“The hormone. An actual mating hormone.” She pulled away from the microscope and put her glasses on.
“How do we stop it from affecting me?”
Doc Kate raised a finely arched eyebrow. “It’s too late for that. The hormone has infiltrated your organ systems.”
“Which ones?” Destiny was quiet. Thoughtful.
“Every organ in her body.” Doc slid the glasses down her nose and looked at Destiny. “I’ve compared the current scan to the one from the day of onset. There is a staggering amount of the hormone in her body. It has spread exponentially in a very short time.”
Dr. Monroe took off her glasses, leveling a sympathetic gaze at Kendra. “I’ve compared three of your body scans. One from your last wellness check, the one you took at the lab, and the one we took here. Every one of them tells a story.”
With a remote, she brought images up on the viewing screen. “I want you to pay attention to the progression of color among these scans. The hormone is the light green you see.”
Kendra’s mouth grew dry as the desert. She cleared her throat. The last scan looked like a bright map of green light. Every organ had a green ring along the edge. Every part of her body. “What does this mean? Is it fatal? Am I going to grow a second head or something?”
“I don’t think fatal is the word, but you will have it in your system for the rest of your life. I’m not sure how far the changes could go, but I’m sure a second head isn’t an issue.”
The joke fell flat. “The rest of my life? Is it going to kill me?”
“No. It likely won’t kill you. As a matter of fact, it seems to be strengthening your immune system. It’s the same hormone that flows throughout the Valorian’s body. His scans show only a slight variation between the lab scan and the one here. It’s a natural part of their mating cycle, I’ve been told.”
“Is it transmitted by saliva only?” Destiny had remained quiet for most of the earlier exam.
“Well, saliva is the only body fluid sample I have. My assumption would be no, but without further samples all I have is speculation.”
“Is it contagious?” Destiny looked as worried as Kendra felt.
“No.” The doctor shook her head and stared at the screen in fascination. “It’s truly unique to the exposed individual. I’ve heard rumors of them, but have never seen…” Her voice trailed off and her expression took on the same wandering gaze her mother and father had once fallen prey to.
A painful knot of emotion lodged in her throat. “Doc. What else is it doing to my body?”
Dr. Monroe blinked and shook her head. Excitement radiated from the doctor. “Races keep this process a secret. For the Valorians, survival of the species actually relies on this process.”
Destiny’s expression hardened. “You were right.”
Being right never tasted so much like dirt. Kendra clenched her teeth until she got her temper under control. “Is it changing me?”
“We can’t be sure.” She put on her glasses and pointed to the screen. “It’s settling in heavy doses around your reproductive system, and infiltrating every part of your brain. You can see concentrated levels in the parts of your brain that deal with healing, growth and ultrasensory perception.” Her gaze zeroed in on Kendra. “Have you noticed changes in your senses? Smelling keener, hearing improved, strength increasing?”
Kendra swallowed. The damn hormone was changing her, altering her body. It took two tries to speak. “I have moments of increased sensory awareness. Smell, touch, hearing, even taste is affected.”
“We’re going to need to track the mutations all the way through. What other changes have you noticed?”
Mutations. That sounded ominous. Kendra huffed out a breath. “My sex drive seems to go into overkill the moment I catch his scent.”
“What scent is that?”
“That spicy, intriguing…” They were both looking at her as if she’d lost her mind. “You can’t miss it, guys. It’s very hard to ignore. Wait a minute, does it affect others?”
“I didn’t notice a scent when I did his scan. Did you, Destiny?”
“No.”
“This is interesting. Did you always notice his scent, or was it gradual?”
“I don’t know. It’s just a certain scent I noticed. I can’t tell you when.”
“What triggers it?”
“Every time we get hot for each other, it surrounds me, but he always has it.”
Kendra looked from the doctor to Destiny. “I notice it all the time. You guys haven’t?” Destiny shook her head. “It was intense on the skiff before we hit port. You had to notice it.”
