"I'll hunt him down, and we'll meet you in the kitchen."
"Good deal." Mars walked him to the door, and Bastien paused. "Thanks, Mars."
"I'm happy to be able to help you for once. Seems like we always ask you. I know it's part of your job description, but it's got to be exhausting nonetheless. Truth be told, I'm glad to see you with your mate. She'll make you happy, and you deserve that after all the years of selfless service and sacrifice. I know your shoulders are broad, but they could use a break."
His throat closed, and he proceeded down the hallway, unable to speak around the lump that had formed. In the beginning he hadn't been given a choice about what he wanted to do with his life. When he looked back he knew he wouldn’t have had it any other way. A few minutes later he pulled out his phone and called Kade.
"Hey
Bast, what's up?"
"Ran into a problem I could really use your help with. What are you up to right now?"
"In the labs."
"Can you get away?"
"Yeah, you want to meet me down here? I'm waiting on some test results coming up in a few minutes."
"Yeah, I'm on my way now."
"See you when you get here."
They disconnected, and Bastien made his way to the bottom floor of the house. He nodded to the workers he passed. His skin crawled at the sight of the army of men and women in lab coats. He found Kade clad in a white lab coat and a pair of pale blue-green scrubs. His head was down as he studied the print outs in his hand in the middle of the research office. Bastien knocked.
"Hey, come on in," Kade said.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" Bastien asked, perching on the edge of the desk in front of him.
"No, something's still missing. I've been thinking of going undercover and taking a trip to Branzor."
"Why?" Bastien asked.
"I think that's where Tavel’s source is coming from. I need fresh specimens and the chance to talk to locals. He may be using something not commonly known. It's my best guess as to why we haven't been able to recreate the things we've found. I'll need to put together a team for the expedition, and speed up all the paper work and red tape they'll want to toss our way."
"Why is this the first time I'm hearing about this?" Bastien asked.
"I've been trying to narrow down the variables to make sure what I've been thinking is feasible. We've tried everything I can think of as well as the police forensics. It's time to get together a team and do what needs to be done. With the wedding a few weeks away I want to keep this between us."
"Looks like we all have secrets," Bastien mumbled. Kade raised an eyebrow.
"Does that cryptic statement have anything to do with why you’re here?”
"Yes. I didn't want to say anything, but I found my mate.”
"What!" Kade shut the door with his powers. "Who? When?"
"Rivka."
Kade's jaw dropped. "Whoa."
"Yeah, well, you think you're shocked."
"How though? You've been around her before—you took The Purge."
Bastien nodded.
"Damn. I wonder how long it's been disintegrating." A thoughtful look appeared on Kade's face.