Page 67 of Mated to the Vikings

I could see tears in her eyes but the kind of determination that had drawn me to her in the first place. She was a fighter, a warrior in her own right and the woman I loved.

“I need to see them now and I won’t take no for an answer.” She clenched her jaw, standing to her full height.

“She’s right. We talk to Steen now.” I hoisted David into the air, tossing him over my shoulder. Seconds later, we burst into Steen’s quarters, bellowing until Steen appeared from his bedchambers.

“What in the hell is going on?” he demanded. The light brightened, highlighting his pensive face. “What are you doing in here?”

“We must see the hybrids, now,” Cassia snapped, getting in Steen’s face.

I could hear the rumble of boots, guards heading in our direction. Easing David to the floor, I held him in the light. “The disease that manifested itself on your real planet has found a new host. Look at him. Look at what the disease had done already.”

Steen huffed, hesitating before taking several steps closer. “This is disturbing.”

“Disturbing? You can’t tell me that several of our clan members haven’t succumbed to the disease on this planet. You didn’t want anyone to know so you had them killed, blaming their disappearance on wild boars and tigers, even the humans. But that wasn’t true, was it?” Brexin demanded.

“Our people were killed by the humans,” Steen insisted.

“That’s bullshit!” I hissed, clenching my fist in his face. “You lied to your own people.”

“Our people who fell ill became nothing more than predators, hunting our own. I remember the stories on Galerius. I know exactly what happened and how our government handled it. They. Were. Exterminated.” Brexin shook his head, laughing bitterly.

“What deal did you make with the humans, Steen? How much is the life of your people worth to you? Were you promised to be a king once the humans arrived if you helped them with this monstrous experiment?” Cassia crowded his space, her words riddled with hatred.

“How dare you!” Steen roared. “I am king here. You are a human female given permission to live in our clan, given the ultimate honor of being allowed to mate. I demand respect. You will not speak to me in that manner!”

Her laugh filtered in the air. “You speak of honor and respect. Respect is earned, great King Steen, and honor is bestowed on those who exalt greatness. I am nothing but a simple female, one who was lied to and brought to a planet that will never be her home. And there is no way I can trust, let alone respect you.”

“Whatever your deal, Steen, the DNA experiment could fail, destroying every hybrid as well as your own people. You are well aware of Cassia’s credentials. I have a feeling you know everything about her. She needs to see the hybrids and in truth, if what we suspect is true, she might be the only person who can attempt to save all of us.”

The words were chilling, forcing Steen to jerk back.

When Klar and several guards rushed into the room, Steen threw out his arm, ceasing their advance. It was easy to tell that Klar recognized David’s symptoms.

“What the hell?” Klar snarled.

“I also need access to medical supplies, the ability to draw blood and check other vitals.” Cassia’s voice was less demanding. “And David needs to be stabilized in a secure location.”

David’s moans became more significant, his body thrashing.

“He needs to be locked in chains,” Klar added.

“Cease!” Steen spouted, narrowing his eyes as he glared at Klar then turned his attention to Cassia. “Your request has been honored. Klar, have the guards take David to our medical facilities and please escort the others to the hybrids’ quarters.”

Klar’s mouth twisted, his nostrils flaring. “Very well. Do as the king ordered.”

“The king,” she muttered under her breath.

“Come with me,” Klar demanded, storming out of the room.

Before I left, I watched as Steen faltered, slumping against the back of a chair. Storming toward him, I fought with every ounce of my being to keep from snapping his neck in two. “You may have thought you were making a deal to save your people, but you were wrong. You signed their death warrant.” As I took long strides out of the room, I could hear what sounded like agonizing moans.

This was the time for the man to repent. There would be retaliation and I was the man to make certain that happened.

We followed him out of the main complex and into the street, our destination a modern-looking building near the center of town. Cassia stopped short, glancing in the opposite direction.

“The warehouse.” My whisper was for her ears only.

She nodded. “If the hybrids aren’t housed in the warehouse, then what or who is?”