“No.” Katie shook her head and honey-blond hair flew. “I’m not. Now this has happened, now I can’t shift, and he thinks we should mate. That I’ll get my shifting abilities back if we do.”
“Oh my.” Emma glanced again at Janie’s puppy, her mind spinning. “Well, that might work actually.” Who the hell knew? The virus hadn’t even been completely mapped yet.
“If it doesn’t?” Katie’s eyes darkened to deep brown. “The leader of our pride will have mated with someone who can’t shift. Ever.” She grabbed a rock and threw it across the path to land with a hard thunk against a tree. “Besides. I’d rather not be a pity fu—” She glanced at Janie and cleared her throat. “A pity marriage.”
The door next to Max swung open, and Cara poked her head outside. “Janet Isabella? Come eat lunch and then we need a nap.” She gave a wave to Emma and Katie, leaning back against the doorframe.
Emma waved back and hid her concern, helping Janie to stand. “Anything else I should know, little wise one?”
Janie grinned. “That’s e’nuff for now.” She hopped, skipped, and then ran for her mother, who enfolded her in a big hug before drawing her inside the building. Max nodded at Emma and followed them inside.
Katie chuckled, her gaze on the closed metal door. “It’s a damn good thing she’s on our side, now isn’t it?”
A breeze filtered through the trees and pine needles rained down. Emma brushed one off her legs. “No question about that.” The girl’s abilities were astonishing. “You know, I just don’t understand why your species hasn’t allied with humans through the years. We could have so many more trained, medical minds working on this problem right now.” Cara was getting sicker every day. They needed help.
Katie lifted both eyebrows. “Seriously? Remember your history? Through the years humans have hunted and destroyed any race they felt was more powerful. Even so called witches in Salem.” She sighed. “If your government had any idea I existed right now, I’d be hooked up to machines and studied—against my will.”
Emma shrugged against the unease tickling her nape. “We’re not all like that, Katie.”
“I know.” She looked at Emma. “But even you have wondered about our abilities, if the science involved could be applied to cure human frailties. Human illnesses.”
“Well sure. I want to ease pain and suffering as well as curing diseases.”
“What then?” Katie grabbed another rock. “The planet isn’t big enough for humans to be immortal too, Emma.”
Emma shook her head, not wanting to debate the issue. “Okay. So Janie said you needed a favor?”
“Um, yes. You’ve isolated the catalyst, right?”
Shit. “Yes.”
“I, uh, want you to infect me with the catalyst.” Katie set her trembling lips in a firm line.
Emma huffed out a breath. “You’re unwilling to let my government experiment on you, yet you want me to do it?”
Katie’s eyes flashed topaz. “First of all, they’re not your government any more. You’re the Queen of the Realm, and your husband leads your new government. Second, you know I’m right. The virus takes away the shifter’s ability to shift. We know from watching Maggie that the catalyst speeds up the virus so the shifter’s body begins to fight.”
“If the shifter’s body loses, he or she might shift into a werewolf,” Emma hissed. Oh God. Katie wasn’t really asking her do to this, was she?
“But the virus doesn’t work completely. So far Maggie has been able to shift back into her true wolf form instead, and the catalyst has given her the ability to do so.”
Emma sucked in a deep breath. “We don’t know that. In fact, we have no idea how long Maggie’s been infected. Maybe the virus just reached a point, catalyst or not, where her body produced enough antibodies to fight it.” Emma should start wearing a hat saying, WE JUST DON’T KNOW. She bit her lip. “And Katie, we have no idea how the catalyst would work on a lion shifter, and you in particular. You might turn into a werewolf. Or you might just die.”
“I’m willing to take the chance.”
The woman had a right to choose. “I understand. But it’s way too early to take a chance like that.” Emma held up a hand when Katie opened her mouth to protest. “I’m not saying no. There’s a process to follow in this. First, we need to see if Maggie survives the next full moon. We also need to give your body time to start creating antibodies.” She reached out and clasped Katie’s arm. “You might be able to beat the illness without any more help. It’s just a virus. There’s a chance your body will heal itself.”
Katie inhaled so deeply her shoulders lifted two inches. “I know.”
