Saving the Beast(70)

“I’m planning to go up after I check in with the Professor and Orsai about Gideon,” Diana said.

“I heard about that,” Abby said. “Amia and I were talking. The Professor said the anomaly looked familiar, but he couldn’t quite place it. What if the poison contained a different strain of the feral fever virus?”

“I had the same thought,” Diane said. “Clara said her Uncle Thomas brought the virus back when a group of hunters captured him and tried to use it on him. That’s the version Dillon hit Zane and Logan with. But the hunters would have had it all this time. Who says they don’t have people like the Professor to work on mutating the virus and hiding it within other things?”

“Exactly,” Amia agreed. “The hunters get together every few months for a summit of sorts where they exchange information. At least, they did back when I was there. I looked forward to those times as Marcus and the others would leave.”

“There’s no telling what they might have turned the virus into,” Abby said.

“Or how it might affect a shifter,” Diane added.

“I’ll start researching and working on it as soon as I can,” Abby said. “Regan sleeps a lot. There’s no reason I can’t have a laptop in here to work on while I rest and recuperate. I’m past ready to jump back into things, and quite frankly, you and the Professor need the help.”

“We do,” Diane agreed.

“She’s asleep again,” Abby said, gazing down on Regan. “Amia, can you take her so Diane can give me a checkup?”

“Oh, if I have to,” Amia said with a huge smile on her face as she held out her arms. “She’s so perfect, so beautiful.”

“She is,” Abby agreed.

Diane smiled in agreement. She set about checking Abby, but her mind was on other things. Mostly, it was on the fact she was going to be a mother soon, as well. She was still coming to terms with it. In a normal world, she would have taken the time to make sure everything was good with her pregnancy before sharing the news with anyone other than her husband. As the mate of a shifter, surrounded by other shifters, that wasn’t possible. Diane said goodbye when she was satisfied Abby was on the mend and headed out, shutting the bedroom door behind her. She paused as she started to pass the staircase leading up to the second and third floors where most of them had rooms. Kenzie’s was on the third floor. Making a sudden decision, Diane went up to check on Kenzie before going down to meet with the Professor, Orsai and Gideon. They could wait. Kenzie shouldn’t. Besides, Diane was afraid she’d get wrapped up in what was going on with Gideon and not get a chance to check on Kenzie.

She stopped outside the other woman’s door and knocked softly. “Kenzie,” she called. “It’s Diane.”

She heard slow footsteps then the door opened. “I see you and Zane made it back.”

Diane gasped and pushed her way in, grasping Kenzie’s face and taking in her appearance. Her eyes were swollen and red, most likely from the tears that were still falling. Kenzie had a haunted look in her eyes—a devastation that made Diane’s heart ache for the other woman.

“Oh, Kenzie,” Diane said and hugged her close.

Kenzie clung to her for a long moment.

“I don’t know what to do,” Kenzie said. “I hurt. Here.” She touched her heart. “And here.” She dropped her hand down toward her belly, but Diane understood what she meant.

“I’m sorry, Kenzie,” Diane said in an attempt to soothe her.

“Did Zane talk to Tah?” Kenzie asked.

Diane nodded.

“So they know. They know my mate didn’t want me.”

“That’s not true” Diane argued.

“It’s the truth,” Kenzie said sadly.

“He left to protect you,” Diane countered. “Zane said it nearly tore Angel apart to leave you.”

“Gabriel,” Kenzie said. “His name is Gabriel.”

Diane nodded. “Gabriel then. Zane said he saw how hard it was for Gabriel to leave you. But think of the danger he’s in. We’re in danger, and I’ve never killed anyone in my life. Gabriel is the Angel. He attacks. He took out twelve men to get to you. I’m sure his enemies are vast and many. Of course, he’d want to protect you from that.”

Kenzie perked up. “You think that’s what he’s doing?”

Diane nodded. “Yes, I do.”

“God, it hurts. If he couldn’t stay, he should have never touched me. Then I wouldn’t be in this mess.”

“We’re all here for you,” Diane assured Kenzie. “And hopefully, you’ll be too busy over the next month to dwell on it.”