Chapter 74

[ 1,174 words ]

Sypher fire

74: 74.

Sypher fire Liam

The interior of the mountain twists in ways that would confuse anyone unfamiliar with it.

Narrow corridors split into wider chambers, which lead into more tunnels, each one marked subtly for those who know what to look for.

Some lead to dwelling spaces, and others lead to larger community spaces.

There are seven levels in total, with the spaces further down being less…renovated.

This is one of the many things that make this mountain an impregnable fortress.

The perfect place to keep your pact safe.

I move quickly, not wanting to waste any time.

By the time I reach one of the central junctions—a wide opening branching into multiple corridors—I can already hear Felix before I see him.

“…and I’m telling you, if you cross those wires again, it’s going to—oh.” He looks up as I step into the room.

“Hey, Sunshine. You don’t look so good.”

Felix is crouched over some half-disassembled piece of equipment, wires spread around him like a metallic nest.

He grins when he sees me.

Tarin, one of his techs, gave me a small wave before standing and exiting the room without a word.

“Thanks for kicking a male while he’s down.”

“Oh, save the drama.” He waves his hand.

“Didn’t you go work off all that post-fight aggression yet?

If you did, she didn’t do a good job of—”

“Theo’s been poisoned.”

The words cut straight through whatever he was about to say.

Felix’s grin drops, and just like that, he’s all focus.

“Gods mercy.

Has a healer taken a look at him?”

“They did, but he took a poisoned arrow,” I say.

“Kiara’s never seen anything like it.”

Felix is already moving, shoving tools aside and pulling a battered case toward him.

“Fuck assembly scum, what I would give to get my hand on those limp dick monkey fuckers.

I mean, who uses poison against their own kind?

That is a special kind of asswhole.”

“Do you think you can track something down we can work with?”

“Already ahead of you.

Last time I was creeping around there kindergrent level fire walls I saw some medical files that should be a good place to start.”

He shoots me a quick look as he starts plugging in wires, connecting pieces of an old but clearly well-used computer system.

After a minute of me watching him, he says, “You know I love nothing more than being admired by a class A ride, but I’m not sure you’re needed for this part, babe.”

The machine hums to life, screens flickering on one by one.

Felix’s fingers fly across the controls.

“I know, but honestly, it will make me feel better to be here.”

“Aww. Here with me, you mean?” His voice takes on that teasing quality that never fails to put me at ease.

“Sure.

It’s efficiently better than freaking out over Liam or Aira.”

“You say the sweetest things,” he chimes without missing a beat.

His ability to multitask is seriously impressive.

“Assembly database fragments, archived war records…” he mutters.

“Come on, come on…”

I lean against the edge of the table, watching over his shoulder.

“Did you at least go blow off some steam after the fight?” Felix asks suddenly, not looking away from the screen.

I snort.

“Okay, I guess we’re circling back.

Is that really your priority right now?”

“Emptying my balls is always a priority,” he says.

“Consider it a gift that it extends to you.”

My wolf huffs.

He copes with noise.

“Did you?” he presses.

“No,” I say flatly.

Not because I’m bothered by the question, but because now I wish I had taken Grace up on he offer.

“Shame.

You’re way less stabby when you do.”

“Good to know.” There’s a brief pause, then I add, “What about you and Dex?”

Felix snorts.

“Wow.

Deflection and curiosity?

I’m honored.”

“I’m serious.”

He shrugs, still typing.

“Doesn’t matter.”

“Doesn’t matter,” I repeat flatly.

“You hound me for every little detail of your life, practically give me a damn animation of every hook up you have, and now you say it doesn’t after?

“Yep.”

Felix may not want to talk about it, but there’s no way in hell I’m not getting the details.

I don’t care if Dex is a fellow enforcer; if he hurts my best friend, I will kick his ass.“He’s been avoiding you.”

“Also yep.” The words come out devoid of emotion, but I can see the small downturn at the corner of his mouth.

I cross my arms.

“And you’re just fine with that?”

Felix finally glances at me, one brow raised.

“What do you want me to do, Liam?

Chase him around like a lost puppy?

The man has made it perfectly clear he’s not into me.”

“Wouldn’t have used ‘puppy,’ given the audience,” I mutter.

He huffs a laugh.

“Look, it’s simple. I took a chance, went for it, and got shot down spectacularly. Dex won’t even look at me most days. So no, I’m not going to waste my time barking up that very confusing tree.”

Shit, I’m confused to.

I would have sworn Dex had taken an interest in Felix.

I mean shifters were open about alot of things, including human concepts of sexuality.

Alot of males took pleasure with both males and females, and some were even exclusively gay.

I don’t know Dex’s preference, but I didn’t think he would be so much of a dick that he would just ice Felix out without a good reason.

“Want me to fuck him up?” I’d do it if he said yes.

Felix’s mouth twitches, but he doesn’t respond.

He’s protecting himself, my wolf observes.

He leans closer to the screen, eyes narrowing.

“Wait.”

My attention sharpens.

“What?”

“I’ve got something.”

I get closer so I can see the screen over his shoulder.

He pulls up a series of old records, text scrolling rapidly.

“Poison classifications used during the war…” he mutters.

“Here.” He taps the screen.

“Looks like there was a vine-based toxin used against the hunters, one that was created by a sypher with green magic.”

My stomach tightens.

“A sypher,” I repeat.

Felix nods grimly.

“Yeah.

It says here that it was a sap-like substance that was used by coating the tips of their claws to deliver it.

Once infected, the hunter would lose muscle control, then there would be dizziness, then hallucinations, followed by massive internal organ failure.”

“That tracks,” I mutter, thinking of Theo’s skin, the wound, and how weak he was.

“How do we stop it?” I ask.

Felix goes still for a fraction of a second, scrolling down the page as he skims the information faster than I ever could.

His pupils dilate, and his fingers stop moving.

“That’s the fun part,” he says, voice going a little too light.

“The only thing that can neutralize it is Sypher fire.”

The words hang heavy in the air.

Sypher fire.

There’s only one person here who can do that.

Aria.

My jaw tightens.

Theo’s life doesn’t depend on medicine.

Or skill.

Or time.

It depends on whether Arias can control something as dangerous as the poison itself.

And if the Assembly knew there was only one cure.

One thing they thought didn’t exist, then his poisoning is proof enough of them wanting to get rid of us for good.

This could be what we need to turn their alliance against them.

Or it is a way to find out about Aria, my wolf says, low and certain.

I push off the table.

“Get everything you can on it,” I tell Felix.

He nods.

“I’ll have it done by the time Ronan makes it back.”

I turn toward the tunnels again, the weight of what’s coming settling in my chest.

Theo is running out of time.

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