"Yeah but I'm kind of intrigued to see what they come up with. We do need to come up with vows."
"I have something in mind."
Well at least one of them did. Hope wasn't big on making speeches or grand emotional gestures.
Viper started licking and kissing the mating mark at her neck.
Hope sighed. She loved him. The last several days had only cemented that fact.
"Do we have to go to that creepy lab today?" Hope whined. She wanted go snuggle in their bed and show Viper just how much she wanted him.
"Yes." Viper said with a kiss. "Not only are we doing an inspection but my sire and I need to show the staff that we appreciate their hard work and sacrifice. "
"I get it. I'm not really complaining. Although the sooner we get back..." Hope wagged her eyebrows at him.
Viper moved to tackle Hope, but she was up and off his lap racing down the hall.
"No sir we've got some place to be!" Hope squealed.
The laboratory was a high tech facility deep under ground. All the security was necessary in case of an emergency. Adder, Viper and Hope were flanked by Canebrake and five other guards. They were on the deepest level of the facility where they kept the creepy Morbo.
Hope peered into the containment cell while Viper talked with one of the Anguis scientists.
"Nasty aren't they?" Adder said at her side.
The Morbo were far more frightening in person than on film. They had two grasping appendages that looked like deformed hands and two legs. Their head wasn't much more than a round bulbous lump on a gangly body. The thing had no discernible eyes, ears or nose. It did have a mouth though with a sharp lolling tongue. And just to round out the disturbing picture, the thing looked like it had been de-fleshed, and that was its natural state. Nasty was an understatement!
"Disgusting bastards!" Canebrake said as he studied the containment security panel. "Adder Rex I think the scientists want to show you and the Prognatus the lab."
"In a minute." Adder said.
Hope noticed the look of agitation on Canebrake's face over Adder's shoulder. He probably didn't want to be here any more than Hope did. There was a reason this place was so far underground. Hope shivered.
"It's my greatest desire to see these beasts eradicated in my lifetime. Viper has done a good job holding them at bay, but I don't want you to fear, there are others who can take up that battle." Adder mused as they peered into the cell.
Hope liked Viper's father. He was an intelligent kind man. Must be where Viper got it from. Adder was proud of what his son had accomplished but he also wanted her not to fear that he'd send Viper into space to fight these gross creatures.
The siren that started blaring took Hope by surprise.
She watched in horror as the wall of the containment room in front of her started to split open. The surrounding commotion was confusing. A glass wall slammed down separating her from Viper. He was roared as he pounded at the thick glass.
Adder grabbed Hope's arm and tugged her back but something had latched onto her leg.
Hope looked down at the Morbo creature that held her.
Canebrake tried to pull Adder away but lost his grip and fell back.
Canebrake barely had time to clamor out of the way as the second wall fell into place, locking Adder and Hope in with the fleshless creature.
Viper continued pounding frantically at the dense glass wall.
Hope kicked at the grasping humanoid virus but its grip only tightened on her calf as it pulled itself through the crack in its cell.
Adder struck the monster with his fist, using the spikes on his arms to cut the beast as his punch followed through. The creature's sharp tongue lashed out cutting a swath in Adder's arm.
"No!" Hope screamed, and it was echoed by Viper.
The beast stumbled back but unfazed it lunged towards Hope. She felt an agonizing pain in her stomach and looked down to see the Morbo's tongue buried in her skin.
"Oh god!" Hope cried out.
No no no! This wasn't supposed to happen.
Adder tackled the creature, but it was too late for both of them. He pummeled the beast with his fists till it ceased to get up, yet still it's tongue snaked out, stabbing at the air. Adder kicked it back into the containment room as Hope lay huddled on the floor clutching her belly in pain.
"How do I close this?" Adder yelled till one of the stunned technicians told him what to do to reseal the door.
It all happened so fast. Her world was torn apart in a handful of disjointed confusing moments.
Hope just stared at Viper. His hands were pressed to the glass. He looked broken. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed the words, "I love you."
Viper's mouth repeat the phrase then she heard his deafening roar as she passed out.
Viper
His worst possible nightmare had come true. There was no redemption to be had, not with this.
The scientists and physicians didn't want to patch up Hope's injury, insisting it was futile, till Viper threatened to gut them. He refused to see her in pain for the last few hours they had together. Now he watched Hope sleeping through a thick sheet of glass, tubes piercing her small pale body.
"I can't even hold her one last time."
Viper gripped the arms of his chair, feeling them contort as he desperately held onto his sanity. The frantic need to comfort Hope, and also himself, eating at him.
"Filius, you know what to do when I go to sleep." Viper turned to see his sire in the other quarantine room. His mother had long since passed out from hysterics.
"I have the cryo-units ready." Viper's voice broke.
"Come now we both know what has to be done my filius."
"They will find a cure dammit!" Viper growled with impotent rage.
"I'm not going to argue with you." Adder said as he stoically faced his fate like a true mercenary.
Viper looked up to his father, strove to be half the male he was. Adder Rex could always be counted on to do what was right even if it wasn't easy.
"I'm proud of you. Remember that." His uttered words meant the world to Viper.
"Viper?"
