With Everything I Am (The Three #2)(165)

This, Callum didn’t take as a good sign and he felt his jaw go hard.

After several long moments, Ryon tossed the two file folders he was holding on Callum’s clean desk. Sonia had taken to keeping it ordered which was a blessing and a curse. A curse because he never knew where anything was. A blessing because he had to find Sonia to ask when he needed something.

The files skidded and came to rest on the cleared blotter.

“Both of those came in this morning,” Ryon announced in a low voice but Callum didn’t touch the files. He just watched his cousin silently and Ryon continued, “The results of the analysis of Sonia’s medication came in some time ago. But, in the end, I had to find one of our own to do it. I didn’t understand it but what I did understand made me dig deeper. I gave it to Orphenon.”

A muscle flexed in Callum’s jaw but he still didn’t speak.

“Orphenon called me the minute he, personally, finished a second analysis. He couldn’t believe Sonia was being injected with that cocktail and I asked him to research it. I gave him her medical records and he looked into it. Then he did it more, talking to colleagues and even professors he studied under.”

Finally Callum spoke. “I’m not thrilled that you shared Sonia’s illness with others without asking me, Ry.”

Ryon leaned forward and put his hands on Callum’s desk. “And I knew you wouldn’t be that’s why I didn’t tell you.” When Callum opened his mouth to speak, Ryon got there before him. “Her illness doesn’t exist, Cal.”

Callum closed his mouth and his chest tightened.

“Sorry?” he asked quietly.

Ryon leaned further into his hands and hissed, “It doesn’t exist.”

Callum also leaned forward in his chair. “I saw it happen to her. I felt her body. She was burning up. She was f**king roasting.”

“I can’t explain that,” Ryon replied.

“It’s rare,” Callum reminded him.

“It’s not rare, Cal. It… doesn’t… exist. It isn’t in any medical literature. No one’s bloody heard of it.”

“That’s impossible,” Callum returned.

“It’s true,” Ryon shot back and, pointing at the folders on Callum’s desk, demanded, “Look at the report, top folder.”

Callum did as he was asked, opening the folder and seeing on top a lab report identifying the various components in Sonia’s medicine. The entire page was filled with the list and most of it made little sense but, at the top, the three items which made up the largest parts of the substance were easily identifiable.

“What the f**k?” he muttered.

“Human estrogen, werewolf estrogen and human testosterone,” Ryon clipped.

“Why the bloody hell would they inject her with werewolf estrogen and human testosterone?” Callum asked tersely.

“Who f**king knows?” Ryon replied. “Orphenon can’t believe her system would even take a wolf hormone. He says some of the other things on that list are toxic to humans. Long-term use would be deadly.”

It took all of Callum’s self-control not to come out of his chair.

Instead, his hands simply balled into fists and he fought back the instant prickling of his skin.

“That’s not it,” Ryon continued, watching Callum closely.

“What?” Callum barked.

Ryon didn’t delay. “Calder’s boys finally discovered the source of who leaked the information to the rebels that Sonia is your queen.”

Callum felt a chill slide up his spine before he prompted, “And that would be?”

“Yuri.”

Callum stood so fast, his chair flew back toward the grate of the fire. His fury was palpable, his blood boiling, his mind focused on two things – halting the change and making someone pay.

“Bring Gregor to me,” he ordered in a dangerous voice and then a sudden thought occurred to him and he went on, “And my mother.”

Ryon nodded and he left at once to carry out Callum’s order.

Callum took the time Ryon was gone to scan the contents of both folders. He wasn’t in a better mood when Ryon guided Gregor and Regan into the room.

“Callum, what –?” Regan started but took one look at her son’s face and her mouth clamped shut.

Callum didn’t even look at Gregor. He turned to Ryon who was standing at the door. “I want Sonia occupied far away from this study. Talk to Mara.”

Ryon nodded.

Callum continued, “Yuri’s arriving this afternoon?”

Ryon nodded again.

“You’ll meet his plane,” Callum commanded. Ryon smiled in grim satisfaction and exited the room.

Callum took in his mother and the vampire.

“Sit,” he snarled.

They did as they were told. Regan visibly agitated. Gregor, the cold-hearted prick, completely composed.

Callum didn’t sit, couldn’t, he was hanging onto his control by a thin thread.

He stared down at them and announced, “Sonia’s disease doesn’t exist. The medicine she’s being given is a deadly toxin and Yuri is responsible for exposing her to the rebels as my queen.”

“Oh dear,” Regan muttered and Callum’s eyes narrowed on his mother.

“Callum, there’s an explanation,” Gregor replied coolly.