I don't have much to go on," she admitted. "He had striking blue eyes, almost grey, and black hair, and he seemed surprised when I attacked him. It makes me think he's young. Certainly not trained as a combatant."

Kaien sighed. "Matches the description of the man who teleported Torrin out of danger at Luc's House in California."

Zeke cleared his throat, his hands settling on Nina's shoulders. "But we know now—thanks to Remmus—that this Raeth is clanless. He's of destruction, with a gift for psychic poisoning, and has strong telepathic skills."

"He's destruction," Isaiah repeated. "That's interesting on multiple accounts."

Remmus frowned. "We still don't know where this guy comes from, nor why he allied with our mortal enemies. There was nothing about him—not even a name—in the information on Hannah Preston's computer. Torrin wasn't mentioned either, and I went through everything with a fine-tooth comb. It makes no sense."

"Your guess is as good as mine," Zeke replied. "But with a gift like psychic poisoning, we need to be careful who interacts with him. If he were to get ahold of any of you—anyone without a psychic shield—the results could prove fatal."

A round of nods met his words.

"Before we get too deep into the discussion of werewolves being abducted again," Nero interjected, "I'm going to suggest we hold off on making any move until after the mated Raeth couples have their children."

"Yes."

"Agreed."

Both Zeke and Isaiah replied instantaneously, and a rumble of laughter sounded across the room. When agreement sparked on the topic, discussion changed to what Ava had discovered when she'd cornered Orren, the ex-Citizens employee.

"Orren wasn't so subtle about the fact that they'd just secured a deal with the military, though what he meant by that I can't imagine."

"What were his words?" Nina questioned.

"He said, ‘we've got the military on our side, now, so those crazies don't stand a chance.'" Shoulders squeezing together as though she'd gotten the chills, Ava said, "I got the impression that it was more resources than people, though."

"At least that's some good news." Nero locked eyes with Drake. "If we had more people against us, the word will be out on our existence. Not everyone can keep a secret."

"The problem is, I don't think they'll keep our secret for long." Though her voice was low, everyone heard Ava. "They're abducting wolves again. One can only wonder what they're doing to them."

Growl rumbling from his chest, Aidan's primal warning sent a shudder down Remmus' spine. When he spoke, everyone listened. "If they're taking wolves, they're turning them rabid. It'll only be a matter of time before they deploy them."

"Then we simply need to find them before they do damage." Gideon replied. "Has your vaccine been tested on a wolf who has already turned rabid?"

Aidan's shook his head. "We haven't, but we haven't had anyone turn rabid in months. I was hoping we'd never have to find out."

"Have any wolves been reported missing?"

The question, surprisingly, came from Lucius. The vampire elder sat alongside Isaiah and Rukia and was a member of their clan. He'd mated with Isaiah's adopted daughter, Circe, who had a knack for finding things and people.

"None," came Aidan's gruff reply, "but the ones they've targeted in the past were lone wolves—the ones who never checked in with pack."

Lucius nodded solemnly, then looked to his sovereign in soundless conversation before speaking once more. "Circe has offered to assist if you discover who they've taken."

The topic of conversation shifted, revolving around the upcoming changes within the Raeth society and how it'd affect relations between the immortal nations.

Losing himself once more to the little rumbles of pleasure that sounded from Ava's chest as he massaged her hands, Remmus mentally checked out.

By the time they'd wrapped up, night had fallen. While Ava caught up with Nova, Remmus followed his stomach to Nina's exceptionally well-stocked kitchen. He never missed a meal if it could be helped, but the driving factor was habit rather than true hunger.

He traipsed through hallway after hallway, knowing the layout of the gigantic mansion like the back of his hand. Crossing the kitchen threshold, however, he paused.

Celeste was eating whipped cream out of the cannister.

A blush burned over her cheeks as she daintily put the cannister where it belonged. "You saw nothing, Remmus."

Crossing his arms, he lazily rested against the doorframe before adopting a face-eating grin. "I saw nothing … but fodder for blackmail."

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Oh, I would." Taunting now, he closed the distance between them a quirked an eyebrow. "One never knows when a good tidbit of knowledge comes in handy."

Narrowing her eyes in mocking anger, Celeste folded her arms across her chest. Once their quippy interaction came to an end, it left them wallowing in stilted silence.

Though it'd been some time since the Heat, their interactions had remained stiff. In the span of five months, they'd gone from close friends to estranged acquaintances who refused to talk about the elephant in the room.

The last time they'd met, Ava had nearly torn Celeste's throat out.

"I'm so happy for you, Remmus."

He locked on her features, attempting to decipher her words. She scoffed and let her fist sail into his shoulder.

"For your mating, you oaf."

"Ava's amazing, Celeste. She's more than I ever dreamed I'd have. At times, I still have a hard time believing I'm a mated man."

"Cue tearful cries from all the single ladies. Even Queen B shed a tear now that you're off the market."

"I'd like for you to meet her, Celeste," he said. "Get to know her. When you do, you'll see how amazing she is."

"I have no doubt, Remmus." Sobering, her gaze dropped to the floor. "She'd have to be amazing to be worthy of you as a mate."

Truth.

Swallowing the lump that'd formed in his throat, Remmus batted away the urge to sweep their past underneath the rug.

"Celeste—about what happened between us in the Heat: I don't want it to harm our friendship. It had nothing to do with you and everything to do with my compulsions."

For a beat, she didn't move or respond. Her gaze grew shadowed, twisted with melancholy. "I know, Remmus. Being vulnerable like that—especially with someone else—isn't in my wheelhouse. I was never angry with you. I was angry with myself, and I didn't know how to fix it between us."

"That made two of us," he commiserated. "Fortunately, I'd like to think we know each other well enough that we can choose to remain friends." He smirked, regaining his playfulness when Celeste's mood lightened. "Besides, you'll find your mate soon, too. And then I'm certain he'll defend your honor by breaking my face."

A startled laugh shot out of her mouth before she curled her arms around him. "I'm glad you're still here, Remmus."