Power Play [The Mating Games On Ice]

Chapter 3

CHAPTER 2

"Look, Clark, if you hadn't forced me to do this, I wouldn't be here now. I just hung up with Jotham and if what he says is true, Troy has seriously lost his f*****g mind. All I'm asking is that you get with the other members and get approval for more of our warriors to be sent here."

Camden snarled.

Clark sighed, "If we do that, Camden, it could cause a panic and when that happens, people don't think, they just act. That could lead to someone not being cautious enough and giving away our anonymity. You know this."

Krill sat straight up in his chair, "And if we don't, panic is the last thing we'll have to worry about. If Troy is here, we need to get his ass. I just got the report from Jotham about what happed during the Summer Mating Games. Troy kidnapped, experimented on, and even killed our

people. Jotham said that this psychopath is trying to create an army of genetically altered paranormals. If he isn't stopped now, he might actually succeed and then we are looking at an all out paranormal war, and you can damn well bet that our secret will be out to the humans when that happens."

"You're being over dramatic, Camden. We don't even know if Jotham's assessment of the situation is fact. It isn't like there has been an independent councilmember available to

investigate these claims." Clark replied.

Krill growled low, then snarled, "Are you questioning another councilmember's integrity, Clark?

Because before you do that, one might consider the convenience of how you were the deciding vote for myself and Vagin to be assigned to the winter games and how really convenient it is that you suggested the transfer from Alaska to Siberia. If I were an overdramatic man, I might be wondering if you were working with Troy."

"Now see here! I would never do anything to harm one of our people. I took an oath to serve and protect them. I never said I didn't think that Jotham believed what he said is true. What I am saying is that he was close to the situation and is in the beginning stages of his mating. His mate is one of the supposed abducted shifters. Therefore, Jotham may not be looking at this situation clearly. It is our responsibility to investigate his report and determine it's accuracy." Clark argued.

"He is a councilman, Clark. What you are saying is not only disloyal to a man that has sat on our council since the day of its conception, it is also insulting. If this were you and I suggested the same thing, you would be screaming from the rafters and have every right to do so. However, if you feel this needs to be investigated further, myself and Vagin will do so when they arrive. In the meantime, you will send me warriors to watch over these games. I will not take any chances on Troy abducting another child to do a live autopsy on. If it's panic that concerns you have them dress in regular street clothes. They can mingle with the participants and they will be none the wiser." Krill replied.

Craig sighed, "Fine, but I insist on being kept in the loop, Krill. If this is really happening, then that means Troy has a s**t ton of these labs all over the world. I honestly believe we will eventually need a council gathering."

"I agree. Vagin and I will speak with the people who are here and get a better handle on what Jotham is saying. One thing I do agree on, is that Jotham is not fully disclosing everything that went on over there." Krill replied as he looked to Odin and the man he called mate. Odin was leering at him as the other smaller man said nothing. Funny thing was, his beast was telling him that the mate was the one he should be far leerier of than the vampire.

Hanging up his satellite phone, Krill turned back to the two men that had come to his games under deceptive reasons. How these two men thought they could get away with lying to him was beyond Krill. First, lies have a certain scent and half-truths have another. Some may look at it as hiding something, Krill saw what they had done as just plain lying by omission, and he was none too pleased with them at the moment.

"Councilman Eagan should be here in the next couple of hours. Is there anything I should know before your leader arrives?" Krill asked none too nicely.

Odin looked at the guard standing at the door and back to Krill, "Councilman Eagan is not my leader."

"I am not the enemy here, Odin. I can't do anything without all the facts. If you and your little friend there would just tell me what information you have, then maybe I would know where to start looking for Troy." Krill explained.

Odin sneered at Krill, "This is my mate, not my friend and I do not have permission to speak facts with you. For all I know, you're working with Troy and plan on killing us the first chance you get."

Krill could tell that he wasn't getting anywhere with Odin, so turned his attention onto the tiny man next to him, "What about you? Can I at least know your name?"

"Again, he has nothing to say to you or anyone until Kahn arrives." Odin spoke up.

Sighing loudly, Krill made an obvious observation, "You know, I could just separate you both and get answers from him instead? I mean you keep calling this young man your mate, but I see no mark on him nor any mark on you."

"We are getting to know each other better. My mate has had a very difficult life, and is still adjusting to his new found freedom." Odin replied gruffly.

Krill tilted his head to the side, "Wow, that must be hard on you. I mean since the moment you found your mate, you could feed on no other. You must be getting very hungry by now."

Krill watched as genuine shook and then concern came over the little man. Not wanting to waist and opportunity, Krill quickly asked, "Did Odin not tell you this?"

The little man looked nervously towards Krill and shook his head.

Krill started explaining. "Well, what I'm saying is the truth. A vampire must have three things to live, insulin, glucose, and Ultra Violate B, or what some call UVB light. Without the three, they will die."

Odin growled, "Shut up."

Shaking his head, Krill replied, "If he is your mate, then he has a right to know that he is slowly killing you at the moment."

The little man gasped and looked at Odin tearfully. Odin hugged the little man closely, replying,

"I'm fine, little one."

Krill scoffed, "Yes, but for how long? You get some of the insulin and glucose from human food, but you must have blood to tap off what nutrition those meals do not provide. The UVB

creates the cells ready to be filled. Everyone knows that a cell is given life by two things, insulin, and glucose, otherwise it dies. So, you are rapidly creating cells but they are not being fed. Now a human operates on twenty to thirty million red blood cells at any given time. However, a vampire requires twice that amount. That means if he does not feed, he will die."

