My One and Only (Bewitched and Bewildered #10)(16)

"What does that tell us? How are they different?" Serenity asked thoroughly confused.

Rheia grinned wickedly. "Last year our menace conned the public works of Lycaonia into completely updating our clinic. But the downside to that was that they started asking for weekly reports on what was being done, kinda checking to make sure the money was well spent. Well, short of having the warriors break each other's bones on a weekly basis, which would have gotten really old, really fast, I suggested that we give all the guys physicals."

Micah nodded. "Doc St. John did those here too. He said that the warriors' care had to be uniform across all four pillar cities."

Rheia clapped her hands excitedly. "Exactly! The physicals included inoculations getting everyone an updated shot record!"

Serenity felt around for a stool and sat down. "One of the vaccines made them immune?"

Rheia and Vivi nodded enthusiastically. Vivi held up a slide. "That's what we're hoping anyway. If we're right it will take some time to isolate which one it is, but we finally have a direction to go."

Vivi turned to Rheia. "I want to apologize. When you first suggested Meryn I was skeptical about what she could contribute, I thought she would distract us. But she really came through."

Rheia gave a smug smile. "Our menace is amazing."

Kendrick nodded. "That she is."

As Vivi and Rheia entrenched themselves with the new testing Serenity made her way over to Kendrick. She looked over to Micah and made a circle with her finger. When her mate was done casting the soundproof spell she leveled her gaze to Kendrick.

"Do you want to tell me why you're testing for elemental presence when it has nothing to do with a cure?"





CHAPTER FOUR





Kendrick sighed. "I should have known you'd pick up on that." He pointed to his table. It was evident from the multi-colored plates that he was testing for elemental influences. "Technically, finding out the elemental magic used in the virus can help. I have deduced that there is a sort of self-destructive command encoded within the virus. Once it drops below body temperature it erases any traces of the virus and magic within seventy-two hours, give or take."

Serenity nodded. "So by isolating the elemental magic used, you can nullify that magic giving Vivi more time to study the virus."

Kendrick nodded. "Exactly."

Serenity stared. "And?" He gave her a devilish grin. "And, if I can figure out which element was used I can begin tracing the magic back to the witch." He eyed the table. "There are very few witches in the world who can create something this intricate. I mean, you're talking about magic on a molecular level." He shrugged. "I can do it, but that's not really saying much."

"Kendrick..." Serenity growled impatiently.

Kendrick blinked. "Right. Anyway. There are only a handful of witches it could be, and I know all of them. If I can determine who it is, I can take the steps needed to ensure that this virus or any other like it never happens again."

Micah frowned. "But by creating this virus and infecting people, killing people, wouldn't the witch who created the virus turn feral and lose their magic?"

Kendrick shrugged slowly. "Welcome to Magical Ethics 101."

Serenity groaned. "It falls into a grey area doesn't it?" When she was studying for her exams she and Kendrick had gone round, for round discussing magical ethics. He always played devil's advocate and she usually ended up screaming at him. His favorite arguments took full advantage of what he liked to call 'grey areas'. Scenarios that were neither right nor wrong. Neither white magic nor black magic. Neither overtly helpful nor harmful. Just a vast, bleak, grey zone where some good was done, but mostly bad.

Kendrick nodded. "Technically, the virus in and of itself is harmless. The witch who created it didn't infect anyone." He held up a finger. "Now here's where it gets even trickier. DeLaFontaine is the one who distributed it, yet he's not feral. Why?"

Micah closed his eyes and shook his head. "Because he wasn't the one who created the virus." He opened his eyes to stare at Kendrick. "That's one of the most brilliant loopholes I've ever seen." He paused before continuing. "Who in the hell is behind this?"

Serenity stared down at the table. What Kendrick was doing made a lot more sense. If they could figure out the witch, they could use them to trace this back to whoever was pulling the strings. She glanced back up at Kendrick. "Whoever is behind this used one of the oldest Founding Family heads as a pack mule," she whispered.

Kendrick nodded. "I knew you'd see the depth of this issue quickly."

"They must have solid brass balls," Micah murmured.

Serenity rolled her eyes. "What makes you think a man is smart enough to do this?"

"Hey," Kendrick and Micah protested.

She grinned. "Just saying." She walked over to the table. "Earth magic huh?" she said pointing down to the bright green tray.

Kendrick nodded. "I can use the twins to stabilize the magic in the virus, this should also help make it more visible."

"The boys?" she asked feeling anxious. She didn't want them anywhere near this magic.

Kendrick patted her shoulder. "They are grown now Serenity, you can cut the apron strings." He chuckled. "Besides, they rival me for earth magic power."