The Purification: Book 3 of the Evaran Chronicles by Adair Hart Read Free Book Online Page B

a lightly armored gold-and-white suit over his thin build. It made sense given the time period they were in.
    “Evaran … you crafty dog!” said Hermes with a wide smile and both hands flashed out to the side. When he was near Evaran, he extended his arm.
    Evaran exchanged a forearm grab and shake with Hermes. “You are still alive. Impressive.”
    “Well … can’t kill what they can’t catch.”
    “Fair enough,” said Evaran. He turned toward John. “Let Miles and the others know that no medical intervention is needed for Brills and Shandra. The healing nanobots will stabilize their condition. If anything, they just need a place to lie down and recover.”
    John nodded and relayed Evaran’s message.
    Hermes extended a hand toward Dr. Snowden. “Dr. Snowden, glad to meet you. I’m sure Evaran has mentioned me to you a lot.”
    Dr. Snowden shook Hermes’s hand. “We … have heard of you.”
    “All good, I hope,” said Hermes. He held out a hand toward Emily, palm up.
    Emily glanced at Evaran. She raised her eyebrows as she put her hand in Hermes’s hand.
    Hermes bent forward and kissed Emily’s hand. “You would make Aphrodite jealous.”
    Evaran eyed Hermes. “Hermes …”
    Emily’s face turned a shade of red as she pulled her hand back.
    Hermes pointed a finger at Evaran. “Right!” He grinned and winked his right eye. “Old habits die hard.”
    “We have heard a lot about you and Emily,” said John.
    Dr. Snowden shook John’s hand as did Emily when John offered it.
    “We have a lot to discuss. Let’s go the command center so I can get you up to speed,” said John.
    Evaran gestured forward. “Lead on.”
    They exited the docking bay and entered a large hallway.
    As they walked, John pointed around. “This is the Gallant, the Earth Guard’s mobile command base. We had to position it way out here because … well, the Purifiers are everywhere else.”
    They turned a corner onto a slightly angled ramp that went on for a bit.
    “What is the Earth Guard exactly?” asked Emily.
    Hermes slid over to Emily and smiled. “Well … originally we defended Earth from all threats.” He crooked a thumb at Evaran. “He wasn’t always around, so someone had to do it.”
    John nodded. “Yes, what Hermes says is true. However, as time went on and the Purifiers gained dominance over Earth, we had to flee. Our mission changed per Lord Vygon.”
    “Lord Vygon … an ancient vampire,” said Evaran. “I have heard of him.”
    “An ancient one? How’s that different from a regular one?” asked Emily.
    John chuckled. “They are a different vampire strain and tend to be a lot older, stronger, and faster, for one.” He grinned at Emily. “You have nothing to fear from us. No vampire would ever bite you.”
    Hermes raised a finger. “Now those Greek gods on the other hand …”
    Emily chuckled.
    “Why would a vampire never bite Emily?” asked Dr. Snowden with wrinkled eyebrows.
    They hit the top of the ramp and turned into another hallway.
    “She’s protected, as you are,” said John.
    “I guess that goes without saying,” said Emily, tossing a quick grin at Evaran.
    John glanced sidelong at Hermes. “That’s not what I meant. You have nanobots.” Before a puzzled Dr. Snowden could respond, John waved them into a room. “We’re here.”
    Dr. Snowden wondered why nanobots would prevent a vampire from biting them. Maybe John knew something even Evaran did not. He had seen Brills and Shandra get an injection of nanobots, so he did not think that they were toxic to nonhumans. The ones in him and Emily were different than the healing nanobots. Maybe they were lethal to anyone else. He surveyed the room as they entered it. The room was rectangular for the most part, except the end, which was a half circle. The rounded part of the room had a large screen covering the wall, with a podium-like structure to the side. In the rectangular part of the room were three long tables placed in a U