"Because of John." Aerin leaned against the edge of the glass desk, arms crossed. His gaze didn't leave hers, and Jexanna's eyes narrowed.
"What does my father have to do with this? He's dead."
"Exactly, which leaves you as the most qualified person to be on this mission." Shou pushed himself off the wall and plopped himself into the chair next to hers. "He did teach you everything he knew."
"Excuse me for being blunt, but there are several full-blooded fae that my father taught. Actual healers, doctors, and researchers, why would the council choose his half-breed daughter who can't even perform healing magic?" She spat the words out bitterly, trying not to let her insecurity get the best of her. After all, it was her inability to perform healing magic that prevented her from being a healer. It was a result of her father's blood. It didn't matter to the council that she graduated from interspecies medical school at the age of 18, that she was a prodigy taught by the great Dr. Jonathan Lewis. If she couldn't perform healing magic, she was useless and therefore unqualified to pursue a career in the medical field within the supernatural community as long as she was at least half fae.
"Please, Jex." Shou snorted. She glanced at him and chose to ignore his comment.
"This mission is being a part of the research team looking into the virus, sweeping the werewolf population." Jexanna's body froze. Her eyes stayed on her brother that looked down. She had seen Aerin in many positions that were worse than right now. Hell, she saw him near death, and even then, he still didn't look nervous. But now, she could see the influence that Risa had left on him. His fingers played with each other, a habit that he picked up from his mate. Aerin openly conveying emotions was something that she had very rarely seen. If it weren't for his relationship with Risa, she probably would still believe that he was incapable of emotions like worry, anxiety, and love. He still could surprise her, it appears. Because right now, he was nervous for some reason.
"Okay." She shifted in her seat, sitting up. Her tone was softer now. "If that's the mission, I still don't understand why I'm needed. If it only affects wolves, there are probably still much more qualified candidates for the mission."
"Because it's not just affecting wolves, Jex," Shou stated. "We haven't released this yet to the public. But a whole community of typically, well dark species, was decimated in a matter of hours." Her skin ran cold.
"Hours?" Jexanna ran a hand through her hair, pushing lilac locks out of her face. Diseases didn't decimate communities that quickly, not typically unless it was lying under the surface for weeks.
"It was gone in a single night. The town started the day like any other. By the next morning, only half the population remained." Shou nodded, and Jexanna glanced at Aerin who was speechless for some reason. His fists were clenched, as stress flickered for a moment on his face.
"Dark species?" She raised a brow. "Dark Fae, vampires, and werewolves?"
"We don't know if vampires are affected but if dark fae and wolves are susceptible, then it’s safe to say that vampires are probably as well." Aerin chimed in finally. So that was why he was upset. Risa could also fall to the virus if exposed, after all, she was one-fourth vampire and expecting their first child.
"Aerin, Risa is safe. No one outside this room can reach them." Shou tried to comfort his nephew-in-law, but it was doing little to comfort him, even Jexanna could see that. The reality was that Risa took in as many children off the street as she could. She regularly made trips outside of the orphanage to find these lost souls and could be exposed. Risa wouldn't stop helping kids any time soon, especially with a plague swarming the world.
"Have you told her?"
"Not yet. But Jexanna, there's another reason why you're the most qualified." Aerin's eyes met hers. "And we all know why that is."
"The orchids." She muttered.
"Those orchids that you stole from Whitehaven are the only thing that keeps the virus away. I told you when I found your little garden, that they would cause you nothing but trouble." Aerin remarked rather pointedly. Jexanna scoffed.
"I didn't steal them. My father left his research to me. Those seeds were in his research."
"Regardless, Whitehaven knows about your little garden." Jexanna frowned at Aerin. Rage stewed under her surface. He wouldn't dare sell her out, right?
"And what does Whitehaven know exactly?" She crossed her arms, daring her brother to tell her that he revealed their little secret. If he sold her out, then he would have to reveal the true nature of their relationship, and only top brass knew of their relationship.
"Relax. No one knows it was you or where it is, just like last year. Aerin just informed them that he had found reports of the orchid sold in black markets recently, despite the major dealer being shut down."
"And that’s all?" She stared Aerin down before he nodded, warning him to tread carefully. Whitehaven had been after her for nearly seven years now with no idea of her identity, a record she wanted to keep going.
"Nothing has changed, Jexanna," Aerin swore to her. "But the reality is that you have made the orphanage a target. Those kids are a target now because you have unwittingly taught them and Risa how to cultivate those orchids under any condition. The best thing to do right now is to close the portal by the docks, and for you to ensure that no one finds out by going onto the team."
"And if I just close the portal and not join, what would happen?"
"Besides spending at least ten years in jail for skipping out a formal order from the FLA?" Aerin rose a brow at her. "It wouldn't take much time to figure out that I lied Jexanna, I would be court-martialed and possibly executed. Before then, we all know I would have no choice in revealing the truth, my dear sister. And it's easy to guess what would happen after that." Jexanna's skin ran cold at the thought. Whitehaven would demand justice, and if they hadn't taken all of the children on the run by a certain point, then they most likely would be confined to the Whitehaven pack to maintain secrecy.