Destiny tilted her head. “Jackson also mentioned an odor, but that it came from you. Kind of spicy. It affected him the same way Azros affects Kendra, but I didn’t notice anything. He said it faded.”
“Great. So what, is this some kind of animal mating scent or something?” Kendra rubbed at her gritty eyes. She needed sleep in the worst way. Too much crap had happened in the past forty-something hours. Not to mention the rough week she’d dealt with before that.
“Kendra?”
A snap of the doc’s fingers jerked her out of her thoughts. She shook her head. “What?”
The doctor sat on the edge of her chair and gazed at Kendra the way a bio student assessed a toad before dissection. It did nothing to relieve her tension. “It’s possible that it’s designed to draw a mate. The question is which came first, the hormone change or the ability to sense it? If exposure causes the mating cycle, this should be easy enough to control. If it’s the other…” She let the sentence trail off.
Destiny shrugged. “We know that more exposure will increase the changes. So the next order of business is to separate you two.”
Kendra gave an involuntary cry, but Dr. Monroe was quicker. “You can’t do that!”
“Why not?”
“You haven’t been listening. What’s happening between them is critical, necessary to survival of the Valorian species.”
“I’m not concerned about the Valorians or whatever this mating thing is. My priority is the safety of my staff.”
The doctor gave Destiny an impatient look. “Maybe I’m not being clear. If you keep them apart, Kendra might die.”
Kendra froze. “You’re kidding right?”
The doctor looked at her and Kendra knew she was serious. Dead.
“Kendra’s safety is uppermost in my mind. The hormone is designed to make the species survive. There may not be a way to stop it, and if there is we likely won’t find it before the cycle ends.”
Kendra clenched her fists. “English, doc.” Fingernails dug into her palms.
The doctor softened her tone. “Since it’s affecting every organ, we have no idea what loss of the hormone would do to you. The mutation could stop, increase, or grow out of control. I don’t know enough to give you real answers.”
“Great.” Destiny threw up her hands in irritation. “When does that end?”
“I don’t know.”
“Will it permanently alter me?”
Doctor Kate pushed her glasses up, pushing her bangs back. “I really don’t know.”
“Well, what exactly do you know, Doc?” Kendra ignored the sharp look Destiny shot her. She was getting damn tired of I don’t knows. Her fingers brushed the still-sensitive bite Azros had given her. It sent a charge of sensation straight to her pussy. She gritted her teeth. What the hell had he done?
The doc pinched the bridge of her nose. “Some of these changes are happening on a molecular level.” She gestured toward Kendra’s third image, the one that showed full-body exposure. “According to the few research notes I could gather on the Valorians, their bodies produce counter hormones that can change their bodies back to normal.”
“Can we use them on me?”
“If we had the capability to create a synthetic counter hormone, which we don’t…and proceed to inject you, there’s no guarantee it would be successful, or that your body would even
accept it. Hell, it might kill you! The only thing we do know is that the Sheon body doesn’t have the resources to return on its own.”
Kendra ran her palms over her face and stared up at the ceiling. She was changing. Permanently. After it was all over, he’d return to normal, and she would be left suffering. Alone. Grow up, Kendra. This isn’t a fairy tale. Alone was safer. It was way too soon to be attached to Azros. So why does it hurt so much?
“So…basically if I stop the process, I’ll die. If I walk away, I die.” Kendra huffed out a small laugh. “The only option is to see the mating to the end.”
“Are they safe in population?” Kendra’s stomach twisted at Destiny’s question. Who else besides Jackson would be affected?
“Of course. Otherwise she wouldn’t be here.”
“Can you at least figure out some way to keep her from attacking others?” Destiny sounded just as frustrated as she was.
Kendra leaned forward, bracing her elbows on her knees.
