Dark Stranger Immortal (The Children of the Gods #3)(38)

“Well, your blood pressure is a little high, and your temperature is a hundred and one. It’s elevated, but not dangerous. Let me take a blood sample as well.” She pulled a syringe and a packet of antiseptic gauze from her bag.

“Any nausea? Stomach cramps?” she asked as she took Syssi’s blood, quickly and efficiently.

Syssi didn’t even cringe. “No, just general discomfort.”

“Well, that rules out food poisoning,” Bridget mumbled, returning the tools of her trade to her bag.

“So what do you think?” Kian stuffed his hands in his back pockets, forcing himself to stay put and not pace like a caged animal.

“I think we should bring Syssi down to my clinic. I want to hook her up to the monitors. I’ll send one of the guys with a gurney.” Bridget pushed up from the bed and lifted her doctor’s bag off the bedside table. Standing, she looked first at Kian, then at Syssi. “I’ll know more when I take a look at your blood, Syssi. For now, it doesn’t look like a cold or the flu, or food poisoning… It might be some other viral or bacterial infection… Or it might be the start of the change.” Bridget dropped the bomb.





2 8

D A L H U

Dalhu made the drive from the motel to the mansion in exactly eight minutes, and left the car idling in front of the entry as he rushed in and up the stairs. Taking them two at a time, he ignored the men greeting him as he passed them by on the way to his room.

Once there, he opened the safe and emptied its contents into a duffle bag.

There wasn’t much, just his two other watches and what remained of the money he was entrusted with for the mission’s cash expenses.

His weapons were in a fireproof lockbox in the master walk-in closet.

Crouching over the open lid, he pulled out the semi and the nine-millimeter handgun, loaded them, and then double checked the safety before screwing the silencer on the SIG.

The knives were next.

Dalhu strapped two of them to his biceps and one on his calf, and four more went into the duffle bag. Whatever space was left, he filled with boxes of ammunition. Zipping the bag closed, he slung it over his shoulder, then grabbed a jacket on his way out.

Taking a look around the master bedroom, he scanned for anything else he might need. His laptop was on the nightstand, next to the picture of his beautiful woman. He took both, reshuffling the contents of the bag to make room.

The last items he decided to add didn’t require a lot of space. Opening his desk drawer, Dalhu took out a bunch of plastic packets and shoved them into the side pocket of the duffle bag. Who knew how many more times he’d have to drug his beauty to sleep?

And besides, they might prove useful in other situations. He needed all the resources he could put his hands on.

As he slipped on his jacket over his personal arsenal, Dalhu quickly decided on a probable cover story to tell his men—one that would explain his rush and buy him some time.

On his way out, he grabbed the first man on his path. “I’ve identified an enemy male entering a restaurant less than one mile away from here. A Guardian. I came back for my weapons.” Dalhu clapped the man’s shoulder before dashing down the stairs.

“Need backup, commander?” the man called after his retreating back.

“No, the fucker is mine.” Dalhu slammed the door behind him and ran the short distance to his car.





2 9

K I A N

“H ave you ever witnessed a transition start like this?” Kian’s voice faltered as dread squeezed his heart like a vise.

“It’s rare, but there were instances where a transitioning boy, in addition to the normal pains of growing venom glands and fangs, developed a fever accompanied by skeletal pains. So it’s a definite possibility, although all the girls transition smoothly with no side effects.”

“Is there anything we can do?” Kian ran a shaky hand through his hair.

“Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done other than waiting.

That’s why I want Syssi monitored. I have no idea how severely the transition could affect an adult female.” Bridget gave them an apologetic look. “I’ll send the gurney up.”

Kian sat back on the bed and took Syssi in his arms. “I love you so much,” he said, hating how desperate he sounded.

“Why are you so sad? This is exactly what we were hoping for,” Syssi whispered, trying to return his embrace. But holding her arms up proved to be too much of an exertion in her weakened state and she let them drop.

Kian sighed. “I’m scared shitless. Not knowing what’s going on and powerless to do anything to make it better for you is driving me insane.” His body sagged in defeat.

“Don’t. I need you to stay strong for both of us,” Syssi whispered. “Can you hand me that water?”

“Of course, my love.” He brought the glass to her lips, propping her head with his hand as she drank.

A knock on the open door was followed by Anandur and Brundar’s worry-lined faces peeking in. “We brought the gurney. How is Syssi?”

Anandur asked.

“Not so good, you can leave the gurney out in the hallway. I’ll carry her out.” Kian pushed up from the bed and walked over to close the door. “Thank you, guys. I’ll keep you informed…”