Chapter 12 #2
I couldn’t say why that thought struck me with such force, but everything in me screamed that it was true.
Without hesitation, I raced after them. They turned into a different corridor.
A hover stretcher cutting in front of me forced me to slow down.
I cursed inwardly, fighting the urge to push them to go faster to clear the path.
What if those Enforcers entered a room or an elevator before I could see them? What if…?
My blood turned to ice, and all those questions flew right out of my head when I finally reached the corner and glanced into the hallway.
Ten meters ahead, two Temern doctors were standing outside a room, talking to the Enforcers.
One had dusty blue feathers with black specks on his chest and black feathers around the edges of his wings.
The other was dark green with a white chest and head.
A quick empathic scan of the doctors confirmed my worst fears.
They were ready to kill.
I ran up to them, raising my psychic walls to prevent them from reading me.
The blue doctor noticed me as I was closing the distance with them.
He instantly tensed, his expression hardening even as he narrowed his eyes at me.
His emotions screamed suspicion and a defensive stance that would easily shift into combative.
He had set a course of action that he was determined to see through at all costs. But why? Why did my mate’s condition trigger such violent urges from people dedicated to saving and protecting lives?
“I need to see Kayog,” I said in an imperious tone.
“Visitors are not allowed here,” the blue doctor said coolly.
The Enforcers turned to look at me, their faces unreadable, although their emotions expressed a mix of reservation and curiosity. For now, they weren’t a threat. I just hated that I didn’t know these specific ones.
“I’m not a visitor,” I said in a haughty tone. “I’m his mate. What’s his status?”
The Temerns recoiled and exchanged a troubled look before glancing back at me with a frown.
“I asked a question,” I growled when they remained quiet, their wheels spinning as they pondered the answer they would give… if any.
“He doesn’t have a mate,” the green doctor replied with something akin to disdain that made me want to punch him in the face.
“We’re not married yet,” I conceded with an annoyed gesture, “but we will be soon.”
“I’m sorry, but there are no such indications in his file,” the blue doctor said with a victorious glimmer in his black eyes, even as he lifted his chin defiantly. “His records also do not list any significant other or next of kin.”
“Kayog has no one else but me to make sure he receives the proper care for his specific needs,” I insisted, forcing myself to speak in a firm but reasonable tone.
“We have already discussed what needs to be done about Mr. Voln,” the green doctor said in a way that clearly indicated that their decision was not open to discussion, and that I needed to get out of the way.
“He is a very special case that must be handled at once before… an unfortunate escalation occurs.”
“I’m not letting you kill him!” I snarled, pointing an accusatory finger at him while taking a menacing step forward.
The Enforcers visibly stiffened at my statement then jerked their heads towards the doctors to stare at them with a mix of shock and suspicion. That involuntary response from them gave me hope. They had not been sent here to execute Kayog or to bear witness to his murder.
So why are they here?
“What an outrageous statement! We’re healers!” the green doctor exclaimed.
“Do not take me for an idiot,” I hissed. “I’m a fucking Temern. I know what you ‘healers’ do to Edals.”
This time, they both flinched, their back stiffening as they stared at me in shock. The blue doctor recovered first. Shedding all pretense, his face hardened, and an almost cruel glint sparked in his obsidian eyes.
“I will not ask how you are aware of Edals. But that means you know that he is a danger to everyone here,” he said in a harsh voice. “At the last count, more than 426 people have been admitted in the past hour because of him.”
It was my turn to recoil as I gaped at them in confusion and outrage.
“What the fuck are you talking about? What happened over there is not his fault. Explosive devices went off and—”
“I’m going to ask you to leave right now. You are further endangering everyone in this hospital with your interference,” the green doctor said menacingly.
A cold shiver ran down my spine. Something had shifted after my last comment.
When I first mentioned Kayog being an Edal, their emotions had turned cautious and wary like when you realized you were in the presence of a potentially bigger predator than you were.
But something I said convinced them that I knew far less than they first assumed, or that I was in fact not a threat to whatever they wanted to do.
What did I miss? Surely they couldn’t imply that Kayog set off those bombs?
“I will not leave!” I snapped.
