19. The Acquisition #2
"And I got markers that don't make sense. Genetic anomalies that suggest I'm descended from something that ain't fully human." She looked up at him. "I'm a hybrid, Reign. I just don't know what kind yet."
Reign felt something shift in his chest—recognition, attraction, danger all tangled together.
She wasn't just smart. She was one of them. Or close enough.
"That's why you created the serum," he said.
"That's why I could create it. Because part of me understands what it's like to be caught between two worlds." She picked up her glass again, taking a slow sip. "So yeah. I know what you are. And I know why you need what I got."
"And you still sitting here talking to me."
"Because I'm curious." Her eyes locked onto his, and the tension between them became something else—something electric, dangerous, seductive. "I wanna know what it's like. To be fully what you are. To not be stuck in the middle."
Reign's pulse quickened.
He could smell her now—not just her perfume (something expensive, floral, with a hint of vanilla), but something deeper. Her blood. Her energy. The faint hum of something preternatural running through her veins.
She was beautiful. Brilliant. Dangerous.
And he wanted her.
"You playing a dangerous game," Reign said, his voice low.
"So are you."
They stared at each other, the space between them charged with something neither of them was saying out loud.
Finally, Arissa broke the silence. "Aight. Here's my offer."
"I'm listening."
"I'll give you samples of the serum. Enough for your family to test, to use, to see if it works the way you need it to.
I'll consult on applications, dosage, side effects—all that.
" She leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees.
"But I keep control of my research. I keep my independence.
And if I find out y'all trying to steal my work or cut me out, the deal's off and I go public with everything. "
"You go public, you put a target on your back."
"I already got a target on my back. At least this way, I got leverage."
Reign considered her terms. It wasn't everything Cairo wanted, but it was enough. Enough to keep Noctis from getting to her first. Enough to give the Saint family the advantage they needed.
"Aight," he said. "Deal."
Arissa smiled, extending her hand. "Then we got a partnership."
Reign took her hand, and the moment their skin touched, he felt it—a spark, a pull, something that went beyond business.
She felt it too. He could see it in the way her breath hitched, the way her eyes darkened slightly.
"You dangerous," she said softly, not letting go of his hand.
"So are you."
They stayed like that for a moment longer than necessary, the tension between them thick enough to cut.
Then Arissa pulled her hand back, standing up. "Give me ten minutes. I'll get you the samples."
She disappeared into what he assumed was her bedroom, leaving Reign alone in the living room.
He exhaled slowly, running a hand over his face.
This was a problem.
He was supposed to secure her cooperation and leave. That was it. But sitting here, talking to her, feeling that pull—it complicated everything.
His phone buzzed.
Soleil (1:34 AM): You got her yet?
Reign typed back quickly.
Reign (1:34 AM): Yeah. She agreed. Getting samples now.
Soleil (1:35 AM): Good. Cairo wants confirmation by 2. Don't fuck this up.
Reign pocketed his phone just as Arissa came back into the room.
She was holding a small black case—the kind used for transporting medical samples. She set it on the coffee table and opened it, revealing six vials of clear liquid, each labeled with dates and dosage information.
"This is three months of work," she said. "Each vial is a different concentration. The one on the left is the strongest—full daylight immunity for up to twelve hours. The one on the right is the weakest—partial protection, maybe four hours in indirect sunlight."
Reign picked up one of the vials, holding it up to the light. The liquid was almost iridescent, catching the glow from the lamp.
"How fast does it work?"
"Fifteen minutes after ingestion. Peaks at thirty minutes. Wears off gradually depending on the dose."
"Side effects?"
"Mild nausea for some people. Increased heart rate. Heightened senses for a few hours after it wears off." She closed the case and handed it to him. "But nothing dangerous. I tested it on myself."
Reign looked at her sharply. "You took this?"
"How else was I supposed to know it worked?" She smiled. "I'm a scientist, Reign. I don't put out products I ain't tested."
He shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips despite himself. "You reckless."
"You one to talk."
He stood up, holding the case carefully. "I appreciate this. For real."
"Just keep your end of the deal. Protection. Resources. And don't try to fuck me over."
"I won't."
Arissa walked him to the door, her arms crossed over her chest. "You know, you different from what I expected."
"Yeah? What you expect?"
"I don't know. Somebody colder. More ruthless." She tilted her head, studying him. "But you got something else going on. Something... conflicted."
Reign's jaw tightened. "You reading me now?"
"I'm observant." She leaned against the doorframe, her eyes soft but sharp. "You got somebody, don't you? Somebody you trying to protect from all this."
He didn't answer.
"That's what I thought." Arissa's voice was quiet now. "Be careful, Reign. People like us—we don't get happy endings. We get survival. And sometimes, we don't even get that."
"I know."
She opened the door, and Reign stepped into the hallway.
"Reign," she called after him.
He turned back.
"If you ever need to talk to somebody who understands what it's like to be caught between two worlds..." She paused. "You know where to find me."
He nodded, then walked toward the elevator, the case of serum samples tucked under his arm.
By the time Reign got back to the Hellcat, it was 1:52 AM.
He sat in the driver's seat, staring at the case on the passenger seat, his mind racing.
He'd done it. Secured Arissa Sterling's cooperation. Got the serum samples. Met Cairo's deadline with hours to spare.
But he couldn't stop thinking about the way she'd looked at him. The way she'd seen through him. The way that pull between them had felt like something inevitable.
His phone buzzed.
Soleil (1:53 AM): Cairo wants confirmation. You got the samples?
Reign (1:53 AM): Yeah. Heading back now.
Soleil (1:54 AM): Good. Bring them straight to Smoke & Gold. Cairo waiting.
Reign started the engine, the Hellcat roaring to life.
He pulled out of the parking lot and headed back toward Richmond, the city lights growing brighter in the distance.
One problem solved.
But the other one—Soreya—was still waiting.
And he had no idea how to fix that.
His phone buzzed again.
Soreya (1:58 AM): I can't sleep. I keep thinking about what you said. About how knowing the truth would change everything. I'm scared, Reign. But I'm more scared of not knowing. Please. Just tell me the truth.
Reign's chest tightened.
He stared at the message, his hands gripping the steering wheel so hard his knuckles went white.
He couldn't keep running from this.
He couldn't keep lying to her.
But if he told her the truth—if he showed her what he really was—there was no going back.
She'd either stay and become part of this world.
Or she'd leave and never look back.
And he didn't know which one scared him more.
Reign typed out a response, his hands shaking slightly.
Reign (2:01 AM): I'm coming over. Tonight. And I'm telling you everything.
He hit send, then tossed the phone into the cupholder.
The Hellcat ate up the highway, the city lights of Richmond growing closer with every mile.
By the time the sun came up, everything would be different.
One way or another.