Emma released her friend. “I already have been conducting experiments on your blood and the catalyst.”
Katie quirked a lip. “You were a step ahead of me, huh?”
Emma shrugged. “We need all the knowledge we can get.” She stretched her neck. “You have time. You don’t need to make any costly mistakes.”
“You don’t know we have time. The progression of this thing could always speed up.”
“You’re right. Though the risk is too dangerous.”
“I’ll wait until after Maggie beats the third full moon before asking for the catalyst again. Afterward, if it doesn’t work, I’ll need your help getting away from Jordan.”
Emma straightened up. “Are you in danger? I mean, are you afraid of Jordan?”
Katie shut her eyes, shaking her head. “No.” Opening them, they filled with tears. “I can’t stay.” Her voice choked on each word. “Not like this.” She gestured at her body.
The woman’s pain echoed through the air. “How could I help if you decide to run?” Emma whispered.
Kate grabbed and threw another rock. “You’re the queen. I’ll need transportation and a head start.”
Emma sighed. “You just said you loved the man. Shouldn’t you fight for him?”
Kate shook her head. “Not like this. Not half of what I was. Half of what he could’ve loved but never did.” She picked up the discarded stick and began to trace a fierce outline of a lion into the dirt. “Though, I did think, I mean, what the heck. How about one night, you know?”
Emma huffed out a laugh. “One night with Jordan? Before you leave?”
“Yeah. You know. Just a night of great sex—no mating. Something to keep me warm forever.” A dark blush competed with the sleepless circles on Katie’s face.
More laughter bubbled up and Emma let it loose. “That was my plan, too.” She sucked in air and fought the tears of hilarity that welled up. “One time. Just one night with Dage.” She wiped her eyes.
Katie pressed her head back against the tree. “I take it your plan didn’t work out quite that way?”
“Um, no.” Emma shook her head and sighed. “You let a guy like that under your skin, into your heart, and once is never enough.” She kicked a pebble. “There’s never enough.” His blood flowed through her veins and her heart beat in tempo with his.
Dust billowed when Katie tossed the stick back down. “Yeah. You probably think I’m pretty stupid, huh?”
“No.” Emma leaned back against her tree. “I think you’re human. Lost and searching like the rest of us.”
“That sucks. And ... neither you nor I are human, Emma.”
She hadn’t truly let herself consider that fact. “Katie, what about my vision? I told you about seeing you running through some alley, angry and scared.”
“Yeah, you did.” Tawny eyes sparkled for a moment. “I’m not worried, Emma. Even without the ability to shift, I’m a hell of a fighter. If someone chooses to chase me through an alley, they’re going to get hurt.”
Emma smiled. “Katie, I need you here for now. I need your blood to keep an eye on the progression of the virus.” She cleared her throat. “I also want to learn to fight—if you wouldn’t mind giving me a few lessons.” The karate classes she’d taken in college seemed so far in the past.
Katie sighed. “I’d be happy t
o teach you self-defense.” She stood, brushing off her jeans. “Okay. I’ll stay for a while, but when the time comes, I want the injection. And when I need to leave, I’m gone.”
Emma nodded, pushing to her feet. “I’ll help you, Katie. You know I will.” God help them both.
Chapter 16
Sighing, Emma fought the urge to toss the computer printout to the tiled floor of the small lab. Dage had been gone for hours and she’d thrown herself into the research to keep from thinking. Bleach and the odd scent of rubber filled the quiet space. “The AC21 sample does nothing to the virus.” On paper, calculations showed the concoction would break down the proteins in the virus and demolish the little sucker. And it did in a test tube. But take the same virus attached to a chromosome and the little bastard seemed impenetrable. Damn it. If she had to put on the damn sterile rubber suit one more time today, she’d go nuts.
Kane rubbed a hand over his eyes, his charts spread across the table. “Did you try the sample on the virus or the catalyst?” He stood and stretched his back.
“Both.” The sample was close to the new cancer treatment that infected chromosomes and defeated the cancer cells. “We’re running out of samples of the catalyst. We’ll need Maggie to give more blood.” Of course, her blood could already have transformed the virus into something unique to wolf shifters. Or werewolves.
