Page 10 of Swamp Kings 2

Everybody regarded each other, bringing more of Quantum’s weird human traits in the form of a snort. “Animpressivestampede of indifference.”

“Allow me,” Kult said, making his way to the cell. “Daddy,” he muttered with a grin, loading his tone with lust as he input the code into the keypad. He grinned at thedisgust on his face. “You caught that,” Kult mused. “Youaretruly evolving.”

“Dude,whyare you provoking him?” Harlow shrilled to a laughing Kult. “We can’t afford youdeadat this time.”

The entire room locked up with panic when Quantum went straight for Harlow and wrapped him in a bear hug then released him.

“You can thank my wife for that,” Quantum explained to an emotionally mauled Harlow. “Shemademe promise I’d do that the second I got out.”

Harlow eyed him, looking worried still. “Okay,” he muttered, awkward as fuck. “Just keep your death paws to yourself,” he said. “I’m good with that.”

Quantum asked, “How soon before The Bishop can create Handy’s body?”

“He’s getting the bite tonight,” Kult said. “After mandatorymarriageclasses.”

Quantum whipped around to Kult, perplexed as fuck. “What?”

“You heard right,” Harlow concurred. “By decree of all the Kings. Except you,” he added. “Every married man must attend. And before you think you’re exempt just because you’re shacked up, think again.They count that as married here.”

“These peopleclearlydon’t know what’s at stake,” Quantum swore, dumbfounded.

“They hold the marriage bond in very high regard,” Fetch said. “Especially in times of crisis.”

“You sound glad,” Quantum tested.

“I’m… impressed,” he clarified.

“Why?”

It was Fetch’s turn to be dumbfounded. “Youhardwired me that way.”

Quantum paused, contemplating, his nod finally coming. “Right.” He regarded Kult, then Harlow. “I’m aware of its importance. I’m justmoreaware that it comes second to being alive. How long does it take for gifts to triple after the bite?”

Harlow regarded Kult and the triplets then shrugged. “Not sure. I can call their alchemist and find out.”

“With the new fangs he’s received, the results should be nearly instant,” Fin said, drawing Quantum’s attention.

“Fangs?”

“Yeah, we spent all night and half the morning fixing him up with a killer set like Fin’s.”

“You’ve all been busy,” he said, sounding impressed and yet confused.

“Yes, we have,” Harlow concurred, eyeing him with that odd, worried father look.

“The second the Marsh King designs Handy’s body, I’ll need the blueprint,” Quantum mused. “We can take it from there.” He regarded all of them. “I need to see my wife before we begin with Celeste.” He eyed the triplets now. “Meet me in the main lab in an hour.”

An hour. “Not exactly a fast fuck,” Kult muttered, his chuckle cut off by Quantum’s glare.

“If you don’t want your neck bones relocated in your ass cavity, I advise you never use that word in regard to my wife.” He suddenly seemed to realize. “Seems when it comes to her, my moral code takes a nosedive into first degree murder.”

Kult and Harlow exchanged glances when Quantum headed out the door with a cautious Fetch, Fathom and Fin following him.

****

“So that means we have to go,” Mary urged to Kult.

“I have Garbagio to look after, Mary.”

---