Total pages in book: 165
Estimated words: 159487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 797(@200wpm)___ 638(@250wpm)___ 532(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 159487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 797(@200wpm)___ 638(@250wpm)___ 532(@300wpm)
Their simple words made her eyes sting.
“Thank you—both of you,” she murmured. She might be in a lab about to undergo all kinds of weird experiments, but at least she had her guys with her.
Dr. Verityx looked between them, his huge golden eyes bright with interest.
“Excellent. Consent reduces stress markers and improves nectar quality,” he said, nodding his feathered head. “Emotional coercion would damage the sample and, more importantly, damage the patient.”
Cassie let out a shaky laugh.
“I think I like you, Dr. V.”
“Thank you,” he chirped. “I am highly regarded in several fields.”
“Modest too,” she murmured.
Severin’s mouth twitched.
Ravik didn’t smile, but some of the darkness eased from his face.
Dr. Verityx stepped closer to the examination table and gestured toward the padded surface.
“For today, I will begin with the growth serum and take baseline readings. No intimate treatment needs to occur in the laboratory—yet. After the serum is administered, I recommend rest in the guest suitee with both males nearby. If your symptoms intensify, you should receive more cream and physical comfort as needed.”
Cassie stared at him.
“As needed,” she repeated.
“Yes,” he said. “Your body will likely tell you what it requires before my instruments do.”
“That is exactly what I’m afraid of,” she said.
The doctor nodded as though this was completely reasonable.
“Understandable. But your body has been quite intelligent so far.”
Cassie raised her eyebrows—no one had ever called her body intelligent before. Too fat, yes. Too curvy. Too old. Too much. Too hot-flashy. Too wet down there, according to Sskarth, which was possibly one of the many reasons she hoped her lizard husband was currently having a miserable day somewhere far away from her.
But intelligent? Powerful? Extraordinary? Those were all new.
She looked again at the milking table. It still made her nervous. The nipple cups and tubes and soft restraints—if that was what the supports were—still made her feel exposed and embarrassed and more than a little overwhelmed. But she also felt something else now—purpose. Maybe even hope.
“So let me see if I understand,” she said slowly. “My body is fighting the Hunger Virus by using the pathway the virus tried to hijack. Ravik’s seed gives my body the attack markers. Severin’s seed and essence markers give it the carrier and healing markers. My mouth primes the blood, my vagina activates the reproductive-to-breast pathway, and maybe my rectal pathway helps stabilize the broad-spectrum vaccine if we need it. Then my breasts make nectar that can be collected and turned into a vaccine.”
Dr. Verityx’s feathers fluffed with obvious delight and his head turned all the way around in a 360 degree spin just like an owl’s. It was disconcerting to watch—in a Exorcist meets wildlife kind of way—but Cassie thought it was probably just his way of showing excitement or delight.
“Precisely! Very good, Cassandra. You are an excellent student!” he exclaimed.
Cassie gave a weak laugh.
“Well thanks. I’m sure my high school science teacher would be proud of me.”
Severin actually laughed then, softly and with real warmth.
Ravik’s mouth twitched, though he was almost about to smile.
For a moment, the tension between them eased—only for a moment but it made Cassie breathe a little easier.
Then Dr. Verityx clapped his feathered hands together with a soft fluttering sound.
“Now then,” he said brightly. “Shall we begin with the mammary activation serum?” He held up a syringe filled with pure gold liquid. “I have your first dose right here.
Cassie looked at the padded table, the glowing equipment, the bird-like assistants politely pretending not to listen, and the two enormous Kindred males who were both watching her with concern in their eyes.
Her heart started pounding and her breasts gave another faint ache, almost as though her body was gearing up to do what had to be done.
She took a deep breath and rolled up her sleeve for the needle.
“Yes,” she said nodding. “Let’s do it.”
What else could she do?
56
SEVERIN
“Oh…I feel kind of woozy…” Cassie put a hand to her head as the last of the golden liquid disappeared into her arm.
Severin felt a surge of protective possessiveness roll through him.
“Are you all right, sweetheart?” he asked anxiously, leaning down to be closer to her.
“Yes—are you okay, baby?” Ravik growled from her other side.
It was good to see that the Beast Kindred still had feelings for her, Severin thought. He’d been worried that the shame Ravik felt when they shared her might snuff out his tender emotions for the curvy little Elite. But one look in his friend’s golden eyes was enough to let him know Cassandra was still in his heart and uppermost in his mind.
“Don’t worry,” Dr. Verityx chirped. “Slight dizziness is an expected side effect of the injection. Getting plenty of male seed inside you will ease the symptoms.” He made a sharp whistling sound and one of the lab assistants hurried up.
“Yes, Dr. Verityx?” he—or she, it was difficult to tell, Severin thought—bent their head until the feathered crest on the top of their head expanded to a rainbow plume. Maybe it was a male, since they tended to have brighter feathers than females.