Kane glanced at his watch, then back up. “Whose blood is in that vial?” He pointed to a sample set in a tray. “And why is it in this lab and not in the clean labs?”
“It’s my blood and I’m not infected, so there’s no need to keep it in the clean lab.” Emma frowned. She’d taken her own sample an hour ago, maybe she should draw another vial. She eyed the hammer sitting on the edge of the counter.
Kane raised an eyebrow and followed her gaze. “Er, okay. Are you afraid you’ve been infected?”
“What?” Emma turned to face him. “Oh, no. I’ve been taking samples since Dage marked me.” A flush warmed her chest and slid like a river north to heat her cheeks.
“Oh. Forever the scientist, huh?” Kane grinned.
“Yes. Changing me from a human with twenty-three chromosomes to a near immortal with twenty-seven is amazing.” Her mind still boggled when she considered the genetics involved. “I don’t know where the science could lead us, but keeping accurate records of the process is vital.”
Kane eyed the hammer. “And the weapon?”
Emma bit her lip and shuffled her feet. “I, er, well ...”
Kane let loose with a chuckle. “Please tell me you weren’t planning on harming yourself.” He reached a large boned hand forward and grabbed the hammer to tap against his other palm. The handle disappeared in his large grasp.
“Well ... it’s just that, if I have Dage’s healing abilities, I want to see how the process works.” Man she felt like a dumbass. Her face burned hotter.
“No.” Kane shook his head. “There’s no guarantee you’ll gain all of the same abilities as your mate, Emma.” He tossed the hammer in a drawer where the iron clattered against wood. “Even if you do, it should take some time. Decades even.”
Oh. Well crap. Good thing she’d chickened out before breaking her finger. “So if I broke a bone, it might take the usual amount of time to heal?”
“Yes.” Kane’s smile widened. “I can’t wait to see your and Dage’s sons blow up your kitchen in the name of scientific experimentation.” With a low laugh, he turned back toward his research.
A low hum of pleasure slid through her skin at the thought. Dage’s kids—little silver eyed devils. She shook off the image. “Hey, I’ve been wondering. Why do vampires and Kurjans only procreate males?”
Kane turned back around. “Vamps and Kurjans have an X chromosome and a Z chromosome and only pass on the Z. So, it combines with one of the X chromosomes passed on by a woman, and you end up with an XZ baby, or a vampire. No matter what.”
How odd to know if she and Dage had babies they’d all be little boys. “What about the demons? Are there female demons?”
“Yes there are female demons, but for some reason they’re rare. Only one in five hundred babies born to demons are female.”
Emma stiffened. “Is that on purpose?”
Kane raised both eyebrows. “No. Not at all. Female demon babies are celebrated as something rare and precious.”
Well. That was as it should be. “What’s the science involved?”
Kane rubbed his chin. “Demons have a D chromosome. Demon females have a DX combination and males have a DY, similar to humans.” He grinned. “I wonder if your kids will be as curious about science as you are?”
She shrugged. The genetic implications from the different species truly fascinated her. Thinking of silver eyes, she closed her eyes and tried to reach out. Dage? Can you hear me?
Loud and clear, love.
Are you there yet?
“Yes. Just waiting on Caleb’s men before we go in. I need to concentrate now. Love you. Shields rose like stalagmites to protect his thoughts.
“Humph.” She frowned.
Kane laughed. “I take it the king shut you out?”
Emma swiveled on her chair. “Why do you do that?”
A Kayrs eyebrow rose. “Do what?”
“Call him ‘the king.’ All of you use his title.”
Kane rubbed his chin. “So we don’t forget.” Violet eyes swirled with wisdom. “Because Dage does forget. He jumps in front of each of us, an older brother needing to protect and defend.”
“That’s bad?”
“No. But he’s the king. The figurehead of the entire monarchy. That means something.” Kane shook his head. “The king needs to be protected. At almost all cost.”
“Almost?”
Kane grinned. “After the queen, of course.”
The idea of her being an actual queen made her want to laugh out loud. Emma rolled her eyes just as Janie and Cara strolled in.
