It was Hunter who spoke. “Apparently Paxton’s true father was a Kurjan named Talt. He was alsoVero’s father.”
Hope’s world spun away and came back. “Wait, what? Pax is a Kurjan?”
Chapter Thirty
Hope couldn’t breathe as she looked at the males around her. “Pax is not a Kurjan.” That was impossible; Drake was just messing with them all. “He can go in the sun. He doesn’t look anythinglike a Kurjan.”
Drake smiled, and the sight was not pleasant. “Apparently our scientists were hard at work pursuing more than one avenue with their research. Paxton’s mother was taken during the last war. A few demonesses were experimented upon. It was a dangerous and new type of in vitro fertilization, because Talt had not yet mated Vero’s mother. Most of the females died, but Paxton’smother lived.”
“She must’ve been terrified,” Hope whispered, horror filling her.
“Yes,” Drake said. “But according to the journal, she was more frightened of the demon nation than of us. So when she discovered she was pregnant, she followed orders.”
Hope sat back in her chair, feeling as if she might fall. “So, how?” None of thismade any sense.
Vero shook his head. “I can’t believe it. I remember my father as being cruel, but I didn’t think even he’d do something like this.” He looked at Hope. “Apparently they genetically altered Paxton in the womb, so he would look mostly demon like his mother. They made the Kurjan genes dormant until...” He swallowed.
“He was hit by those darts?” Hope asked, her eyes widening. “Those were meant for Paxton, not for me.” That’s why the drug had disappeared from her system while it had seemed to take hold in Paxton’s. It was all unbelievable. “What was Talt’s grand plan?”
Drake shrugged. “From what I’ve read, the plan was for Paxton’s mother to raise him in the demon nation, train and guide him, so we’d have somebody on the inside. It was brilliant, really. But then a few years in, apparently she changed her mind.”
“Of course she changed her mind,” Hope said. “She saw how people should live and how women should be treated. No doubt she knew instantly she didn’t want her son growing up in your environment.”
“That’s what it looks like,” Vero said, tapping the leather-bound book in his hand. “They ordered her death, and Paelotin followed through.”
Hope’s mind spun. “So Paelotin was working with the Kurjans fromthe beginning?”
“Yes. He was paid a fortune,” Drake said.
“When did you find out?” Hunter askedDrake directly.
Drake looked at Vero and then glanced at Hope before turning to stare at Hunter. “I discovered Talt’s journal aboutten years ago.”
Vero took a step back, his blue eyes widening and his shoulders squaring. “You discovered I had a brothera decade ago?”
“You don’t have a brother,” Drake returned quickly. “Paxton Phoenix is not your brother. Biologically, you may share a sperm donor, but considering he’s going to be dead before next week, I wouldn’t gettoo attached.”
“I just saw him,” Vero said. “I don’t think he’s going to survive the next couple of hours. You’ve shot him full of too many of those darts.”
“That would be unfortunate,” Drake said. “But it took that much of the drug to awaken the Kurjan genes. He needs to be half Kurjan before I kill him. I want to take him into the sun and show him how much it hurts. He’s always made fun of me for not liking the sun—it’s time for him tofeel her bite.”
Hope shook her head. “He never made fun of you, but he did see the real you, and I didn’t.” She should have listened to Paxton. “So much for tryingto find peace.”
She looked at the other two warriors in the room. If there was ever a chance to cause a problem for Drake, this was it. “Vero, do you know what the Kurjans are doing with all the enhanced females?”
Vero shifted his gaze to Drake before returning his focus to Hope. “It’s my understanding that they’re just cataloging them.” He winced. “Kind of like wild animals. Like geese or moose.”
Her jaw dropped. “You mean they’re tagging the women to keep track of them like scientists do for certain animal species?”
“That’s what I’ve been told,” Vero said. “This is the first time I’ve actually been in this camp. It doesn’t feel right, though.” He lookedat his cousin.
“No, it certainly doesn’t,” Hunter said.
Drake’s gaze wandered to his computer area and back. “Harold, make yourself useful for once and escort the future queen to her room. Vero, I need to speak with you. We haveplans to make.”
Hope’s heart leaped. She tried to keep the outrage on her face as Hunter gestured her toward the door. “I’m not done with this,” she said, her head held high as she swept out of the room.
Hunter followed her and shut the door, his hand instantly on her elbow. “Keep moving,” he whispered.
