“I should kill every damned scientist sitting in that tent,” Aiden growled. “Eventually they’ll be released, just as the other bastards were six years before. It will never stop, Keegan. ”
The knowledge that there was little he could to stop the madness ate at him, just as it always had. The experiments still continued and the Council cruelties seemed to only magnify each time another Lab was found. There was no mercy, no humanity in the men and women who ran those Labs. Only the experiment mattered.
The wings at Keegan’sback shifted as though in agitation. He breathed in deeply, his gaze rising to the sheltering branches overhead before his eyes returned to Aiden’s.
“It seems very hopeless I know,” he sighed. “But I do not believe it will always be so, Aiden. I believe the new future, desperate though it may be at times, will make a way for us all. We must prepare our children for that day. Keep them strong enough to lead. Strong enough to survive. ”
As though the Breeds needed children to worry about as well. Innocent lives thrown smack in the middle of a scientific war on humanity versus the lack of. And as Keegan hinted, victory would be a long way down the futuristic road.
Aiden grunted. “Yeah, I figured I could forget ever seeing it myself. ”
He wiped a hand over his face before spearing his fingers restlessly through his hair. Regaining his control was a battle this time. This Lab, the tests that had been described to him,were too horrific for him to accept.
“A day will come when it will end. But it is yet far off,” Keegan finally shrugged. “Nature has smiled on us, though. She has found us worthy of life, and of continuing. Your mate will prove this to the world. Your son will help lead in a future race to triumph. We can do nothing but pave the way for him and the others that shall follow. ”
Mate. His teeth snapped together at the word. His mate and his child. He ignored the flare of heat in his cock, fought back the instinctive possessive instincts and snarled violently.
“I do not accept this woman as my mate,” he bit out.
A chuckle echoed in the darkness. Keegan’s laughter. His superior attitude was beginning to grate on Aiden’s nerves.
“Nature has done this for you,” Keegan informed him with no small amount of amusement. “Perhaps she
knew you were not worthy to choose. Often pride and our human frailties will hide the truth from our eyes until our mistakes are too excessive, have caused too much damage to ever set right. So she has instead given such choices to the animal that resides in us, to recognize our other half. The one created exclusively for us. ”
Aiden snorted. “There are, at last count, five women for every male out in the world…”
“There is at present less than a dozen female Breeds from all those created. There are over six hundred known Breed males, and perhaps more unknown. ”
Shock widened Aiden’s eyes. “Three hundred,” he bit out. “Last count is three hundred. ”
“Ah. ” Keegan nodded. “Over six hundred known to me then. My count is of course more accurate I can assure you. But that is neither here nor there. Humans are naturally predisposed to female children. It will not be so for Breeds, who will be predisposed to males. What would you make of this, Aiden?”
Shit. He bit back a stream of curses at the information. Not that he wholly trusted theWinged male’s knowledge. Unfortunately, he suspected the man knew exactly what he was talking about. Which only complicated things further.
“More trouble than we need,” he sighed roughly. “Our males will mate with full-human females. The Purists that will arise will go crazy. ”
“Yes. ” Keegan nodded slowly. “But not more than the Breeds can manage. ”
He would have said more, Aiden thought, if one of the Enforcers hadn’t chosen that moment to call his out his name as he approached them.
“Aiden, Armani needs you back at the tent. The girl is bleeding again and she’s frightened she may need another transfusion. ”
He flinched, turning back to Keegan with a flash of worry.
“Her life is in your hands, Aiden,” he said softly. “It is your choice now if she lives or dies. Now is the time to make it. ”
Aiden narrowed his eyes in frustrated fury. “You know, Keegan, I could grow to hate you,” he snarled.
“Quite easily. ”
He didn’t give the Winged Breed a chance to respond. He turned and rushed back to the camp, heading for the medical tent and the woman, Nature, in all her supposed wisdom, decided was his mate.
* * * * *
“And I could grow to hate you as well, Aiden, quite easily,” Keegan murmured as he watched the other Breed rush from the darkness toward the well camp.
“Is this not the way of all alphas?”a soft voice asked him with gentle amusement, touching his mind with a light, feminine touch.