“Is there a problem here?” the female Enforcer asked, her eyes flicking between the doctors and me.
“Officer, please remove this female,” the blue Temern demanded in a commanding tone.
“They will kill him!” I exclaimed in a pleading tone.
The woman frowned and blinked twice rapidly as she processed what was going on.
Her emotions indicated that a seed of suspicion lingered towards the doctors, but that she mostly felt I was being irrational.
Thankfully, she was still reserving judgment and giving herself a bit more time to further assess the situation.
“They’re doctors. They heal people,” she said carefully in a gentle voice. “Considering the serious state in which he was brought here, surely you want them to take care of him.”
“I’m his mate,” I insisted stubbornly. “I’m also a Temern, so I can read their emotions. However over the top you might think this is, I promise you that they wish to do him harm. As his mate, I request a different doctor be assigned to him.”
“He’s not married,” the green doctor snapped.
Ignoring him, I locked eyes with the Enforcer.
“I am Linsea Kenna, granddaughter of Arika Sorek, Senior Legal Counselor of the UPO, daughter of Karis Kenna, UPO Head Negotiator, and of Randel Kenna, Lead Criminal Lawyer for the Enforcers, Ulthor Division. Arika Sorek already dispatched a special team of doctors to take care of Kayog. They should be here any minute now.”
“They do not have jurisdiction here,” the green doctor hissed, although a sliver of fear had now entered his voice.
“Like fuck they don’t!” I snarled. “You stay away from him, or I will have your license and bring down this entire damn hospital. I just finished an internship with Ambassador Olmek on hostage negotiation and hostage takeovers. I know exactly what levers can be used to crush an organization and even an entire government. I have the type of connections that will destroy you, your whole fucking bloodline, and this entire place. So don’t test me! ”
“You just heard her threaten us, didn’t you?!” the blue Temern said to the Enforcers, outraged.
I turned to the female Enforcer, her male counterpart tensing up, ready to jump into action if things escalated further.
“Call my grandmother,” I said to her. “Call Arika Sorek for confirmation of my statements.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Why don’t you call her?”
I smiled in a way that said ‘challenge accepted.’ It was clever of her and clearly a test. If she truly was my grandmother, then I should have her direct line.
“Gladly,” I replied. “And while I do that, please get Colin Wilson here. He knows me, and he’s also very interested in my mate.”
Without waiting for her answer, I used the com on my bracer and put it on speaker as soon as it began to ring. My nan answered almost immediately.
“Linsea, have they arrived?” my grandmother asked in lieu of greeting.
“No, not yet. But there are two Temern doctors here who want to kill Kayog,” I replied, my eyes shooting daggers at them.
“We never said—” the blue doctor started to argue before my grandmother interrupted him.
“You are to stay away from Mr. Voln,” she said with that icy cold tone that would have even the most vicious warrior cower in fear. “He’s under the protection of the UPO. Confirmation has been sent to the hospital’s directors. Verify with them. But stand down immediately.”
“How do we know that you’re even who she claims you are?” the green doctor challenged.
“A fair question,” the female Enforcer stated. “I am Agent Tana Murphy.”
“Tana Murphy, Team Lead of the Alpha Bravo Squad, freshly assigned to Mazeria after your service on Xoccoris,” my grandmother said. “We talked in my office about the precarious situation of a new recruit whose potential you believed in.”
“Counselor Sorek, thank you for confirming your identity,” Agent Murphy said, her tone immediately deferent. “What are the UPO’s orders?”
“Mr. Voln must be protected at all costs. These Temern doctors are not to approach him under any circumstances. Our specialists will arrive shortly to care for him,” she replied with an authority that had my heart swelling with pride and gratitude.
“Acknowledged,” Agent Murphy replied.
“Linsea, let me know once they’ve arrived,” my nan said.
“Will do. Thank you,” I said warmly.
As soon as we ended the conversation, I made to enter the room, but the wretched green doctor stood in my path, his anger almost palpable.
“You still may not enter,” he hissed. “Not only are visitors not allowed in this wing, but only family can get special permission under specific conditions. There’s no proof that you are his mate.”
“She is his mate,” a feminine voice said behind us.
Startled, we all spun around to the blessed sight of Isobel marching towards us.