Viper turned back to see Hope staring at him. He was so glad to see her awake, till again he was reminded of his new bleak reality, and it struck him like a knife to the gut.
"It's bad isn't it?" She asked looking forlorn.
Viper couldn't find his voice. He couldn't bring himself to say the words out loud. He couldn't even wrap his head around the nightmare. So he just nodded once.
"How long?"
Hope asked how long they had left together and Viper nearly collapsed. He wanted to be strong for her but couldn't summon the will.
Oh Goddess, how, why was this happening?
"A day maybe." Viper tried to say but choked on the words, his throat thick, his hearts constricting in his chest.
Hope's eyes were closed again. The pain medicine making her sleep. At least that's what he told himself.
Viper failed yet again to protect his precious mate. The horror of it ripped Viper apart as he sat through the next several hours, mutely watching Hope's family and friends, along with his father's, come to say goodbye. Viper's sorrow was more than he could bear, but seeing their grief crumbled his remaining strength.
Viper wanted to throw something and rage at the injustice of fate. But all he could do was sit, and watch his sweet mate as each second, minute, hour passed and then she would be gone from his life.
His mother sat with her face pressed to the glass, much like Viper was at Hope's window. Adder's fever increased steadily through the night till he slipped away. Viper watched as the azure cryogenic fluid flowed through the tubes connected to Adder.
His mother's ragged sobs filled the room.
Viper turned to Hope. She was awake again, and she had witnessed his father's passing.
"The king is dead, long live the king." Hope whispered the somber sentiment.
Her eyes turned to focus on Viper.<
br />
"I am sorry Viper." Tears streamed down her cheeks.
His precious mate fought to hold on to life and yet she mourned for him.
"Never be sorry beautiful. I have been so honored and blessed to have you in my life, both of you." Viper tried to muster a smile for her.
"I want you to know before..." Hope paused. "Thank you for rescuing my family and friends. Thank you for all the love you've shared. Thank you for giving me a chance to see the stars." Hope's voice wavered.
Viper didn't know how much longer she would hold out. She barely had a fever, but she'd been coughing violently even in her sleep. Each moment he had left with her was a gift and he refused to take even a fraction of it for granted. Viper placed his hand on the glass and spoke the words he'd said when they first met.
"Let us just enjoy being together today, we can worry about tomorrow when it comes."
Hope nodded and tried to smile as her tears flowed.
Viper wanted to wipe them away, to take her pain into himself, but even in this he failed her. Hope started coughing again and the medicine they pumped into her caused her to go back to sleep robbing him of the few precious moments he had with his sweet Hope.
Viper watched as her chest rose and fell with each breath and replayed in his mind all the moments he desperately hoped to capture from their short time together. He'd lived a lifetime in a span of a few weeks.
Viper didn't hear them move his father from the room next door or the physicians as they came and went. All he saw was Hope laughing in his mind as they tumbled on the floor, her look of passion as their bodies joined.
It was unfathomable to think his greatest joy, his Amare was leaving him behind. So Viper just stared at her in hopes that somehow he could will her to stay, or force time to halt.
Breath in, breath out, breath in, breath out.
Hope
Hope stared at Viper through the window he was exhausted, asleep, pressed against the thick glass.
The machine beeped as it read her temperature or took a blood sample that someone would study a room away. She felt like shit and her stomach hurt, but Hope didn't feel like she was dying.
She had watched as Adder slipped into the coma and wondered how long she had. She'd been infected worse than him, and he was now gone. How many hours had she slept?
Hope wanted to wake Viper to see his green eyes, but maybe in sleep he was in a better, happier place.
Hope didn't fear death, she knew what was waiting for her. She felt it like a whisper on a breeze. But saying goodbye, separating from the ones she loved was an unbearable pain. Hope felt cheated of her new found love. Then again she also felt blessed to have known love, known Viper, even for a moment. Life offered no guarantees.
"Why didn't you wake me?" Viper asked with fathomless sad eyes.
"You looked so peaceful."
"I can sleep later."
Hope smiled at his hoarse reply.
"And when you dream I will be there." Hope replied trying not to cry again.
Every ounce of her believed that to be true.
A scientist came in and tapped Viper on the shoulder.
"Leave us." Viper growled viciously.
"Viper Rex," It was the first time either of them had heard the title, sadly it wasn't a happy occasion. "I have something I urgently need to discuss with you."
"Unless you have found a cure, it can wait!" Viper roared, as he jumped to his feet.
Hope could hear the strain in his voice and see the toll it was having on him.
The scientist quaked in fear as he shook his head.
"No." The scientist's voice quivered. "But the virus has somehow been eradicated in the Regina."
It took them both a moment to realize what the man had said and who he was talking about. Viper was the new Rex and that meant Hope was the Regina, and...
Viper dropped to his knees and clutched at the man's lab coat.
"Say it again." Viper demanded.
"Sire we don't know how but Regina Hope has fought off the virus."
If the Anguis scientist was afraid before he was no doubt terrified now as Viper let out a whoop and jumped to his feet. He picked up the poor man and spun him around. Then just as quickly released the man and pressed himself to the glass.