Doc shook her head. “According to my research, probably not. It’s called a feral state. Interfering with it may lead to death for both parties. They turn wild. The only one who can stop it is their mate. Even if we try tranquilizers, it’ll just delay her process.”
“Damned if I do…” Kendra muttered under her breath.
“You can stop the mating cycle.”
“Not without the risk of organ failure.” Dr. Monroe looked apologetic, at least. She got up and walked around the desk to lean against it. “We don’t have any idea what this hormone is doing to her body, and I don’t have the equipment to analyze any further. The key to this mating thing is with the Valorian people.” She clapped Kendra lightly on the shoulder. “Get your Valorian to give me something to work with, and I’ll see what I can do.”
Kendra barely registered the doc’s touch. “He’s not my anything,” she snapped. Her life depended on their mating. Why didn’t he mention that little fact when this had started? Azros had some serious explaining to do.
Destiny crossed her arms. “This hormone crap is worse than PMS.” She waved a hand. “Thanks for the help, Dr. Monroe. I have yet more guests to prepare for, and need to figure out a way to get these slag wastes off my planet before they destroy its fragile ecosystem. Not to mention the overtime I’m paying my entertainment staff.”
Kendra knew when she was dismissed. She’d feel bad later. Much later. Right now she had a Valorian to flay alive.
* * * * *
He was alive.
His brother was alive. Azros welcomed Mase’s interruption. Anything to get his mind off what he’d done. He’d marked Kendra. Like an animal. Fate only knew what he’d injected her with. He cursed his culture’s tight-lipped superstitions that kept the mating rituals a secret. None of his people had ever mentioned injecting their mates with anything. Was it normal?
He didn’t blame her for leaving when she was summoned. Had he destroyed her trust?
Azros couldn’t get to his brother fast enough. “So he just asked for me?”
Mase strode ahead, leading the way. “Yeah. It was the strangest thing. He woke from a two-week coma and said to get Azros del Mar to him. Tell him that Xavier is awake. I tell you what, that kid is lucky to be alive.”
Lucky to be alive. Azros clenched his fists. “How did he know I was here?” Mase had surprised him with a knock on the door. Xavier Cross was asking for him. Xavier…his brother. It had been too long.
“I have no idea.” He cut his eyes at Azros. “I’m sure you stalking down one of our busiest hallways carrying our chief of security had nothing to do with it.”
Azros clenched his jaw. “Right.”
“Then there’s the marathon sex you two seem to be enjoying.”
“We’re not having sex in public.”
Mase grinned. “You don’t have to. The signs are all there for the staff.” He was having entirely too much fun at Azros’ expense. “People talk. And since the chief’s private life is now very public, you’ve given them a lot to talk about.”
“Great.” Just what they needed. “What about your other guest?”
Mase’s smile turned grim. “She and her group left right after your return.”
Azros didn’t believe in coincidence. Fate had shown him his people’s enemy, and had delivered the weapon he could wield against them. If he learned anything during his captivity it was that Skreeta was a master tactician. Skreeta was planning her next move. The question was whether or not she was plotting against Azros or Kendra. Hell help anyone who went after his mate.
He ran a hand over his face. What a mess he’d made of things.
“You know, I’ve never seen the chief so bent out of shape before.” Mase was guiding them down a chain of hallways that eased from luxury to uniformity. He recognized universal signs for staff, and authorized personnel only.
“Bent out of shape? She’s ice under pressure.”
Mase cut a look at him. “You should see her when you don’t have her all twisted in knots.”
She wasn’t the only one. His head was one big, tangled nightmare.
They reached a sealed door. Mase swiped an ID badge and entered a code. The door released with a whoosh of air that flowed against him, carrying smells unique to a medical environment.
Azros fought his aversion to the scents. He’d spent too many post-war years recovering in a hospital to ever be comfortable in them again. “How bad is he?”
“I haven’t seen him since the rescue, so I’m not the one to ask.” They came to another sealed door.
