Morvicti Blood (A Morvicti Novel Book 1) (45 page)

“For me, too,” Angelique said, obviously struggling with how to act in this awkward situation.

Austin realized his sister had landed inside a fairytale and would get her ‘happily ever after.’

Octavian opened the champagne and filled the glasses. “To our victory today. May our days ahead be filled with joy and laughter.”

They clinked their glasses together.

“Congratulations, everyone,” Phoebe said.

Belisarius smiled. “Octavian, if you don’t mind, this is Phoebe’s first time to Satu. I would like to show her around.”

“Of course.”

The couple left.

Dr. Sevann shook hands with Doc. “I’ve studied your work, Dr. Wilson. Very impressive research, indeed. I’d like to take you to our laboratories straight away, if you would allow me.”

“I would enjoy seeing your lab, sir,” Doc said. “Very much.”

“My teams are working on two projects. One involves trying to find a solution to the low fertility rates. The other is working on understanding everything that happens during slumber, or as you so deftly dubbed it—hyper-hibernation. I would be thrilled if you would consider joining us in this important work.”

“Brilliant. I have some projects of my own I could use your help on as well.”

“I also am aware of your other projects. Though we are still in the early stages, we have made some advances in finding a cure for Parkinson’s that I believe you will find exciting, Dr. Wilson.”

“Gita, can you believe that?” Doc Wilson looked at Octavian. “Your people are honestly interested in finding cures for human diseases.”

“You will find that most of us, the civilized Morvicti, care about both our species.”

Doc brought his unlit pipe to his mouth. “Since it’s obvious that we can have offspring together, perhaps we are more alike than we are different.”

Dr. Sevann nodded. “I can take you and your fiancée to our labs straight away, sir, if you’d like.”

“I’d like that very much.” Doc took Angelique by the hands. “We must make it a point to see each other again.”

Angelique kissed him on the cheek. “Absolutely.”

Doc and Michael shook hands. Doc Wilson turned to Octavian. “Thank you for what you have done for me and my friends, sir.”

“And thank you, Dr. Wilson, for understanding why we had to keep your research from going public.”

Doc Wilson stepped in front of Austin. “How do I thank you?”

“You don’t have to thank me.” He respected Doc as much as any man he had ever served with on any battlefield. Despite his advanced years and illness, the man never gave up.

“None of us would be here without you. You made sure David Bathry didn’t harm your sister and me. You stopped The Ripper from killing your brother-in-law and from killing anyone ever again.”

Gita nodded. “We owe you a great deal.”

Surprising Austin, Doc wrapped his arms around him, giving him a hug. He smiled and returned the gesture.

Doc released him. “That wasn’t very English of me, was it? I must be getting sentimental in my old age.”

“Thomas, shall we take Dr. Sevann up on his offer of the tour,” Gita said, wiping her eyes.

“Yes. Goodbye, my friends.”

Doc and Gita left with Dr. Sevann.

Deputy Director Brown turned to Michael and Angelique. “If Octavian doesn’t mind, I would like to speak with you about your promotion at the CIA.”

“I don’t mind,” Octavian said. “But it’s up to them.”

Angelique and Michael looked at each other and nodded.

“I have many questions for you, Deputy Director,” Michael said. “Is there somewhere my wife and I can speak freely with you?”

“My office is private. And I will show you your new office here in the complex. Of course, as head of our European Intelligence Division, you have another in London, and one more in Rome.”

“Michael, that’s jumping several rungs up the CIA’s ladder.” Austin slapped his buddy on the back. “Good for you. I’m glad they’re not wasting your talents.”

“We’ll see about that,” Michael said, turning to Angelique. “You ready, honey?”

“Give me a second with my brother. I’ll join you both in the hallway.”

“Of course.” He kissed her, and he and his new boss walked out the door.

“I’ll step out as well to give you some privacy.” Octavian walked to the door.

“Thank you,” she said.

When the door closed and they were alone, he looked at his sister. “Am I in trouble?”

Angelique moved right in front of him. “Should you be?”

He knew what she was thinking. “This isn’t goodbye. I swear.”

“But you are leaving, right?”

“Not forever. Just for a while.” He placed his hand on her shoulders. “I need some time to myself to figure all this out. I can understand how you feel, but for me, I’ve lost more than ten years. And I don’t even know what’s going on in the world. Doc just told me that Saddam Hussein has been dead for a few years now. What
else
has happened since I was shot?”

“The world has changed quite a lot since you’ve been gone.”

“I also need to find out and process the fact that you and I are Morvicti, or at least half Morvicti.” He saw her eyes welling up. “One thing for certain, I will never let anything come between us ever again.”

“You better not, Austin Jake McCord, or you won’t like what I will do to you.”

“That sounds like a threat, Sis.” He grinned and then bowed. “Yes, Princess. I hear you.”

She laughed. “Stop it.”

“We will always stay in touch.” He hugged her. “No matter where I am, if you need me, I’ll be there.”

CHAPTER 81

Alone in Octavian’s office, Austin studied the large leather-bound book that was open on the coffee table.

On the left page was a graphic image of a king holding the head of an infant in his hand surrounded by his subjects on their knees. On the right, a passage describing the horrific event.

The Book of Trepidation

Chapter 33, Verses 7-11

(7) The wickedness of Kharon,

Lying with a mortal woman,

Produced an abomination, a halfblood infant.

(8) Kharon refused to obey the sacred law of the Ancestors,

Hiding his bastard away.

