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)
“This way, please! The finest guest suite is reserved for medically significant reproductive incubation cases,” he chirped. “You will find it most soothing, I think. Very private, very comfortable, and equipped with everything required for extended cooperative treatment.”
Cassie cracked one eye open.
“Extended cooperative treatment?” she mumbled.
Lipshill’s crest fluttered wider.
“Yes! Dr. Verityx believes your cooperative endocrine exchange may require repeated applications. The suite is designed for rest, nourishment, comfort, and copulation.”
Cassie closed her eye.
“Again with the copulation,” she muttered.
Severin made a low, concerned sound beside her.
“Are you all right, sweetheart?” he asked softly.
“No,” she said. “But I’m not sure which part I’m objecting to most right now—the dizziness, the boob medicine, the zombie virus, or the fact that apparently I’ve been assigned to a sex suite by an owl doctor.”
Ravik’s chest rumbled under her cheek, almost like he was trying not to laugh.
It was the first sound of amusement she’d heard from him in what felt like forever, and it made her feel warm and gooey inside. She wanted to look up at him and see if his mouth was actually twitching, but opening her eyes still made the hallway spin, so she decided to stay where she was.
“Where’s the fucking suite?” Ravik said gruffly. “Cassie needs to rest.”
“Yes, yes, of course.” Lipshill hurried faster, his crest bobbing. “Rest and nourishment first. Then whatever level of treatment her body requires. The suite sensors will alert Dr. Verityx if her distress markers rise too high.”
That got Cassie’s attention.
“There are sensors in the room?” she asked, opening both eyes this time and immediately regretting it when the walls did a slow, nauseating tilt.
“Medical sensors only,” Lipshill assured her. “No visual recording unless requested by the patient or physician. Dr. Verityx is very strict about privacy during reproductive procedures.”
“Good to know,” Cassie muttered. “Because I am not starring in anyone’s alien medical training porno.”
“No one would ask that of you,” Severin said, his voice low and firm. “What we do together will be kept private.”
He was speaking to her, but Cassie couldn’t help noticing he was looking at Ravik, who remained stoically silent.
The dizziness finally began to ease by the time they reached a wide arched door at the end of the corridor. It was made of the same green-tinted translucent material as the lab panels, and it opened with a soft chime when Lipshill touched one taloned finger to the wall. Warm golden light spilled out, along with the faint scent of flowers, clean sheets, and something sweetly spicy that made Cassie’s body give a little pulse of interest.
Of course her body liked the sex suite, she thought dryly. Why wouldn’t it?
“This is the guest suite prepared for you,” Lipshill announced proudly. “Please let me know if anything is inadequate. I have stocked the nourishment alcove with stamina foods, cream-production tonics for the males, and soothing fluids for the female’s mammary activation discomfort.”
Cassie lifted her head weakly from Ravik’s chest.
“Cream-production tonics?” she asked, arching an eyebrow at the bird-man.
Lipshill nodded cheerfully.
“Yes. Dr. Verityx said high output may be required. The tonics are very effective to increase the volume of cream produced.”
“I’m sure they are,” Cassie said faintly.
Severin and Ravik exchanged a short glance but said nothing.
Ravik carried her inside before she could ask anything else about “cream production” and Cassie got to have a look at the suite.
It was much larger than she expected, with curved walls, soft green-gold lighting, and a wide window that looked out over an alien garden filled with silver-leafed trees and hanging lantern-shaped flowers.
A shallow bathing pool steamed gently in one corner, surrounded by smooth stone steps and piles of fluffy towels. There was a sitting area with curved couches, a low table covered in covered dishes, and a wall of cabinets she had a feeling contained medical supplies and maybe things she didn’t want to know about just yet.
But the focal point of the suite was the bed—it took up nearly half the room.
Actually, calling it a bed seemed inadequate. It was more like a circular nest-platform piled with soft green and gold blankets, oversized pillows, and some kind of adaptive mattress that looked like it would mold itself around whoever lay on it. It was enormous—big enough for two Kindred warriors and one overwhelmed human woman to sleep in without crowding.
Or to do other things, whispered a little voice in Cassie’s head. Her face got hot at the thought.
Ravik felt her tense and looked down at her immediately.
“What’s wrong, baby?”
“Nothing,” she said quickly. “Just realizing that alien medical hospitality is extremely committed to the theme.”
Severin glanced toward the bed, then away again with a faint flush on his cheekbones.
“It does seem…purpose-built.”
“Purpose-built for what?” Ravik demanded.
Cassie looked up at him.
“Do you really want me to answer that?”
His jaw tightened.
“No.”
“I just meant its big enough for the three of us to…be together,” she explained, despite his closed expression.