Taming the Wild Beast of Alamina

"What do you mean, a problem?" Dean straightened, looking ready to fly to Sylvia immediately. "Is she sick?"

"No. She is perfectly healthy," Seven said. "The problem is that her profile matches Andrea’s registered results almost perfectly—the reports we assumed he had falsified."

Dean frowned. "Why is that a problem?"

"Because Sylvia’s pheromones cannot lure beasts. According to his original medical records, neither could Andrea’s." Seven tapped the tablet resting on his knee. "Whatever gave him that ability was acquired later. It was not a natural development of his secondary gender."

"For fuck’s sake." Dean let his head fall back again and groaned even louder. "You are saying there is something in Draxil, hidden under Claudia’s organization, that can make someone attract infected beasts?"

"Possibly control their attention rather than attract them," Seven corrected. "We do not have enough information to determine the mechanism."

"They do not want to negotiate with us," Arion said, his irritation evident after months of discussions that had produced nothing. "Or with anyone. They continue pretending there is nothing to investigate. They have even claimed Claudia never existed. The fact that Draxil is approaching a civil war over the throne does not help."

"That is an impressive commitment to lying," Dean muttered.

"They destroyed public records, closed the foundations associated with her name, and reassigned everyone who had worked inside Claudia’s Palace," Arion continued. "Officially, the building was a private royal residence that has been empty for decades."

"And unofficially?" Seven asked.

"Soldiers guard it. No one enters without authorization from the king’s private office."

Dean stared at him. "The sick king who can barely remain conscious?"

"The authorization is presently controlled by his eldest sons."

"Both of them?"

"Neither trusts the other enough to surrender control of it."

Seven removed his glasses and began cleaning them. "That sounds encouraging."

"It means they both know the palace contains something valuable," Arion said. "Or something dangerous enough that neither wants the other to possess it."

"Can Heather get us inside?" Dean asked.

"No. Her marriage to Eryx gives her a connection to Draxil, not authority over its royal properties. Any visible involvement from Rohan would also strengthen the accusations that she married Eryx to interfere with the succession."

Dean folded his arms. "She did interfere with the succession."

"She married the one prince who did not want the throne."

"And then helped make everyone else’s lives difficult. I remain proud of her."

Arion ignored that. His fingers tapped once against the surface of his desk.

Seven replaced his glasses. "If whatever altered Andrea is still inside that palace, we need access before one of the brothers decides to use it."

"Use it how?" Dean asked.

"I cannot answer that without seeing it. It may be a substance, a procedure, an infected gland, a beast-derived compound, or something Claudia developed specifically for Andrea." Seven’s expression grew more serious. "But he gained the ability to influence beasts without displaying the deterioration we would expect from uncontrolled infection. That makes the research valuable."

"And dangerous," Arion said.

"Those are not mutually exclusive."

Dean looked between them. "Draxil will never let Alaminian physicians stroll through Claudia’s Palace."

"No," Arion agreed. "Not while the current king remains nominally in power."

The room fell silent.

Dean slowly turned toward him. "I know that expression."

"What expression?"

"The one you have before you decide to interfere with another kingdom."

"I do not have a specific expression for that."

"You absolutely do."

Seven glanced at Arion over his glasses. "He does."

Arion leaned back in his chair, considering the map of Draxil he had reviewed far too many times during the failed negotiations. The king’s health continued to decline, while his two eldest sons divided the military, nobility, and ministries between them. Neither had enough support to claim the throne without a prolonged conflict.

Both had approached Alamina indirectly.

Until now, Arion had refused to answer.

"One of the brothers may be more willing to negotiate once he understands that Alaminian support could secure the throne," he said.

Dean stared at him. "You want to support one of them."

"I am considering it."

"In exchange for access to Claudia’s Palace."

"Unrestricted access," Arion corrected. "Not a supervised visit arranged after they have had time to remove everything useful."

Seven nodded thoughtfully. "Medical laboratories, archives, storage rooms, and any surviving personnel."

"Free access for Alaminian investigators," Arion said. "Our physicians, researchers, and security forces would be permitted to enter, collect samples, and remove anything connected to Andrea, Claudia, or the infected beasts."

Dean’s brows rose. "That is not a small price."

"Neither is a throne."

"And which brother would you support?"

"The one willing to sign the agreement."

"That is cold."

"It is practical."

Seven placed the tablet on Arion’s desk. "You should also demand access to their military medical records. If Claudia tested the procedure on anyone before Andrea, the palace may not contain the only evidence."

Arion nodded once. "Add it to the list."

Dean looked at Seven. "You are encouraging him."

"I would like to know how someone modified a dominant omega’s pheromones sufficiently to affect infected beasts."

"And I would like Draxil not to collapse into a civil war," Arion said. "If one brother can establish control quickly, supporting him may prevent a longer conflict."

Dean gave him a flat look. "That is the respectable justification."

"It is also true."

"But Claudia’s Palace is what makes the interference worthwhile."

"Yes."

At least Arion did not insult him by denying it.

Dean rose from the sofa and approached the desk. "What about Eryx?"

"We speak to him before contacting either brother."

"He hates both of them."

"That may make his assessment more honest."

"It may make his assessment consist entirely of insults."

"Then Heather can translate."

Seven stood and collected his tablet. "Tell me when you obtain access."

Arion looked at him. "I have not decided to do this yet."

"You have already begun drafting the conditions in your head."

Dean smiled. "He has."

Arion’s gaze moved between them. "Neither of you will discuss this outside this room."

Seven nodded.

Dean placed a hand over his chest. "I am deeply offended that you would question my discretion."

"You told Minerva about Thomas’s proposal twelve minutes after Sylvia accepted."

"That was family news."

"You informed three kingdoms before Thomas did."

"They were happy for him."

Arion closed his eyes briefly. "Not a word, Dean."

"Fine." Dean glanced at the tablet. "But Sylvia should be told that her results match Andrea’s."

"She will receive the full report," Seven said. "Without speculation about Draxil until we have evidence."

Dean reluctantly accepted that.

Arion reached for the secure communication panel on his desk.

"Who are you calling?" Dean asked.

"Eryx."

"You said you were still considering it."

"I am considering it with better information."

Dean returned to the sofa, settling comfortably as though he intended to remain for the entire conversation.

Arion looked at him. "You are leaving."

"I am family."

"You are a security risk."

"I can be both."

Seven opened the office door. "Send me the agreement once one of the princes sells you access to the palace."

Arion gave him a cold look.

Seven smiled pleasantly. "Professionally speaking."