Krill watched with interest as Odin looked at his mate intensely. It was the look of the little man that held Krill's interest. Odin's response confirmed his suspicions.

Odin brought his mate closer to his side, "Baby, I'm fine. A vampire can go quite some time without feeding."

His mate gave him a disbelieving look, and Odin replied, "Two, maybe three weeks."

Son of a b***h, Odin's partner was speaking to him mentally. What the f**k? "Is your mate one of the created and inseminated shifters or the created after caught shifters?"

Odin's anger was almost palpable, "Leave my mate alone! If you or anyone dare come near him, I swear, I will kill you or die trying."

Understanding Odin's need to protect his man, Krill replied, "Odin, I swear to you by all the Gods, I am not your enemy. I truly only want to help."

The little man gently placed a hand on Odin's chest and Krill watched the anger immediately dissipate. Odin rubbed noses with him, whispering, "I swear, if things start getting bad, I'll tell you. Right now, I'm good. You need time and I'm giving it to you."

Odin's little man laid his head upon Odin's shoulder. Odin kissed the top of the man's head,

"You're right, I should have told you." The two men stayed like that for a long time and then Odin drew back, "No. I'm not talking until Kahn gets here."

Odin's mate backed up, looking angry. Odin shook his head, "I can't baby, you know that I gave an oath to my leader. I must follow his orders."

"Why don't you two stop arguing and tell me exactly what orders were given." Krill stated nonchalantly.

Odin turned angrily towards Krill, "We were to come here and determine if you or Councilman Vagin were working with Troy. Kahn wanted me to come to Siberia with my mate on the

pretense that he was in search of his family. We were to watch and take notes of any strange occurrences and if you or Vagin might be involved."

Krill felt anger drawing up from deeper and deeper inside. How dare they believe that he would be responsible for harm to their people. Had Krill not devoted his life to helping them when they were in need? Why would one of his own suspect him of the atrocities Troy disgustingly

committed? If he had his way, Troy would be ripped apart and his head put on a skewer for all to see and be warned as to what happens when you hurt one of their own.

Krill's anger was causing his animal to pound his chest and surge forward. His breathing was becoming labored as Krill closed his eyes and tried to bring himself under control. As fast as his anger rose, it quickly dissipated. It was only at that moment Krill realized someone was clasping his hand. Opening his eyes, he saw Odin's mate. His eyes were white orbs. No sign of color anywhere in his irises and no pupils were visible. "Holy s**t!"

Odin's mate slowly breathed in and out as his eyes returned to normal. He gave Krill a small smile and then went back to Odin and sat in his mate's lap. Odin held him close whispering,

"You did good baby."

Krill watched as Odin comforted his mate and they spoke. Krill couldn't hear what Odin's mate was saying, but from the answers Odin was giving, Krill could surmise what was being said.

"You're right, baby, we hurt his feelings and that was wrong, but we don't know who to trust.

Yes, I know he could have killed us or taken us to the labs and didn't but I had orders. Okay, I'll tell him whatever you want."

Krill was fascinated by the two men's interaction. Odin gave a loud sigh, "My mate's name is Sammy. He doesn't have a last name because he was born in one of Troy's labs. Sammy doesn't know if it was by forced mating and genetic altering within the womb, or if he was altered and then artificially inseminated. He lived in the labs his entire life being monitored, poked, and probed. I found him on a recon mission my leader sent myself and a couple of my clan to handle.

I allowed the men to take me to him and when Troy found out we were mates, he placed us in an underground prison, trying to force us into mating so that he could run some kind of stupid test to see if it alters his state of mind. My mate is not an experiment. He's a man, and I will do anything to keep him safe. Hell, it was by chance I even found him."

Krill was curious about that statement, "Why do you say by chance?"

"Because Sammy had been at one facility until out of nowhere he was brought to the ranch I found him at." Odin explained.

"He speaks to you mentally, but he doesn't seem to be able to do that with others. Do you know why that is?" Krill asked.

"He told me that he has tried his entire life to get people to listen to him, but I was the first to actually hear him. We don't know why that is and honestly we've been so busy with all of Troy's bullshit we haven't had a chance to try and figure it out." Odin replied.

Krill looked at Sammy. "Sammy, you can do more than that, can't you?"

Sammy nodded and Odin replied, "Sammy can bring calm when someone is in full rage. He can heal someone that is severely injured. I watched him do that for my leader when a bomb

exploded and knocked him at least ten feet back. The problem is, healing takes a serious toll on Sammy. It depletes his energy."

"Why did Troy have you moved from your regular facility to the ranch?" Krill asked.

Odin looked as if he might not give him the answer when he sighed and dropped his head back and looked up at the ceiling. "Troy planned on taking him and the children we rescued to this facility to do a conscious autopsy. He wanted to test Sammy on his healing ability and how far he could go. He wanted to determine if Sammy could regenerate limbs or bring back the dead.

This way if one of his super shifters in his army were maimed or killed, Sammy could bring him back or make him whole again."

"But if healing depletes his energy, then that type of healing could kill him." Krill replied in horror. Then understanding dawned on him, "He wanted to see how far Sammy could go before death! I swear by all the Gods, I am going to find and kill that man with my bare hands."