“Agreed. We will transport them to the estate tonight.” Korran felt a surge of satisfaction at her strategic thinking. His mate wasn’t just brilliant—she was tactically sound. “Tomorrow, we test the compound and determine once and for all whether we’re dealing with therapeutic treatment or something more… sinister.”
The three of them moved simultaneously, the weight of their decision settling over them like a shroud. Korran watched Tess slip into her winter coat, her movements precise and economical. Every gesture spoke of controlled competence, yet he could sense the excitement thrumming beneath her professional exterior through their strengthening bond.
She’s magnificent,he realized, his bear preening with possessive satisfaction.Brilliant, fearless, and completely committed to saving my father.
He shrugged into his own heavy jacket and felt a wave of anticipation course through his veins. For the first time in years, it felt like he was moving toward answers rather than simply managing decline.
As they approached the laboratory doors together, three unlikely conspirators bound by shared purpose and growing trust, Korran’s alpha instincts cataloged every detail of theirsurroundings—empty corridors, dimmed lighting, and the soft hum of building systems settling into night mode. Korran felt the magnitude of what they were attempting settle over him. They would either validate a decade of medical treatment or uncover a conspiracy that reached to the very heart of his father’s illness. His bear stirred restlessly, scenting danger and opportunity in equal measure.
The fluorescent lighting cast harsh shadows across the medical facility’s corridors as Korran led their small group through the maze of sterile hallways. His bear prowled restlessly, every instinct screaming that this late-night infiltration carried risks far beyond simple theft.
If we’re caught, I’m not just betraying Varix’s trust—I’m potentially destroying my father’s only source of treatment.
The thought carved through his chest like ice, but Korran pushed it aside. Tess’s scientific methodology had already revealed gaps in a decade of accepted medical wisdom. And his logical mind, the part shaped by his mother’s educational influence, demanded they follow the evidence wherever it led.
They approached the junction where the main corridor branched toward the secured pharmaceutical section. Korran cataloged every detail—emergency exits, potential witnesses, the soft hum of ventilation systems masking their footsteps. His bear’s heightened senses detected no immediate threats, but tension coiled through his large frame nonetheless.
“This is where we split up,” he murmured, his voice barely audible in the empty hallway.
Tess stepped closer, her green eyes sharp with focus. “Remember, if anything goes wrong?—“
“Nothing will go wrong.” Korran’s alpha nature filled the space between them, his protective instincts flaring at the thought of his mate in danger. “But if you see anyoneapproaching, contact me immediately. Don’t attempt to handle complications on your own.”
Kael nodded eagerly. “We’ll keep watch from the junction. No one gets past us without warning you first.”
Korran’s gaze lingered on Tess’s face, noting the determined set of her jaw. Every fiber of his being rebelled against leaving her here, even with Kael as backup. The mate bond demanded he keep his mate close, protected, safe from any potential threat.
She’s not helpless,he reminded himself.She’s capable and competent.
Still, his bear growled with displeasure as he forced himself to turn away.
The secured section’s single guard looked up from his datapad as Korran approached, surprise flickering across his weathered features. “Prince Korran? I wasn’t expecting anyone tonight.”
Korran let his natural authority fill his voice. “Good evening, Martin. I apologize for the late hour, but Varix was indisposed and requested I collect some vials needed for tomorrow’s treatment.”
The guard’s confusion was evident, but years of serving the royal family had conditioned automatic deference. “Well, if Varix gave you permission, I see no reason to waste your time with unnecessary protocols.”
“I appreciate your efficiency.” Korran’s smile carried just enough warmth to reinforce the guard’s decision without seeming calculated.
Martin activated the security panel, and heavy doors slid open with a soft hiss. “Take whatever you need, Your Highness.”
Korran stepped through the threshold, his heart hammering against his ribs despite his outward composure. The secured section stretched before him—a network of temperature-controlled storage rooms housing the Northern Dominion’smost sensitive medical supplies. His bear’s enhanced senses detected the faint chemical tang of preserved compounds and the sterile cold of refrigeration units.
Just get to Varix’s private stores, grab the vials, and extract. Simple.
The storage room housing Varix’s personal pharmaceutical collection sat at the corridor’s end, and Korran moved quickly toward the metal door. No additional security awaited him—the guard station had been deemed sufficient protection for this inner sanctum. Korran’s hands trembled slightly as he opened the door, adrenaline flooding his system.
Inside, refrigeration units hummed quietly, their glass doors revealing rows of carefully labeled vials and compounds. His enhanced vision quickly located the immunity booster vials—distinctive blue liquid in standardized medical containers.
Two vials should be sufficient for Tess’s analysis.
His fingers closed around the cold glass, and for a moment, the magnitude of what he was doing crashed over him. These vials represented his father’s lifeline, the only treatment that had provided even temporary relief from a decade of suffering. If their suspicions proved wrong, if Varix’s methods were indeed sound, Korran would have stolen from the very person trying to save the king’s life.
But if we’re right…
The thought sent ice through his veins. If their hypothesis proved correct, if these immunity boosters were actually accelerating his father’s decline, then every dose administered had been another step toward the grave.
Korran pocketed the vials and retraced his path through the secured section, nodding casually to Martin as he passed the guard station.
