“Dr. Holt,” he said, his breath forming small clouds in the cool air. “Ready to dive into a decade’s worth of notes on this medical mystery?”
“More than ready.” She fell into step beside him as they headed down the stone steps. “I’m hoping you’ve had luck gathering complete records.”
Kael’s expression grew troubled. “About that... I spent most of yesterday evening trying to compile everything Varix would release. The keyword being ‘would.’”
The crisp morning air bit at her cheeks as they walked toward his vehicle—a practical SUV that looked designed for navigating the territory’s challenging terrain rather than making any sort of statement. Nothing like the imposing vehicle Korran had driven yesterday.
Stop comparing everything to Korran.
“What exactly does that mean?” she asked as Kael opened the passenger door for her.
“It means our head healer is very... selective about what he considers relevant to share with outsiders.” Kael’s diplomatic tone didn’t quite mask his frustration. He climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine, the heater immediately beginning its battle against the cold. “Even when those outsiders are here specifically to help save the king. But I’ve only been working in the lab for three years, so I’m still navigating my way around the politics of it all.”
Tess studied his profile as he navigated the estate’s winding driveway. There was something in his careful phrasing, a tension that suggested deeper currents beneath the surface. “So what’s your take on the treatment protocols?”
Kael was quiet for a long moment, his hands gripping the steering wheel as they passed through the estate’s gates and onto the main road leading toward town. The landscape rolling past was breathtaking—snow-laden purple trees standinglike sentinels against the backdrop of yellow snow-capped mountains, the morning light casting everything in shades of amber and gold.
“Honestly?” He glanced at her, then back at the road. “I think we’ve been treating symptoms rather than causes. The yearly immunity boosters help for a few months, then the king’s condition deteriorates again. It’s like we’re putting a bandage on a severed artery.”
“That’s a vivid analogy.”
“It’s an accurate one.” His jaw tightened. “I’ve tried discussing alternative approaches with Varix, but he’s... set in his methods. He believes the mate bond theory explains everything, so why look further?”
Tess opened her notebook, flipping to a fresh page. “Tell me about these immunity boosters. What’s the composition? How are they administered?”
“Varix handles the preparation personally. It’s some kind of cellular regeneration compound designed to counteract what he calls ‘human-induced cellular corruption.’ I’ve assisted with the administration, but I’ve never been allowed to analyze the compound itself. Like I said, I’m new around here.”
Red flags began sprouting in Tess’s mind like warning beacons. “Even if you’re newer to the lab, that’s still unusual for a research facility.”
“That’s what I thought.” Kael’s voice dropped lower, more conspiratorial. “Look, I want to help the king as much as anyone. More than most, actually. But I’m starting to think we’re missing something fundamental.”
The glass and steel building that housed the Northern Dominion’s medical facilities soon came into view, rising from the snowy landscape like a monument to scientific progress. It was larger than she’d originally expected, clearly well-fundedand modern. Yet something about Kael’s tone suggested all that gleaming technology might be hiding more than it revealed.
Kael parked near the main entrance, but neither of them moved to get out immediately. The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken concerns.
“Can I ask you something?” Tess turned to face him fully. “Yesterday, when we were leaving the lab, you said it was nice to see someone eager to help the king ‘for a change.’ What did you mean by that?”
Kael’s hands stilled on the steering wheel. For a moment, she thought he wouldn’t answer. Then he sighed, his breath fogging the windshield.
“Not everyone here is as invested in the king’s recovery as you might expect. Some people...” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “Some people seem more interested in managing the situation than solving it.”
Before Tess could press for clarification, Kael was already opening his door. “Come on. Let’s get to work.”
The medical facility’s lobby was impressive—all clean lines and gleaming surfaces, with holographic displays showing various research projects and health statistics for the territory. But Tess barely noticed the aesthetics. Her focus was already shifting into the analytical mode.
Kael led her down the main corridor to the laboratory, a vast space filled with advanced equipment that would have made her colleagues back on Earth weep with envy. The morning shift was already in full swing, researchers in crisp white coats moving between workstations with purposeful efficiency.
“Your workspace,” Kael announced, gesturing to a lab bench near the back corner. It was well-equipped but strategically positioned—close enough to the action to access resources, but far enough away to avoid constant oversight.
Tess shrugged out of her coat, hanging it on the chair back, and immediately felt more herself in her practical Earth clothes. The familiar ritual of settling into a new lab space grounded her, pushing aside thoughts of mysterious princes and electric touches.
Kael handed her a datapad, its screen displaying a neatly organized file structure. “Everything I could gather about King Voran’s case. Varix wasn’t happy about sharing even this much, but I may have reminded him it was a direct order from Prince Korran.”
“Resourceful and smart.” Tess turned her full attention to the datapad, her eyes immediately scanning the file headers. “Let’s see what we’re working with.”
But as she began scrolling through Varix’s notes, her excitement quickly curdled into frustration. The documentation was sparse, inconsistent, and riddled with gaps that made no scientific sense. Dates were missing. Symptom progression charts had unexplained jumps. Treatment responses were noted without corresponding details about dosages or administration methods.
“This is...” She looked up at Kael, who was watching her with knowing eyes. “This isn’t research documentation. This is barely above anecdotal record-keeping.”
