"Why don't we just tell people we have a vaccine for the murders?" Ragnar asked.
"Because they don't know about the vampires. They just know people are going missing and dying in spooky ways."
"Why don't we tell them?" Akash asked in a rare moment of agreement with Ragnar.
"I don't know if that's the right move at this point in time," Hanish said.
"After everything that has happened over the last several weeks, it's probably the best time ever," JoJo said as she offered Tor a baby biscuit.
"Perhaps we could run a simulation to project the human reaction to the news," Zephyr suggested.
"There may be a better way," Flora said. "Perhaps if we could find a carrier agent for the vaccine, it would be easier to distribute to humanity than getting them to take a shot."
"What about the particle bombs?" Raiden asked. "Could you distribute the vaccine that way?"
"It's possible," Flora said. "But it would take a lot more testing. The vaccine experiments were done on human blood, using a direct-injection method. The particle carriers would be distributed through the air and would be ingested through the nasal cavities. It would be a completely different method of absorption."
"But it's not beyond the realm of possibility," Zephyr said.
"We have no way of testing that in the lab other than simulations," Flora said. "And simulations are not the best predictors of accuracy."
"How are we going to find human subjects for either the injection or the particle distribution?" Yuki asked.
"That is a good question," Flora said. "It is unethical to do experiments on humans, especially without their knowledge."
"Perhaps we could conduct an experiment at the university," Zephyr said, looking at Flora.
"We would have to have done extensive testing on animals before doing it on humans, and we just don't have that data."
"Perhaps we could start there," Zephyr said.
"But the fact is that a vaccine like this, which is meant for humans, would have no effect on animals—not in a way that would be provable or that would be observable to human scientists."
"We don't have to show anything but that it's safe," Zephyr said.
"Do you think it would be possible to immunize animals to vampires?" Flora asked.
"If there were, then…" Hanish began.
"Then vampires would be left with nothing to feed on," Zephyr said.
"I would assume that the formula would be different for animals," Flora said.
"Let's leave that for another time," Zephyr said. "Our primary concern right now is humanity. We'll think about animals later—and starving vampires off the face of the earth."
"Well, I suppose it's time to start conducting some animal trials," Flora said.
"Where can we find a few hundred rats?" Zephyr asked.
"I'll have to drive up to the university and ask for access to their laboratories to conduct animal experiments," Flora said. "We can get the use of the labs and the resources if we pay for it."
"I can't think of a better use for our gold hoard than completing our mission here on Earth," Hanish said.
"All right, then," Flora said. "Zephyr, if you and Cato will come with me, then we can begin working on the experiments that will allow us to get access to human subjects."
"You can stay with us if you like," Krista offered. "We've moved into a six-bedroom house on Mercer Island. There should be room for everyone."
"That sounds like a good idea," Flora said.
"I'm contacting Cato now," Zephyr said. "He's asking if Penelope and the baby can come."
"Yes, of course. There will be room for everyone. Our house is huge," Krista said, rubbing her round stomach. "Plus, it will get me more baby time with Effie. And maybe the guys can get a little practice."
"Cato says that they will be ready in half an hour," Zephyr said.
With that settled, Flora and Zephyr drove to the Flame house and picked up Cato, Penelope, and the baby, along with their luggage. They met Krista and her guys at her massive mansion on Mercer Island. Flora was about to tell them that she and Raiden could just stay at her condo, but she knew that having the extra time to brainstorm with Zephyr, Cato, and Yuki all in the same house after their work in the lab would be beneficial. She didn't want to get in Krista's hair, but at least she would be one other woman around to help out with a brand-new baby and a nine-months-pregnant woman in a house full of men.
They put their baggage in their room, and Flora, Zephyr, and Cato made their way to the university. Walking through the grounds of her alma mater as the fall leaves twirled in the air brought back so many good memories. She felt the swell of pride at returning to this place and having accomplished so much since receiving her doctorate only a month before.
They walked into the genetic biology lab and were greeted by the laboratory administrator, Dr. Amelia Barker. Her eyes sparkled when she saw Flora, and a smile crossed her face.
"Flora, it's so good to see you," she said as their group approached the front desk. "What brings you when to the lab today?"
"We would like to conduct some animal trials on an experimental vaccine we're creating. Is there a lab available at this time?"
"There is. You can have lab 3B. It should have all of the equipment you would need to run an experiment like that. Who is your sponsor?"
"I have private funding from the Storm Foundation and the Dragon Foundation."
"Who will be involved?" Dr. Barker asked. “You will need access passes for the lab."
"Only me and my two associates," Flora said. "This is Dr. Zephyr Storm and Dr. Cato Flame."
"If you'll just give me your IDs, I'll get passes made for you," Amelia said.
Zephyr and Cato handed over their IDs, and Amelia came back a few minutes later with lanyards attached to laminated passes. She handed the IDs back to them, and Flora dug her own pass out of her backpack.
"You can get started now if you'd like. If you need access to test subjects, then just fill out the order forms, and the necessary animal subjects should arrive by tomorrow, depending on their availability."