“You guys take hospital security very seriously.”
“Oh this isn’t for security.” Mase entered his information and the door whooshed open. This time, the air drew in. “This is the area reserved for unknown contagions. Your friend has been cleared, otherwise he could have begged for days and you would have never seen him. Doc says he’ll be moved soon.”
“Cleared of what?”
“Whatever new super virus, bacteria or other contagious disease he could have been infected with. We’re pretty remote out here, so everyone gets tested before they can mingle with population.”
The door shut behind him. “I wasn’t tested.”
Mase cut his eyes at him. “What do you think those bioscans were for back in the lab? Reeva and I were tested and cleared upon our return.” His grin wasn’t reassuring. “You passed or you wouldn’t still be here.”
He didn’t ask for clarification.
“Here we are.” Mase opened a door and they walked into a stark, but functional room.
A bruised and gut-wrenchingly familiar face turned toward their direction. Bandages covered his eyes. His hair was braided in the tradition of the warrior class. A spurt of pride had Azros’ lips lifting in a smile. “Xavier. What happened?” He slipped into their language.
“Azros?” Xavier’s voice was raw. “You son of a bitch, you really are here!” He held out his hands as though trying to feel for him. “I thought they were lying…” His voice trailed off. Xavier had grown from the despondent youth he remembered to a young warrior.
A young warrior who had nearly died. Helpless rage drove his beast to roar inside his head. Azros strode close and took his brother’s hands in his. “I’m here. Who the hell did this to you?” Years of conflict between them dissolved like nothing. Suddenly Azros felt like the protector again, the big brother, and not the crown prince.
Xavier’s lips twisted in a grimace, and he dropped Azros’ hands. “Most of the damage was done by the crash.” He brushed his fingers along the bandages covering his eyes.
“You’ve grown so much.” Azros couldn’t believe it.
“Well that happens when a boy grows into a man.” There was an awkward pause. “It’s damn good to hear your voice.”
“Tell me what happened. You just disappeared.” For six years.
His brother raised his chin. “I chose to see how long our people’s reach had become. My travels brought me to the mining facility. I foun
d a place in their tight-knit community, and decided to stay. I’ve lived there for the past five years.”
He’d become a miner? “Did you really have to go so far away?”
Xavier shook his head. “Don’t start. I left because I had to. There was no place for me after Mother’s death.”
“Xavier…”
His brother held up a hand. “We will argue over family obligation when our people are safe. Listen to the rest of the story, brother.”
Azros nodded. “You’re right. Please continue.”
“Almost a year ago, the Calypso hailed us. They requested emergency landing for ship repairs. We gave them clearance and shut down the alarm system to allow them through. Their attack came out of nowhere. The communications satellite went first. Then the life support systems. We were forced in one small area. Our security team was compromised. She shot the operation foreman, and the dome mayor. After that was chaos.”
Azros closed his eyes. Helpless anger squeezed his heart. “What happened to our people?” His voice was raw with rage and grief.
Xavier fisted the sheets in his hands. “We were enslaved and forced to work longer hours in dangerous conditions. Every now and then, they felt the need to make an example with one of our teammates. They were murdered right before our eyes.” His hands shook. “I couldn’t do anything to stop it.”
Rage coiled in Azros’ gut. “None of us could. Hell, brother, she took our ship and we were prepared. We were going to meet up with a contact, someone who had access to the ship.”
“Yeah. That was going to be me. My plan was ousted, and I was taken before I could be smuggled out.”
Azros wanted to roar in agony. He covered Xavier’s hands with his own. “I should have been there. This should never have happened to you.”
Xavier brushed off his touch. “I am the first brother to the prince of our people. If I couldn’t save them, what makes you think you could?”
Azros clenched his jaw.
“Some of the worst tortures were caused by the mining regent. A Sheon by the name of Solace Valera.”
“Solace? That’s an interesting name.”
PrimalHunger Page 12
