Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
MIKO
“The son of my dreams?”
Dad’s voice echoed around the vision, everything swirling, transforming.
I fell to my knees, winded by this constant overload.
The scene reformed in the living room of my family home. Henry handed Mum and Dad a file as they sat on the sofa. He lingered close, practically salivating with greed.
What was he up to?
I stood, bracing myself for more.
I’m here to give you the son of your dreams…
I reached for Belle, amazed to find her in my pocket, and squeezed the shit out of her.
“As you can see,” Henry said, “this will be a miracle cure. The rarity of your blood will change everything, Mr. Reyes. The trials can be completed with this vital ingredient.”
Trials?
“We’re a month away from finalizing the product. Your blood will push it over the edge.”
“This thing will cure all sickness?” Mum asked.
Henry grinned brightly. “Just you wait and see. If you agree to this, of course.”
My parents read through the file together again.
“Your blood for the greater good.” Henry took a deep, dramatic breath. “Your blood to save his life. To make him an amazing werewolf. Possibly even an alpha. You never know.”
I moved to the back of the sofa, reading the file over my parents’ shoulder.
Project Dawn.
Classified.
My heart began to race as answers closed in.
The details came in quickly as the pages turned. Project Dawn was the development of a super cure to end all illnesses. Every. Single. One. There would never be sickness or infections ever again, saving the world from untimely death.
But what about the other causes of death? Those issues were skirted around, the text reading as if key information and arguments had been deliberately left off the pages.
And then came a section to make my heart leap into my throat.
Mr. Dakila Reyes.
Sleeper blood.
Last case of sleeper blood: January 31st, 1904.
“Why is it called sleeper blood?” Dad asked.
“It sleeps in you, its magical properties awakening when used correctly. It can amplify the potential of a potion or spell. Big time. A witch or blood magi would kill to get their hands on it.” He chuckled. “You’re one special man.”
Dad’s forehead creased into a frown. “And this will help with this miracle cure?”
Sleeper blood? I’d never heard of it.
I crushed Belle harder.
“It will. We’re lucky to live in a time with a sleeper blood in existence. And to have found you. Gosh. The long hours we spent trying to find you or a close alternative. Phew. How lucky are we?”
My parents read on, coming to a page about my condition.
Unborn child. Male. Shifter gene anomaly known.
Lupine gene.
Death guaranteed upon first shift at 3 years old.
Booster Serum 55 will strengthen the shifter gene. Permanently.
100% efficacy rate.
Growth in subject will be exemplary.
“Why isn’t this serum on the market?” Mum asked. “I’ve never come across it.”
As far as I knew, it didn’t exist.
“There are only three doses available worldwide,” Henry said. “When others will become available, I do not know. It is expensive and requires an arduous process to make. Maybe one day it will find its way into pharmacies and save more shifter lives.”
Clearly not.
Things sped up, my parents agreeing to have the serum injected into me upon birth in exchange for Dad’s special blood. They signed a contract, Henry leaving shortly after with a spring in his step.
I barely drew breath.
Dad’s blood saved me, made me alpha. Gave me life.
My parents were fools.
I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t be alive. They’d fucked with nature, fucking Earth in return.
Your father’s blood flows in Dawn. He is the maker. The blood of his blood ends Dawn. You are the only blood. You are the first and only son. Give your blood to end this curse. All your blood. Your life for Dawn’s ending.
“It all makes sense,” I said aloud.
Because of one selfish act of love, Dawn ruined the world.
And it wasn’t done.
“But what about this cure?” I wondered. “How did it go so badly?”
Any minute now, I’d forget the question and break apart. Scream until my chest exploded.
I needed Ori.
I needed out of here.
I needed to make things right.
I was the hope. Right? My death was the real hope.
“And the golden gift,” I added. “Orion. What does that all mean?”
“Some pieces still need to slot into place,” Malorie answered.
Yeah, no shit.
Once again, the scene changed, speeding forward through time. I saw myself a few times, growing up, getting bigger, becoming alpha, until we landed in a chrome-looking corridor.
Lights flickered, blood smearing the walls. Dad had Henry by the scruff of the neck, yelling into his blood-spattered face.
“What have you done?”
“Let me go!” Henry tried kicking him.
Screams. Breaking glass.
“It’s out of control. It’s hungry.”
“Dawn?” Dad replied, glancing down the corridor. “What do you mean?”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry I lied.”
“Lied about what?”
“Dawn…” He shuddered. “I… I…”
“Tell me!” Dad bellowed.
A man bounded down the corridor, holding in his intestines. He collapsed, guts spilling over the floor.
His last words before he dropped were, “Run…”
Henry broke free of Dad and did just that.
Dad, being no dickhead, followed him.
The corridor scene paused.
I sagged, limbs heavy. The best thing for me would be to full-on pass out. The diving-into-oblivion kind to protect my sanity.
“Dad… Me… Fuck.” I went back to my knees, Belle crushed in my hand. “This is because of me.”
“Mate,” Trev said. “You can’t—”
“Blame myself?”
“You never made this decision.”
Words I didn’t want to hear right now. “Why didn’t he tell me the truth when things turned to shit? I could’ve stopped this earlier.”
“Maybe he didn’t know, mate. And I’m guessing he wouldn’t tell you to give your life. This Henry and whoever he worked for clearly buried shit. Who knows what they were doing with his blood.”
“I don’t get how my blood makes things right.”
“You are probably the antidote, so to speak,” Malorie interjected. “And Project Dawn was clearly never a miracle cure.”
“Didn’t like the bit about Dawn being hungry,” Trev said, patting me on the back. “What the hell is it?”
“Fuck…” I whispered, stress pain behind my eyes.
“I’m here if you need me, mate. Honestly. Let out what you need to.”
Not now. I wasn’t about to fall apart now.
“The next part’s coming,” Malorie said. “Everything will make sense soon.”
The scene faded away into darkness.
Footsteps.
Cherries.
Orion stepped out of the shadows, looking up. His scarlet hair shimmered.
“Ori?” I spoke, my mouth full of sawdust.
“Wait,” Malorie said.
I couldn’t take my eyes off the fae.
He’s involved. He’s the other key.
Ori reached into his left pocket.
“What is that?” I noticed the weredolphin’s head snap around.
I followed her gaze. “What’s wrong?”
“Horses…”