"Did you hear that Hope?"
She smiled and nodded with bleary eyes that were crying again. It was a good thing they were pumping her with fluids because she was leaking like a sieve.
"How?" Viper turned to the man who was still picking himself up off the floor.
"We are unsure. Something in her blood is fighting and killing the Morbo Virus, but we haven't isolated it yet. We think it may be something unique to her or her kind. We don't know without further tests and samples."
"When can she leave?" Viper was almost giddy.
"Please Viper Rex we are just now certain that she is winning the battle. The Regina could still be carrying the virus or in some kind of remission."
Hope watched as Viper's mood deflated slightly.
"Hey don't pick out my burial plot so quickly!" Hope admonished him. This was good news, and they were going to run with it.
"Give us a few more days in quarantine and then a bit longer in regular observation please. This... this is monumental!"
Hope smiled at the scientist who'd relaxed some. Once he got past his initial fear of Viper, she could see the man of science was truly as excited as they were. That meant a lot considering how long they'd been searching for a cure.
Viper turned to Hope again as the man left.
"I wish I could get you out of here!"
"Patience." Hope smiled at her large mate, taking a second to look at him, to memorize him in this moment in time.
His dark brown dreads were pulled back from his rugged face, showing off his strong sharp features. Hope was always amazed how different and yet similar they were since they came from worlds apart. Creation was a wondrous thing. It didn't matter if you believed a Divine hand guided it or not, the magic hid in the fact that It Was, they Were.
Viper's twinkling resplendent green eyes stared into hers for a quiet shared moment. Then Hope found herself too happy and overcome to be silent.
Viper
Hope was winning the battle and Viper couldn't control his joy. He wanted to run into the star lit night and cry out in triumph. He wanted to kiss the earth in praise of Kadru. But most of all Viper wanted Hope. Not even the possibility of this being just a fluke dampened his spirits much. The scientist had been too happy for it to be anything other than a miracle.
Viper gazed at his mate, she was his everything, wrapped into a delicate looking package, but beneath the surface she was strong, brave, beautiful, and so wildly sexy.
"You know why my mother called us girls Faith and Hope?" His female said with a wistful smile.
"Why beautiful?" Viper asked as he stood pressed to the glass.
"She named us after a religious saying that goes, 'Faith, Hope and Love. But the greatest of these is Love.' I once asked mom, if we had another sister would she call her Love. And she would always tell us she already had love as she squeezed us tight." Viper's sweet female had an even sweeter smile as she recalled her mother.
Viper agreed with Hope's mother. He had love, and he had Hope.
"Viper have them turn off this drug that's making me sleepy, and my butt is sore from laying here so long." Hope grimaced.
Viper nearly burst he laughed so hard. The tension from the last day evaporating as his strong little mate groused.
"Yes Hope, let me see what I can do." As Viper walked to the door, he heard her holler.
"And I'm hungry too."
In that moment Viper was sure his Hope would be fine.
Amare wrapped around Viper's hearts and shook him to his very roots. Yet even as it uprooted him, Viper wouldn't have it any other way.
Hope
This was her last day in quarantine and thank god they didn't feel the need to keep her for further
observation. The doctors had taken a truckload of blood already, the vampires! The Anguis scientists isolated some kind of cell in her that was literally consuming the Morbo virus. Cool and creepy! They just couldn't recognize or classify it. Either way there wasn't a single trace of the Morbo virus left in her, so Hope wasn't a threat to anyone else.
Hope was also happy to learn that the creature that infected her died afterwards. Apparently that's what they do, reproduce then die.
Was it shameful all she could think of was getting naked, hot and sweaty with a certain tall dark and handsome? Hope had been a ball of hormones from the moment they said she wasn't going to die. She had it bad, really bad.
"Are you ready?" Viper asked nearly shaking in excitement.
He was as ready as Hope was to get out of this place. He hadn't left her side for one moment and looked as pathetic as she did.
"God, I love that man." Hope beamed. "You know I am." She nodded emphatically.
Tara, Faith, JP, and Acris stood happily by the door. Even Hyla was present. The woman cast a genuine smile at her son, but occasionally glanced at the other room where Adder had been, and her face fell. It was a tragic loss. Hope wondered how she had been spared when Adder had not?
Hope watched and held her breath as the scientist typed into the control panel securing the room. Something in the back of Hope's mind nudged at her but was forgotten the instant the seal on the door broke.
It was a race to see who could get in first to hug her and Hope loved it. Tara and Faith reached her first to smother her. Hope's sister and friend twittered all bleary eyed as they gripped her tight.
Hope looked up to see that Viper had frozen just inside the entrance of the room. His nostrils flared as he took long huffing breaths. With eyes closed he rolled his head from one side to the other like he was bathing in the scent of her that undoubtedly filled the room. The rumbling growl that started in his chest only intensified, till it reverberated through the room. When his eyes opened, they were wild in their intensity, the pupils having swallowed up the green irises. The colors of his skin flashed rapidly. When Viper moved towards Hope, it wasn't a carefree gait, it was more like a predator closing in on his prey.
Viper's Hope (Anguis Defenders Book 1) Page 23
