Page 3 of The Brotherhood

Harlow chimed in, “It’s fueled by synthetic ATP and neural synchronization. Think of it as rebuilding him layer by layer, but safely.”

Spook watched the monitors in silence, his own breath syncing unconsciously with the faint rhythm of Eveque’s shallow inhalations. “You’re the doctors,” he mumbled.

“I’ll gather my Hatch,” Seer said quietly. “We’ll cover the spiritual side of things.”

Spook’s legs nearly gave out with relief at hearing that. He’d half worried Seer’s faith had been crushed beyond repair. “I’m not the best at that kind of thing but if you need a wayward boy to teach, I’m ready.”

Seer covered Spook’s hand on his shoulder. “Call me later about it.”

****

Sinrik halted outside the transparent wall of the holding cell, hands loosely clasped behind his back. Through the glass, he observed the tense figure seated on the cot, half-cloaked in shadow.

He stared at her for many seconds, allowing himself to collect the usual data when her gaze suddenly lifted and turned to his. “Step forward,” he commanded quietly, his voice carrying clearly through the intercom.

Without hesitation, she rose and came toward the light with an odd eagerness that put him on high alert. Everything about her presence resembled a shifting current, pulling him somewhere he didn’t trust. His gaze moved over her practical attire. Winter boots, cargo pants and… pregnant.

God that…fuckingidiot.

He snapped his gaze up. “Who are you?” he demanded, cutting his careful interrogation plans.

“Beth,” she hurried, meeting his gaze without flinching while the waver in her calm voice spoke of a hidden strain.

“Your full name,” he ordered.

“Beth Sweetling.”

He notated the falter. “You’re with child.”

She nodded with a soft, “Yes.”

He studied the subtle calculation and awareness in her expression, searching for intent. Malicious or neurotic? “You requested entrance,” he added, measured. “This facility doesn’t accommodate… requests. Any requests.”

“I-I came because I was supposed to,” she said, her voice steady as she crossed her arms over her swollen belly. She lifted her chin a little, inspecting him. “I heard your speech. The one about… the things you did and intend to do—the world you want to build.”

He calculated his reaction as he continued to dig for motive. “And what did you think of it?”

Her gaze softened a little, still guarded. “I like to think… or hope… that maybe you mean well.”

He resisted a dry smirk. “Do you,” he said, back to wanting a thorough dissection as she gave her genuine nod.“And why were yousupposedto come here? This is not a Chaos Point.”

Her eyes changed into a sea of uncertainty, liquifying the moss and mercury colors. “I don’t know yet,” she confessed quietly, lowering her head.

That revelation landed with surprising weight, demanding immediate answers. His Med Lab One could provide some of that, he realized. Whether she was neurotic or infiltrating, he’d learn it there.

He probed a little more. “And who decided this… mandatory meeting?”

She raised her eyes again, contemplating, not the answer, but possibly how he’d receive it. “My… son.”

He didn’t shift his gaze as his mind processed the odd answer and their implications. And why did she direct compassion and sympathy at him. “Your son,” he echoed, the neurotic diagnosis theory growing. “And what does he hope to achieve?”

She broke eye contact, and he didn’t miss the literal power shift that happened in his blood. “I’m still trying to understand that,” she admitted, more to herself before returning her gaze to him. This time the connection was instant, magnetized. Oddly necessary.

“I’m afraid your presence here has rendered you… problematic.”

He watched the unchecked stream of data she openly provided him, feeding his curiosity about her. “I’m sorry you see it that way,” she said with flawless sincerity. “I didn’t plan to come here. And I don’t intend to stay.”

The honest simplicity of her answer struck him as irritatingly unusual. He took a step closer to the glass, narrowing his gaze as he studied her. “You speak as though your will has power here. This is not a place you simply leave.”

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