ChapterEight
Frost dropped onto the recliner on the opposite side of the coffee table from where Johnathan sat in one of the squishy chairs of the common room. The only space in the compound Varu and Mah shared.
But it was also the only room with a library, video games, and a full surround sound TV theater complete with over two hundred Blu-ray movies. It gave both Varu and Mah a reason to forget their differences and get to know each other over high scores and bad movie plots.
The neutrality and hominess of the space were why Johnathan chose it to meet with Dr. Dante.
“Has Caspin called you with any news?” Frost took a mint from the square tin in his pocket and popped it into his mouth.
Jonathan held up his cellphone to show him the screen blank of notifications.
“You think that’s a good sign or a bad one?”
Jonathan slipped the phone into the thigh pocket of his cargo pants. “No idea.”
The White Wolf operated by his own set of rules and had been unwilling to reign in his Fenrir and pretend to be human. He’d lived almost his entire life as the Fenrir rather than a man. Steering clear of humans and Varu, choosing solidarity rather than giving up his freedom.
It’s why Jonathan respected him. Caspin was confident without being a bully and loyal to those who deserved it rather than for the sake of family duty.
Making Caspin as much Mah as he was Varu.
“What about Terrance?” Johnathan said.
The young Mah held the rank of Private First Class among the men assigned to work for Colonel Harrington.
Frost huffed. “He sent me a text. Says that he’s heard rumors about some satellite imagery. But there’s no way he can get eyes on it.”
Of course. He didn’t have the skill set to put him in a position to see it and they couldn’t risk him getting caught if he tried to steal the data.
“Someone sent that cur.” And Johnathan wanted to know who.
“Curs if any of those videos on the internet are real.”
“Let’s hope not.”
“And what do you think your chances are of—”
Whatever Frost said disappeared behind the deep thrum of a pulse. Blood surging through veins. The vibrations of a life force Jonathan had tuned into and now couldn’t shut out.
Dr. Dante’s presence beat so hard against Jonathan’s senses he knew the moment the man reached the common room with Seung. The moment he stepped over the threshold. The moment he looked at Jonathan.
That’s when Jonathan’s attention sharpened, blacking out everyone else in the shadow of a tunnel, leaving Dr. Dante the light at the end.
“Jonathan.” Frost blocked Johnathan’s line of sight.
His first instinct was to knock the obstruction out of the way. Then it hit him where he was, who was in front of him, and why rushing Dr. Dante was a terrible idea.
“You okay?” Frost said.
“Uh…” Jonathan stood. “I should probably…” Leave. He needed to leave. But the thought left his feet concreted to the ground. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’m…”
The Varu occupying the room stared at Johnathan. The two Mah talking with each other, watched Dr. Dante.
“Michael, Loomis,” Jonathan said.
Both men were slow to acknowledge Jonathan.
“Get out.” Johnathan curled his upper lip.