Playing The Alphas

Chapter 66: The Laboratory

The lizard camp was quiet when Korvus arrived. The guards nodded as he passed. Most lizards were hanging from their tree houses and others were swimming in the swamp. No one asked questions. No one stopped him.

He walked directly to the Alpha’s chamber.

Lizard Alpha Kayden was waiting. His golden scales gleamed in the torchlight. His amber eyes narrowed as Korvus entered.

"You took long enough," Kayden said. His voice was cold, filled with accusations. "What made you take so much time?"

Korvus bowed low. "My Alpha. There were complications."

"Complications?" Kayden stepped closer. His tail lashed behind him. "What kind of complications?"

"We were followed after Vera left. Were-foxes came out of nowhere to attack us. They were three of them. It seemed they were sent by their Alpha. They were very fast and vicious."

"Were-foxes do not come out of nowhere. They are territorial. They stay in their own lands."

"These did not, my Alpha. Or maybe, they were fake. But I can tell you, they crossed into the forest near the human village. Perhaps they were hunting. Perhaps they were lost. I do not know."

Kayden circled him, his claws clicked against the stone floor.

"How many casualties?"

"Two of our scouts, my Alpha. Renn and Threx fought them off. But we lost time. We had to hide. We could not return until we were certain we were not being followed."

"You should have killed the were-foxes."

"We tried, my Alpha. They were fast. Too fast, I swear. They disappeared into the trees before we could finish them."

Kayden stopped circling. He stood in front of Korvus, his amber eyes were burning.

"And the samples? Did the were-foxes damage them?" ƒгeewebnovёl.com

Korvus reached into his belt and pulled out the leather pouch. He held it out with both hands. freeweɓnovel.cøm

"The samples are safe, my Alpha. Six syringes filled with the Lycan’s blood."

Kayden took the pouch. He opened it. His eyes moved across the syringes. His lips moved silently as he counted.

"Six," he said. "There were supposed to be ten."

Korvus bowed lower. "The old woman was interrupted, my Alpha. She said that the girl woke up during the extraction. Vera had to stop early. She could only take six before the girl stirred."

Kayden’s jaw tightened. "She told me she would take ten."

"She told us the same, my Alpha. But she could not risk being discovered. The palace guards are everywhere. The princes are restless. One wrong move and she would have been caught."

"So she took six. And you lost two to were-foxes."

These excuses were becoming too much. Was Korvus lying? Hmmm...

Korvus hesitated. "Yes, my Alpha."

"That makes eight. Not ten."

"The old woman only gave us six, my Alpha. And the were-foxes took two. We returned with six."

Kayden stared at him, calculating. "I do not believe you."

Korvus’s heart pounded. He kept his head bowed.

"My Alpha, I would not lie to you."

"Would you not? Every lizard in this camp lies to me. Every lizard wants something from me. You are no different."

"I am loyal, my Alpha. I have served you for decades. I have never betrayed you. I have been by your side from since we were little boys. Why would I plot on you?"

Kayden stepped closer. His face was inches from Korvus’s.

"If I find out you are keeping samples for yourself—if I find out you are selling them to other buyers—I will skin you alive. I will hang your scales from my throne. I will feed your flesh to the swamp eels. Do you understand?"

Korvus trembled. "Yes, my Alpha."

Kayden stared at him for a long moment. Then he stepped back.

"Go. I will deal with you later."

Korvus bowed and walked backward toward the door.

*******

Filled with bubbling liquids and ancient scrolls. The scientist, Thess, was hunched over a worktable. His claws moved across glass vials, his milky eyes reflecting the torchlight.

Kayden entered and Thess did not look up. He was too busy to notice.

"I have more blood," Kayden said.

Thess’s hands stopped moving, his eyes finding the pouch in Kayden’s hand.

"More?" Thess asked. "How much?"

Kayden held out the pouch.

"Six," Thess said disappointingly.

"There were supposed to be ten. The old woman had complications."

Thess grunted. He pulled one of the syringes from the pouch and held it onto the light.

"This is strong," he said. "It is fresher than the last batch. The girl must be healthy, well-fed and well-rested."

"She is being prepared for the princes," Kayden said. "They are keeping her comfortable."

Thess set the syringe on the table. He picked up another and examined it.

"Six is not enough to break the curse completely," he said. "But it is enough to make progress. To extend the human form. Perhaps to stabilize it."

Kayden stepped closer. "How much progress? How many hours?"

Thess shrugged. "It is difficult to say. The curse is ancient. The magic is complex. I need time to study. To test. To experiment."

"You have had time. You have had centuries."

"And I have made progress. More progress than any scientist before me. But this blood is rare. This blood is special. I cannot rush."

Kayden’s claws dug into the edge of the table. "The girl will not stay in that palace forever. The princes will claim her. Or they will discard her. Or the king will sell her. We have a window. A small window. And I intend to use it."

"If I combine this blood with the last batch, I may be able to create a stronger serum. One that lasts longer. One that requires fewer doses."

"How long?"

"Days. Perhaps weeks. If the girl’s blood is as pure as I believe."

Kayden’s eyes glowed. "Then do it. Do whatever you need. Use all six. I do not care. Just give me results."

Thess set the syringe down. He turned to his worktable. His claws moved across the glass vials.

"I will need silence," he said. "I will need time. I will need you to leave."

Kayden did not move. "I will stay. I will watch."

"You will distract."

"I will be quiet."

Thess sighed. He did not argue. He had learned long ago that arguing with Kayden was useless.