Emma hugged her niece, letting the familiar scent of powder center her for a moment. “Why aren’t you two resting?” Dark circles marred the too pale skin under Cara’s bloodshot eyes. They had to fix this.
Cara sat wearily in a thick chair with a soft sigh. “Janie wouldn’t take her nap until she talked to you.” The bones in her neck protruded too much. While it was too early to show, Cara shouldn’t be losing weight to this degree. To any degree, actually.
Emma knelt down and smoothed rioting brown curls off Janie’s forehead. “What is it, sweetheart?” Oh please not the prelude to another painful vision. Not already.
Janie gulped in air. “You need to call Mowra. Right now. Call Mowra.” She clutched Mr. Mullet with white hands. Emma had given the girl the bear with its odd blue mullet nearly two years ago. When life seemed normal. “Mowra can help fix my brother. Call Mowra.”
Kane frowned and dropped to his haunches so he and Janie faced eye-to-eye. “How can Moira help, Janie?”
Blue eyes widened. “I dunno. But you need to call Mowra.”
“Kane? Who’s Moira?” Emma stood, her knees popping. Man, she needed to get back on a treadmill.
“Conn’s mate. She’s the seventh sister of the seventh sister.” Kane picked Janie up to sit on a table.
Emma glanced at Cara, who gave a shrug. “Does that mean something?”
“Oh. Yes. Powerful witch. Very.” Kane dug in a drawer for a lollipop, which he handed to Janie with flourish.
“Science is going to fix this, not magic.” Emma peeked around Kane. How long had there been candy in the drawer?
Janie grabbed her hand, and Emma swung around to focus on her niece. The little girl scrunched her face in a tiny frown. “You said to trust what my head said. To trust what I hear and see.”
Emma slowly nodded. “I did.” Nobody would teach this little girl that her gifts were bad or something she shouldn’t embrace. She’d made that vow the first day she’d discovered Janie had talent.
Wisdom swirled in those sapphire eyes. “So you trust me, Aunt
ie Emma. Call Mowra.”
The child was right. “Okay. Uncle Kane and I will call Mowra.” Now she was agreeing to consult with witches. What was next?
“Moira,” Kane corrected, tossing her a miniature candy bar. He reached out and assisted Cara to her feet. “You go take naps and we’ll contact Conn’s mate. I’m sure she’d love to hear from us.” Teeth sparkled in a wise ass grin.
Emma held up a hand. “Um, just give us a second, okay?” She took Cara’s arm and tugged her into the hall.
Cara leaned against the papered wall, an eyebrow raised. “What’s up, Em?”
All right. What were the proper words here? “It’s just, that ... Well. I wanted you to fully understand you’re no longer mated.”
A frown settled between Cara’s arched brows. “Yeah. I got that.” She cocked her head to the side.
“It’s just, well, I am going to destroy this virus. And you have choices.”
A ghost of a smile played on Cara’s lips. “Choices?”
Emma cleared her throat. “Yes.” She sighed. Imaginary eggshells crunched under her feet. “I feel like fate didn’t give you a chance. Or Talen didn’t.” Her brother-in-law seemed a force beyond nature. “You don’t have to be mated to him.”
A soft laugh breathed out of Cara. “I love you, Em.”
What did that mean? “I love you, too.”
Cara moistened her lips, pure delight shining in her eyes. “So please understand. That man is going to remate me if I have to stake him to the ground and land on his palm.”
Relief made Emma’s smile wide. “So you love him, huh?”
“With everything I am.” Cara smiled. “I’m a big girl now, Emma. I know what I’m doing.”
“Okay. I’m happy for you.” Something warm settled around Emma’s heart.
Cara grabbed her by the upper arms. “Time for you to fight for what you want.”
Understanding and acceptance slid through Emma. “Dage.”
“Yes. Dage.”
“Yes. I am.” She smiled at her sister. Death didn’t stand a chance against the Paulsen women.
“Good.” Cara leaned around the doorframe and called Janie, who hopped forward and took her hand. “We’ll see you genetic geniuses later tonight.” The two swept down the hall.