"So, basically, I take this, or we're screwed?"
"I wouldn't be." Shou snorted, placing his hands behind his head. Of course, he wouldn't be screwed. He was the Captain of the most dangerous division in the FLA. Not that she needed the reminder. Jexanna shot daggers at Shou with a tight-lipped glare. "But I would be very upset if my beloved niece's mate is killed while she's expecting and if my protege is put on the list."
"Gee, thanks, Shou." Jexanna sarcastically affirmed, before her eyes glanced back to Aerin.
"Aerin, let's say I close the portals. Will the orphanage be safe? It might be a somewhat self-efficient place, but that only depends on the crops I bring to plant each harvest." It was true that the orphanage was mostly self-sufficient. When Jexanna came aboard the team, the entire ecosystem became more self-supported. They had a large garden with not only all the vegetables and grains they required but all the medicinal herbs that they might need for any occasion. She had taken great pride in showing the kids how to plant, cultivate, and harvest the plants. But it still had one dependency. The orphanage was too efficient in harvesting and utilizing the crops. There were rarely leftover seeds to plant the following year, so once a year Jexanna would have to hit up the markets and bring in the seeds required for each year in the spring.
"We estimate that they would be safe for a year. Besides, I can't leave Risa alone, even now it is very difficult." Aerin's eyes glowed dark amber as his hand clenched the edge of his desk. Jexanna nodded, understanding what he was saying.
"So, they're okay with you taking a leave of absence?"
"No." Shou scoffed to which Aerin sent a disapproving glare.
"The agency owes me a sabbatical," Aerin added. "I will be with Risa and the children for a year, away from the rest of the world. You know what that means right, Jexanna?"
"Yes." She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. "I will close all portals for good. I won't open any until a year has passed, and if I'm dead by then, you'll be on your own." She glanced down, taking in the impact of this decision. It wasn't an easy one. The orphanage was her home, her escape, her refuge. The children that Risa took in were her family, and Risa was her sister. But if the virus was beginning to spread to other species, they were all in danger. While the children were all mixed species, like Jexanna and Risa, they had no way of knowing what the virus would do to them. This was the safest plan. Jexanna was aware of how calculative her brother was. He must have spent hours mulling over each decision before arriving at this.
"Do you think that the mission will be that long?" She looked up, heart thumping slowly. Aerin shifted his gaze to Shou, exchanging a look of uncertainty.
"We don't know. Your mission is to be a researcher on the team, but as with all FLA missions, there's another agenda you should be aware of." Shou sighed. "The fact that it only affects night species is disturbing. Someone is targeting the dark species. And we all know that there are purists in every faction of species on the planet. It could be any number of light species."
"And you want me to find the source." Jexanna connected the dots. "But in case you have forgotten, my DNA is..." She motioned up and down at her appearance. While her brother was very obviously a light faire, Jexanna was often mistaken for being a dark faire. With her lilac and lavender locks and pale skin, she looked like she belonged among the creatures of the night. If it weren't for the numerous DNA tests and the fact that her powers were of light, she would have thought that she was a dark faire too.
"Your appearance is of a dark faire, that's true. But we all know that your DNA is like your brothers, light. While we admit that there is a little bit of a concern." Shou started to state.
"A little?" She scoffed, interjecting into Shou's statement. "We're talking about my life here against a deadly disease."
"There is another precaution that we believe could provide some protection to you."
"Are you insane?" Jexanna seethed, knowing fully well what they meant.
"Jexanna, there have been advancements. And it’s the best way to ensure that you won't be infected while dealing with the virus." Aerin tried to calm her down, placing a hand on her shoulder, keeping her from leaving her seat.
"Have you forgotten what those damned things did to me?" Jexanna pushed her brother off and stood. Her arms wrapped around her body instantly, trying to fight the memories that burned on her skin from lingering. "Aerin, I thought that you understood when I said that I never wanted to take that potion again."
"Jexanna," Aerin warned her, giving her a look. She bit her lip and sighed, knowing that she was about to throw a fit for nothing. It was selfish to do so. This mission was about millions of lives; the least she could do was deal with a damn nullifying potion for as long as she needed.
"Fine." She steeled herself, hands falling down her side. "This will work out, I guess. If I'm human, then the portals will be closed." Her eyes went across the room, and she breathed in before glaring at her brother. "When is the team for the mission due to meet?"
"Tomorrow morning." Shou reached inside his pocket and pulled out a small medicine tea bag. The pungent smell of mugwort tickled her nose as she took the bag in hand. She wouldn't even have time to go and say goodbye to the kids with everything that needed to be completed. If she was lucky, she could say goodbye to Risa on her way out the door with her supplies.
"Then let's get started.”
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