Page 123 of Gods' Battleground

“So you’re saying the people he experimented on didn’t know he was experimenting on them?” I said.

“No, they did not. Janger felt their ignorance would provide him with more accurate results.” Nerissa frowned in disapproval. “But really I think he just wanted to be free to do whatever he wished without any oversight from anyone. That’s why he operated in total secrecy.”

“You said his workalreadychanged the Legion,” I said. “So he didn’t perish with most of the other Immortals?”

“Apparently not. Like any good mad scientist hermit, he had his own remote facility, hidden in the Veil. I think that’s the world where we found his journals. It looked like it had been abandoned long ago. And, in fact, the most recent entry in Janger’s journals is dated a couple of hundred years ago. That’s where he references his experiments on two Legion angels: Colonel Eryx Holyfire and Colonel Brutus Heavensworn. And their mates.”

Surprise flashed in Nero’s eyes. “Fireswift’s father. And Li’s father.” He looked at me, then at Nerissa. “What exactly did this Immortal do to them?”

“I’m not sure exactly. His work is way out of my league.” She blushed.

I set my hand on her shoulder and gave her a supportive smile. “Hey, this stuff isn’t easy. The Immortals created magic as we know it, and this Janger guy sounds like he knows even more than the other Immortals. But I have every confidence in you. You’re awesome, Nerissa.”

“Thanks, Leda.” She sighed. “So, ok, from what I do understand of Janger’s journals, he was experimenting with alternative ways to give people magical abilities. And specifically, in the case of these two angels and their mates, he was trying to overcome the infertility side effect of Nectar.”

“How?” Nero asked.

Nerissa shook her head. “I don’t know. I still need to figure that out. But apparently whatever he did worked because the experiment was a success. Heavensworn’s and Holyfire’s wives became pregnant.”

“With Li and Xerxes.” I looked at Nero. “I told you something was up with that.”

“Yes, it appears your suspicions weren’t unfounded,” he agreed.

I turned to Nerissa. “Nero was born around the same time as the other two boys. Was there any mention of him or of Damiel and Cadence in Janger’s journals?”

“No,” she told me.

“So it looks like you’re not the product of a mad Immortal scientist,” I said to Nero.

That didn’t seem to give him any comfort. In fact, his expression hardened even further. “I need you to do a full medical examination on both General Fireswift and Major Heavensworn,” he told Nerissa. “Perhaps that will shed some light on Janger’s experiments.”

“Of course, General Windstriker. I’ll get right on that.”

I caught Nerissa’s arm. “Later,” I told her. “You can do the examinations later. Right now, I want you to eat something. And enjoy our victory with the rest of us. We’ve certainly earned it.”

“Ok. Thanks, Leda.”

Nerissa clutched her hands together, then rushed off to the buffet tables. I wondered how long it had been since she’d last eaten. And slept. I made a mental note to order Nerissa to get a good night’s sleep before heading back to her lab.

“Hmm,” Nero said when she was gone.

I turned to him. “You’re worried about what this Janger guy did to some of our soldiers.”

“I don’t worry, Pandora,” he stated. “I plan.”

“You can plan later. What I told Nerissa goes for you too. Enjoy our victory, at least for today. All of those other problems can wait.”

“You’re right,” Nero said, nodding.

“Of course I am. That’s why you married me: because I’m always right.” I smirked at him.

He half-grunted, half-laughed in response.

“At the very least, you must be excited by what Nerissa found,” I said. “New ways to give our soldiers magic.”

“It is indeed a groundbreaking discovery,” he said.

“But?” I prompted him.

---