Their shoulders brushed.
“You okay?” Kaden asked.
“Yes, thank you.”
Not really, but this was a necessary lie. Joe would be okay eventually. One way or the other.
“Harris,” Joe said carefully.
“What about him?”
“He has the missing two from the lab inside him.”
Kaden stumbled to a halt. “What the hell? Are you sure? How do you know?”
“I could sense them. They were in his hair at first but now they’re inside him. Not like I was with you. They’re still small. I don’t think he knows they’re in him.”
“He was clutching his stomach when he was in the hospital.”
“And when he left your bedsit. Although I’d hit him after he’d hit you.”
“Should we tell him?” They kept walking.
“It would mean telling him everything. You think he’ll believe you?”
Kaden gave a heavy sigh. “No. But… Oh God, much as I hate the guy, I don’t feel I can do nothing. I mean, what if they mate inside him?”
Joe thought about that.
“You’ve gone quiet. Does that mean it’s possible?”
“I don’t know. I’m confident they can’t do what I did. If they were protectors like me, they could have but not asothers.But if they travel to Harris’ brain, they might be able to manipulate him.”
“Would they come after you?”
“It’s possible.”
“I’m going to phone him.”
“And say what?”
Kaden stopped walking again and took out his phone. “Nothing that gives you away.”
“You could tell him to eat a large spoonful of Marmite. Or a highly spiced curry.”
Kaden goggled at him. “What?”
“When you gave me Marmite to try, my sensors triggered a warning that it was highly toxic. I spat it out. I think it might kill them.”
“A large spoonful would kill me!”
“Really?”
Kaden half-laughed. “No, but not sure I could convince him to eat Marmite by the spoonful.”
“A hot curry then? That should work too.”
“You still have his number?”