"This study will be done on mice, so there should be plenty of subjects available," Flora said.
"I'll show you where to go." Amelia led them down the hall to the laboratory and scanned her pass over the lock. It buzzed, and she turned the handle on the door. Inside, they found lab equipment with all the necessary tools for their experiment.
"We should get started now," Flora said.
For the rest of the day, the three of them organized their experiment and began writing out the study thesis and methods statement. They placed an order for several hundred mice so they could test their vaccine in several rounds. It would make their experiment more convincing so that they'd be able to move on to human subjects.
"We're going to have to test subjects while following testing protocols—one through blood and one through inhalation," Flora said. "That way, we can ask to have the same with humans. All we're trying to do is prove that it's safe."
When they had completed the first steps of their study and put in an order for their mice, they made their way back to Krista's house, where everyone was having a party. It was the kind of party that was suitable for a new mom and a nine-months-pregnant woman and involved a lot of chocolate, popcorn, foot rubs, and laughter. There were boxes of pizza from the gourmet pizza shop on the island and big pitchers of freshly made lemonade in the refrigerator. The scientists grabbed their pizza and lemonade and sat around the massive living room on the wraparound couches with the rest of the gang, watching a heart-warming movie on the big-screen TV. Penelope rocked her baby in a sling while Ragnar rubbed Krista's feet.
Cato sat down next to Penelope and kissed her cheek. Flora relaxed next to Raiden and took a big bite of sausage, feta cheese, and banana-pepper pizza.
"That one's called the Mount Rainier," Raiden said.
"It's good," Flora said with her mouth full of pizza. "I've had this one before."
"Did you make any progress at the lab today?" Penelope asked.
"We did," Flora said. "We got our lab, started our thesis, and ordered our mice. Tomorrow, the mice should arrive, and we can begin the testing in earnest. Hopefully, it will only take a few days."
When the pizza was finished and the movie was over, everyone went off to bed early, and Flora and Raiden shared a guest bedroom on the second floor, overlooking the lake, at the back of the house.
"Krista has a beautiful home," Flora said before closing the curtains.
"Yuki has put a shield around the place. It's really quite ingenious."
"Krista is a lucky woman to have three dragons of her own."
"Do you wish you had three dragons?" Raiden asked, kissing her cheek.
"I only wish I had you."
"The feeling is mutual," he said with a growl.
Chapter 20
"Come here, my beautiful little scientist," Raiden said, wrapping his arms around her and grasping her neck. He held her from behind, brushing her hair over her shoulder. He kissed her neck, nibbling and licking at the place where he had sunk his teeth just a few days before.
She quivered with excitement as he ran his tongue up the sensitive skin behind her ear and nibbled her earlobes. His hands roamed her body, cupping her breast and dipping between her legs. She gushed with desire, panting with need. Their yearning for each other built and flowed between them. There was so much love and arousal palpitating in the air that it was like the heartbeat of a living thing. They became one body, one mind, like wild animals full of primal need.
Raiden pulled her nightgown up around her hips and slid a hand between her legs as the other kneaded her breast. He kissed her from behind, his erection pressing the cleft between her ass cheeks. He felt the roiling heat of passion building inside him as he touched her. This bond between him and his mate was the most exquisite experience he had ever felt.
His mind couldn't fully absorb it even now, after they'd been together more than a few times. His fingers touched her swollen wetness, seeking out her pleasure. He knew just how to touch her and just how she felt. She gasped as his fingers twirled on her pleasure bud then slipped inside her. With his fingers deep in her core, he rubbed her with the base of his palm, and she slid back and forth on his grip. He tweaked her nipples, sensing exactly how much pressure would give her the most excitement. He could feel the building need pushing her toward climax.
He could barely stand it. He sank down to his knees and seated her in a chair, pushing her legs open and over the sides of the armrests. He found her hot desire with his tongue and slipped his fingers deep in her channel. Flora gave a full-bodied bellow as the pressure released. Her body clenched around his fingers. It was so beautiful and perfect that he couldn't stop.
He pumped into her, holding her open as he licked her clit while thrusting his fingers deeper and harder. She ran her fingers through his hair as her body released and climaxed over and over for him.
Flora growled at him and pushed him away playfully with her foot. He fell down on the floor, and she crawled over him like a prowling panther. She sank between his legs, taking his full erection in her mouth, then sucked, sliding her velvety-hot mouth up and down over his cock with intense, glorious suction.
He gathered her hair in his fist, moving deeper into her mouth as his hips rocked underneath her. Raiden growled and relented to her need, their desires mingling like a violently loud tone that allowed no other sound or thought inside the mind. She crawled over him, looking into his eyes as she lowered herself down onto his cock. Pressing her hands to his chest, she enveloped him in silky darkness. He closed his eyes, the need almost too much. Gripping her hips, he moved with her, riding the wave of throbbing desire as he slid in and out of her pulsing core.
