Joshua squeezed my hand. “You don’t have to do this for me.” He stared at me and I glanced over seeing the adoring look in his eyes telling me I didn’t need to do it, but he wanted me to. I could see right through him.
“I know: I’m doing it for me,” I assured him. “Besides, when everyone finds out I’m like the rest of the world then at least no one will be after me. When I lead them one by one into fertility treatments and we become alike, ingrained together then I will be one of them.”
Henry glanced at Elsa. “Can you arrange to see if Olivia is a viable candidate for the study on Monday?”
Elsa agreed, “I’ll have her come into the lab and we’ll run a few tests.”
I hated that they were talking around me, like I wasn’t in the room. At least what they were saying wasn’t bad; they were trying to help me.
Henry glanced back at me once again. “There was one more thing I’d like to discuss but please everyone, eat!” We clanked glasses and I hungrily ate everything in sight. Henry sat across from me with Rane beside him. He glanced at me. “I was hoping we could discuss the matter with Torv. Joshua explained to me that we now own the land south to Haven?”
I nodded between bites of dinner. “Yes, that’s correct.” I tried to eat as politely as I could without making a mess, but I was starving. “I cut a deal with The Republic of Cabal and declared Spade a country. I made them recognize Haven as our land.”
“Our land,” he repeated again thinking it over. He glanced at Joshua. “When you went to retrieve Olivia down south, was there any threat down in Haven?”
Joshua glanced at me. “Yes. I saw two soldiers from Torv. Both were searching presumably for Olivia.”
“Did they cross into Haven?” Henry asked.
“Yes, Henry. They did.” I remembered being forced to use a glamour to conceal where I’d been hiding. What was he getting at?
Henry glanced at Gavin. “Do you think we can arrange to set up towers at the southernmost tip of Haven? I’d like a lookout point to know if the enemy tries to invade.”
“I don’t think they will,” I mused, finishing my plate. “It’s not that they’re afraid of losing,” I acknowledged. “They just don’t see the benefit of war right now. Besides their own country is a mess. They know as much after what Isaura’s done. They’re trying to clean up the pieces. For a while they’ll leave us alone.”
Henry sipped his wine. “That’s what I’m worried about. Awhile,” he admitted. “We should fortify our land. We need to make them aware that if our borders reach Haven, so do our men.”
Joshua shot me a glance. Why didn’t he want this when I suggested it?
I glanced at Henry, asking Joshua’s question. “What made you decide on this now? Was this information not brought to you when Joshua and Janessa returned from Torv?”
Henry glanced down at his plate. He stalled for a moment not wanting to answer before finally glancing up at me and sighing. “Joshua made mention of it. I apologize for going against your judgment.” He eyed Joshua thoughtfully. “I had considered it, but was concerned we’d be spread too far thin here. I think it’d be best to send only a handful of men or women, who will watch over our newly built walls and secure the perimeter. If they must retreat we will stand ready and able, prepared to protect our home when the time comes.”
Rane turned her attention from Henry towards me. “Do you think they’ll come after us?”
“I hope not,” I breathed, having another sip of wine. “It’s best to be prepared though. Just in case. I’m sure everything will be fine, though.” I understood her concerns. She was pregnant, about to start a family and didn’t want to consider that Spade could be attacked in a few months or years and her home destroyed. We would do everything in our power to prevent that from happening.
CHAPTER 28
“Are you sure this will work?” Of course she wasn’t sure. Asking was a stupid question but I was terrified of what the results might otherwise be. Joshua sat in the corner of the room watching me. He hadn’t wanted to leave me alone and I’d been happy for the company.
“You are a unique case, Olivia.” The woman was taller than me, heavy-set with fire red hair. She was unique in her own right. Telling me I was unique was just icing on the cake. I smiled nervously as she prepared the first injection. “I had to tinker with the dosages just slightly since the vaccination you had wasn’t generations ago. You’ve also been given Mindonsiphan I’ve been told?”
“Yes,” I replied.
“That’s good. It means your body can heal rapidly. We’ve seen that with the other women when we’ve asked them to come in for observation.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, glancing at Joshua.
“Not everyone who had been taken by Isaura received the infertility treatment. Some had but it was a guessing game as to whom until we did some tests. The women of course all volunteered to know and those who hadn’t been given the treatment have been put on a waiting list. Once Henry approves the drug they’ll all be allowed access to treatment.”
Joshua frowned, a feeling of uncertainty passing over his features. “And it’s safe?”
“As far as we know,” she assured him. “Elsa should have gone over all this with you? Olivia is of course only the second trial we’ve done. Rane was hugely successful. We suspect it will work though. We’ve only mimicked the drug Isaura had concocted. In your case as I’ve explained earlier we had to adjust a few proteins to ensure the strength would be potent enough, but I don’t see any issue at all.”
I studied the woman’s face as she cleaned the area of skin before pricking me with the needle and securing a bandage. “How do you know all this?” I asked.
“Aside from being one of the test subjects Isaura had taken? I was part of her team of scientists before she thought me a perfect candidate.” The woman grimaced, her face filled with disgust. “I get it. I mean I understand why she did what she did but all she had to do was ask me. I probably would have agreed to it anyhow.”
I glanced at Joshua. “Are we done?” he asked, standing up.
“We are for today. Come back on Thursday for another dosage. We have to repeat this for the next few weeks and then we’ll hope the results are a success.”
“Thank you.” I shook her hand before walking out with Joshua in tow, closing the door behind us. Adelaide and Ainsley sat in the waiting room. I didn’t have to ask to know why they were there, they were waiting to run a DNA test. I gave Adelaide a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek.
Ainsley reached for Adelaide’s hand. “I told you, the results don’t matter,” she insisted.
Was it a good idea to know for sure? Once the answer was provided, it was set in stone. It didn’t mean Adelaide would be loved any less but she’d always wonder about her family. Maybe having concrete answers was a good thing?
“I know.” Adelaide bounced in her seat. “Bye!” She waved as Joshua and I headed out of the small clinic.
He pulled me outside with him, his hand in mine as I gazed up at the night sky. The moon was full and the stars sprinkled like fireflies twinkling in the distance. “I feel like it might be happening,” I whispered.
“What? Us having kids?” he asked and I leaned in brushing my lips against his before pulling back.
“Are you nervous?” I was terrified. Although it wouldn’t happen overnight, the thought of becoming a mother was frightening. Joshua held my hand and led me from the city center towards our room.