Free Vaulcron (Enigma Series Book 3) by Ditter Kellen Page B

cure.”
    “Then who does?” Lambert glanced from Mallory to Vaulcron.
    Mallory took a deep breath before answering. “The only person to ever contract the virus and live. Abbigail Sutherland.”
    The doctor stumbled to his feet. “Why can’t we get her to help us?”
    “Because she has a half-Bracadyte child. The government would destroy him and her both if they got their hands on them.”
    Lambert shook his head. “Then we’re left with no choice here. I’ll never be able to convince them to stop this madness. And I can’t allow them to hurt my wife and grandchildren.”
    Mallory’s heart sank in defeat. “I guess we have no choice.”
    “I didn’t say that,” Lambert admitted, heading toward the door. “There’s always a choice.”
    Mallory and Vaulcron followed close behind. She stopped the doctor before he got to the hall. “What are you saying?”
    Lambert paused at the threshold. “I have no choice but to give you the injections this morning. Jefferies will be watching. But when the time comes to begin in vitro fertilization, I will have the opportunity to tamper with the sample we obtained from him.” He nodded in Vaulcron’s direction.
    Mallory breathed a sigh of relief. “Are you sure that you can pull that off?”
    “I’m not sure about anything, Miss Cahill. But I will do my level best to help you, if I can.”
    “Thank you, Doctor Lambert. That means a lot to me.”
    Lambert turned and strode into the hall. “Don’t thank me yet. You still have to endure the injections.”
    Mallory could withstand anything if it meant her sister would remain safe. She could understand the doctor’s anxiety. Her own stress levels were through the roof.
    The next two hours were spent in the lab. Doctor Lambert poked and prodded until Mallory was ready to scream. After numerous blood draws, an ultrasound, a vaginal examination, and a round of painful injections, Mallory was ordered back to her room.
    Vaulcron walked along beside her. “Are you in pain?”
    “No,” Mallory answered honestly, glancing back at the guard trailing behind them. “My pride stings a little, but I’m okay.”
    She stepped through the door of the room she and Vaulcron had spent the night in and turned to face the freckled-faced soldier. “Where is Jefferies?”
    “He’s in a meeting, ma’am.” The guard moved to close the door after Vaulcron cleared the entrance, but Mallory stopped him. “Wait.”
    “Ma’am?” The guard’s eyebrows lifted.
    “What’s your name, soldier?”
    “Fredricks, ma’am.”
    Mallory sent him a smile usually reserved for politicians she wanted an interview with. “Hi, Fredricks. I need to speak with Jefferies. It’s very important. Would you mind relaying that message for me?”
    Fredricks blushed, Vaulcron growled, and Mallory bit back a sigh. “Please? It would mean a lot to me.”
    “I-I can do that,” Fredricks stammered, glancing down at his hands. “In the meantime, would you like some breakfast?”
    “We would love some,” Mallory admitted, waving a hand in Vaulcron’s direction. “Could you bring a bigger tray than last time? He eats a lot.”
    “Yes, ma’am. I’ll be back shortly.” Fredricks rushed from the room, pulling the door shut behind him.
    “I do not like the way he looks at you,” Vaulcron growled in a low tone. “He is fortunate I did not remove his teeth.”
    Mallory would have laughed under any other circumstances. But being locked up as a test subject took the humor right out of her. “You mean knock his teeth out.”
    “Yes, that,” Vaulcron agreed, striding off toward the bed. He sat on the foot of the mattress.
    Mallory joined him, fighting a smile that threatened regardless of their current situation. “You’re jealous.”
    “I am,” Vaulcron admitted without guile. “I feel protective of you.”
    Mallory laid her hand over his much bigger one. “I feel protective of you also.”
    Vaulcron lifted his gaze, seeming to search her eyes for