She held him there as she drank in the pleasure, her long hair tumbling around her shoulders, her breasts bouncing, her nipples erect, and her head tilted back in her eyes closed. Her lips were parted in pure ecstasy. She was so beautiful. He needed to feel her in the deepest place. As her orgasm rained down on both of them, he flipped her over on all fours, took a fistful of her hair, and slipped inside her from behind.
He pulled back on her hair as he gripped her hip, angling her body so he could get just a bit deeper. She groaned as he began to bounce her on his cock. Slowly and steadily, her head arched back. His cock was so hard. He was so close, but he couldn't come yet. He had to fill this intense, grinding need. In a flash of blinding light, he let go of her hair, held her hips with all the strength in his hands, and slammed her back onto his cock, pounding into her over and over as her body relented, coming for him gloriously as they both fell to the bottomless pit of primal awakening.
Her groans were guttural and relentless, giving him just that much more insight into her need for him to take her. She was like putty in his hands, and he could feel exactly what she wanted. The well of need overflowed like a flash flood, and he slammed her back against him, coming hard and deep, his body releasing the very depths of his seed. He could feel it all the way down to his bones as he erupted inside her. Flora moaned and fell onto her elbows, panting under him, her hair a curtain over her face.
Ever so slowly, he pulled away, and they collapsed together on the clean shag carpet in the bedroom of Krista's home. They laughed as they panted and stared at the ceiling. He wiped sweat from his brow and looked at the giant smile on her face, which reflected his own. Her eyes twinkled.
He kissed her forehead. "Have I told you how much I love you?"
"You don't have to tell me—I know."
"Should we sleep here, or should we get in the bed?"
"I vote bed," she said, crawling up onto her knees.
She pulled her nightgown back on and went to freshen up. He was waiting for her when she returned from the bathroom, and they held each other as they drifted to sleep. He stroked her hair and smelled the scent of her satisfaction. It was the most pleasant aroma in the universe, and he hoped he would smell it every day for the rest of his life.
The next morning, Raiden opened his eyes to find Flora standing with a tray with two coffees and bagels with cream cheese. He sat up in bed as she placed the tray in his lap.
"Breakfast in bed?" he asked.
"I was getting it for myself, so I got some for you too."
"Thank you. This is exactly what I need this morning."
They sipped their coffee and ate their bagels as they chatted about the next steps in Flora's experiment. There was still much to be done, but she had high hopes that it would prove successful. They had to complete the mouse trials before they could even recruit humans for the experiment. And they had all agreed it would be better to conduct small-scale trials than to let the vaccine out into the world untested.
Both Flora and Zephyr were sure it was safe, but they weren't 100 percent sure how effective a particle application would be through the nasal cavity. That was the main purpose of the experiment. Raiden knew that his sweet Flora would be successful, and he would be there for her every night until she was done.
After Flora got ready for the day and left for the lab with Zephyr and Cato, Raiden sat down at the TV with his game console and logged on to say hello to his old guild.
"Long time no see, Dragonheart," said Ispy47.
"I've been busy. It turns out that Bionerd really is the love of my life."
"You're kidding," said Ispy47.
"Nope. We're hitched."
"Did you go to Vegas or something?"
"No. We went down to the courthouse. She's mine now."
"I can't believe a PhD scientist went for you."
"I can't either. But you can't question fate. Do you have any room in your battle group for one more?"
"We always have room for you, Dragonheart, even though you ditched us for a girl."
"I told you, we were saving the world. It's important work."
"Yeah, yeah," said Ispy47.
"You mean you were saving the wo
rld from the strange disappearances that have been happening for the last few weeks?" asked Tangofoxtrot99.
"Don't be ridiculous," Ispy47 said.
"Well, it is quite the coincidence, don't you think? He's been gone for exactly that same time."
"Are you some kind of superhero?" Ispy47 asked.
"Something like that," Raiden said.
"The battle is starting in thirty seconds."
Raiden fought battles with his old guild for the rest of the day. It was a relief to be able to relax with his gamer friends after the real battles he'd fought with the vampires. But when Flora arrived home that day, she informed him that the mouse trials had been successful, or at least, they weren't unsafe. She still didn't know if the vaccine would work in animals, and there was more testing to be done. But they had proof that the vaccine was safe enough to administer to humans.
"We've applied for permission to run a clinical trial with humans," she explained.
"How long is it going to take to be approved?"
"It could be a few days, or it could be a few months," Flora said. "It will have to wait for the board of the university to approve it."
"I think that Krista was going to order Indian food for dinner tonight."
"She wants Indian food for her nine-months-pregnant stomach?" Flora asked with a laugh.
"She's having cravings," Raiden said with a shrug.
They met everyone downstairs in the big dining room with all of the Indian takeout dishes spread across the table. The gang was already feasting and laughing. Yuki and Ragnar had opened a bottle of wine, and the guys were partaking.
Flora sat down at the table with Raiden, and they all raised their glasses to her.
"We heard your animal trials were a success," Penelope said. "Now you can move on to the next part."
"It's in the hands of the university science board now," Flora said. "We'll need to get approval to work with human subjects."
House Of Storms: Dragon Guardians Page 33