(9) Therefore, King Astoroth, being pure of blood and mind,

Found the apostate Kharon and his child,

And severed the head of the evil creature.

(10) Encircled around the Bloodlust King Astoroth,

All the Bloodlines witnessed his love of purity.

(11) Remember this day and embrace the light,

And suffer not a halfblood or apostate to live.

There was a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

A man and a very attractive woman walked over the threshold.

He stood. “Hello.”

“Hi.” She had the most beautiful green eyes he’d ever seen. Her long dark hair hung below her shoulders. She held out her hand. “I’m Cassie, and this is my Uncle Luke.”

He took her hand, loving the feel of her delicate fingers. “Austin McCord. Octavian should be back shortly.”

“We saw him in the hallway,” her uncle said. “Cassie and I just wanted to meet the man responsible for opening the door to have our laws changed concerning halfbloods.”

“I’m half Morvicti like ya’ll. You and your sister I mean.” Cassie had the sweetest Texas accent he’d ever heard. It reminded him of home. “My biological father was human.”

“So was my mother.”

Octavian entered. “Sorry for the delay, Austin.”

“We know you two must have a lot to discuss, so we’ll leave,” her uncle said. “But I do want to meet with you later about how to proceed for Cassie.”

“Could both of you return to my office in two hours?” Octavian asked.

“Perfect,” the man answered. “Thank you.”

“It was very nice meeting you, Cassie.”

She smiled. “Hopefully we’ll see each other again soon.”

Cassie and Luke left.

“She’s quite the beauty, don’t you agree, Austin?”

“Very attractive.” Wanting to change the subject and get back to the matters at hand, he said, “I found something interesting to read about your kind to pass the time.” He pointed to the image in the book. “Pretty gruesome stuff. Who is this king?”

“Your ancestor, but those were very different times.” Octavian closed the book and sat down in the wingback chair Doc had been sitting in earlier.

“By what I’ve seen the past couple of days, not so different.”

“Until today, the Morvicti have not condoned capital punishment for centuries. Not on themselves. Not on humans. And not on halfbloods. Jack was the first in a very long time.”

“What about David Bathry? He had no qualms using The Ripper to cut off heads.”

“Bathry was part of a fringe extremist group.”

“The Brotherhood of Purity. I remember you telling us about them.”

“The council does not accept or condone the actions of these fanatic zealots. Their numbers are few, and our victory has them on the run. But Austin, they are still very dangerous. Especially to you, and they will be targeting you.”

“Because I am the king’s bastard abomination.”

“That is how they view you, yes. Since Angelique took the oath, she has the weight of the council to protect her. You do not. You did not swear allegiance to the Morvicti.”

“I can protect myself, Octavian. I always have. And if I were you, I wouldn’t hold my breath on me taking that oath. Ever.”

“I am not trying to coerce you. I only want what is best for you.” Octavian sighed. “I have been watching you your whole life. I thought it was for the best, keeping you hidden from The Brotherhood, even if it meant having to stay out of yours and Angelique’s lives.”

“But you didn’t stay out of our lives, did you, Lieutenant?”

“No, I didn’t. Not completely.”

Austin detected a tone of regret in Octavian’s words and began to understand the weight of the choices the man had made. “Losing our mother the way you did must have been part of the reason.”

“It was. I could not bear losing you and your sister. Angelique looks a great deal like Katherine, and you remind me of her so much, too.”

He thought about asking Octavian more about Katherine, but he wasn’t quite ready for that discussion. “You will make sure that Angelique is safe?”

“Of course. Both her and Michael. I know you have questions. I will answer any that I can.”

“Thank you,” he said, remembering how close he had once been to the man he’d known as Lieutenant Davis. “How did you get me from Iraq to London? And who is buried in my grave in Texas?”

“Romulus helped me get you transported to our sanctuary within twenty-four hours of you being shot. The man in your grave is the gunman you took out during the mission.”

“What about The Ripper? I’m still the Met’s prime suspect. They don’t know he’s dead.”

“That has been taken care of. Belisarius was able to pin The Ripper murders on another serial killer, though he is human. The man is insane and unrepentant of his previous crimes. He has no family, so it wasn’t a difficult solution to choose.”

“What about my military medical records? The missing files? That was your doing?”

“It was.”

“Amazing. When I think of all the blood tests I took, I can’t imagine what it would take to hide the truth.”

“It isn’t easy, but it is important.”

“And your kind seem to have unlimited resources to make happen whatever you desire.”

“You and Angelique are part Morvicti. We cannot allow the world to know your true heritage.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“Austin, please believe me. There are those, not just The Brotherhood, who will want you dead. I would like to make an offer for you to consider.” Octavian handed him the envelope he’d brought in with him. “This is your new identity. Unfortunately, you can’t go back to your old job.”

He ripped it open. Inside was a Canadian passport, thousands of Euros, and three credit cards. He opened the passport and stared at the name under his photo.
Austin Jake Abbott
. “My mother’s maiden name.”

“Yes. I thought you might like that. I know Katherine would have.”

“It’s a nice gesture.”

“We need someone of your caliber to head up IBC’s security in North America. Darius has already set up a place for you to stay in Toronto near our offices.”

“You are offering me a job?”

“Yes.”

“I appreciate it,” he said. “But I can’t accept the job, the credit cards, or this money. I will take the passport though. Even a dead man needs identification.”

“I realize you don’t have the same feelings towards me that I have for you. You have just learned that I am your father, while I’ve known you are my son since your birth. Once you get a chance to process this information, perhaps you will reconsider my offer. Regardless, I am always here for you.”