Meryn began to giggle. Declan glared at her. "What?"
"You and Rex puff up like house cats when you're mad."
Both brothers scowled at her. Behind them Kari began to laugh. She put both hands on her knees and bent over slightly. "She is right. You do." Rex and Declan exchanged hurt expressions.
There was a knock at the door and Sebastian chuckling to himself moved to answer it. After a moment an enormous warrior and small man rushed into the room.
"Kari! Are you okay? We heard you on the walkie-talkie, but I couldn't get off the phone with the Council Estate." The small blond threw himself at Kari.
"Oh, Avery honey, I am so sorry to worry you."
Vivi stared at Avery's slight build and delicate features. No wonder Kari was having hysterics. The ranking vampires of the city were going to eat him alive. Vivi eyed the tall man at his side. Then again, maybe not.
"Warrick DuBois?" Vivi asked.
The large warrior turned and nodded. "Yes," he said his voice kind. "I am sorry I have not introduced myself yet Princess Vivian, but I have been working with Avery in answering questions from the Council Estate."
The more she looked at the pair, the better she felt. Warrick was a good choice to lead Level Five. Vivi gave Meryn a thumbs up. "Good job."
Meryn grinned. "I know right?"
Vivi reached down and took Etain's hand. She was amused at the rapt attention on his face. He was watching the scene unfold as if it were a favorite soap opera. Looking up he schooled his features when they made eye contact. Clearing his throat, he stood as well.
Vivi turned to Gavriel and pointed to the room. "You have your hands full, but I will need you in the lab within an hour to get the processing started."
Gavriel nodded then eagerly turned back to Avery, who was now in the process of completely melting down. It seemed her mate wasn't the only one entertained by the scene in front of them.
She tugged at Etain's hand. "Coming my love?"
"Of course."
As they left a loud screech bounced off the walls. Vivi smothered a chuckle. Little Avery had just found out he was going to be a Founding Family head.
CHAPTER TEN
While Gavriel organized the new Founding Family, Vivi stopped at the infirmary to gather Caspian's blood. His bedside vigil continued while Broderick lent support from a seat nearby. Both were hopeful as she explained what she would be attempting in the form of a cure.
When they got back to the lab she immediately put the sample from DeLaFontaine's cuff under the microscope. Little flashes of light confirmed the presence of the virus. Using the walkie-talkie she let Gavriel know that the DeLaFontaine test had come back positive.
After that it was simply a waiting game. It ended up taking Gavriel over an hour to get away. He, Beth and Kendrick walked in fighting smiles.
Kendrick crossed the room to sit down in his preferred stool in front of his long lab tables, where he picked up a book to read as usual. His normal routine consisted of him checking on the plates he set up to test the magic within the virus. He told her earlier that they had lucked out, because the process of starting the magical tests had put the virus in a type of stasis, so the magic that had disappeared from the first slides was preserved for testing on his plates. He'd occasionally grumble to himself, write down some notes then resume reading. Today he simply sat down and pulled out the book Meryn had given him.
Vivi turned from where she sat in front of the microscope. "Did they both live?"
Beth sat down on
one of the stools as Gavriel stood at her side. "Yes, though it took us forever to calm Avery down. His one point of contention was that he didn't want to quit his job. He says it allows him to help Magnus and stay near Kari. If I had a little brother as adorable as Avery, I probably would have lost it too. He's just so darn cute!"
Gavriel clucked his tongue. "Meryn can be pretty adorable."
Beth shrugged. "Avery is adorable like a puppy. Meryn is adorable like a baby velociraptor. It's cute because it's small, but it's also kinda deadly and dangerous."
Gavriel looked at his mate impressed. "That has to be one of the most accurate descriptions of Meryn I have ever heard."
"She is my little sister. I know her best."
Vivi waved a needle at Gavriel. "Ready to get poked?"