Therian Prisoner: 3 (Therian Heat) (16 page)

“You’re asking me to explain the past four years in a few sentences.” Her tone remained calm, but her lips thinned, accenting the lines bracketing her mouth. “It really is complicated.”

“Then skip to the good parts or I’ll find another way of entertaining myself.” She slid the tip of her claw along Carly’s jaw and watched blood bead in the shallow cut.

Tears escaped the corners of Carly’s eyes and her chin began to quiver. “There are two distinctly different biological cycles with exactly the same symptoms. The gen two serum triggered one cycle in defined females and another in undefined females. I don’t think Therians are aware that there’s a difference.”

Zophiel raised her hand to her mouth and licked the blood off her claw. “Are you speaking of Therian heat and bonding fever?”

“I’m not familiar with those terms, but what we trigger is not dissimilar to the seasonal heat experienced by domestic felines and canines.”

It was Zophiel’s turn to sigh. Obviously there were no simple answers. Each statement the human made only left her with more questions. “You said there were two biological cycles. Explain what you mean.”

“This is extremely uncomfortable. Will you please untie me?”

“No.” When Zophiel said nothing more, the human began to sulk. Zophiel grabbed her hair and twisted hard. Carly cried out and instinctively jerked against her bonds. “Start talking or I start cutting.” She hooked her claw inside the human’s nostril and pulled just hard enough to draw blood.

Carly froze, staring straight ahead, barely breathing. “On the surface it all looked the same. Females and males all became aggressive and desperate for sex. But hormone levels, blood chemistry, even brain function were all vastly different.”

“Start with the defined females. How did their bodies react?” She moved her claw away from the human’s face and released her hair. Controlling her captive was just as thrilling as actually inflicting pain. But they were no idle threats. If Carly continued to resist, Zophiel would carve up the human’s body and let her bleed to death.

“Not only did males become sexually aroused, their sperm count also doubled.”

“And with the undefined females?”

“The sperm count was unaffected and the males were almost combative. It was all very violent. It was almost as if the female was provoking the male, seeing if he could overwhelm her.”

If a latent female was about to be defined, she would test the strength and aggression of the male. Only the strongest and most powerful male would be considered for her definition. Once she made her choice, the male’s blood would be used as a pattern for her animal nature. Definition was a permanent change, one that shaped the rest of the female’s life. If Carly didn’t understand these distinctions, Zophiel wasn’t about to enlighten her.

“What conclusion did you draw from the contrast?”

“With a defined female the cycle was meant for reproduction. Her body was trying to attract a strong, healthy male and increase the chances that their sexual acts would result in pregnancy. With the undefined female the purpose was less clear.”

Zophiel caught Carly’s chin and raised her face. Did she honestly not understand how a Therian female locked in her animal nature? “Did the undefined female ever draw blood?”

“We didn’t realize the significance at first, but…”

“But Osric explained how female definition works?”

The human’s eyes widened and she nodded. “You know Osric is helping us?”

“Was, my dear. Osric
was
helping you until I compelled him to end his own life.” Zophiel released Carly’s face and resumed her lazy orbit. “I can’t abide traitors.” Besides he’d outlived his usefulness and Zophiel preferred her life uncluttered by complications. “We are discussing the gen two serum. Is there a gen three?”

“I’d just begun testing on gen three. We’d only found one test subject who tolerated the refined formula.”

“Devon Lashton, I presume.”

Carly didn’t confirm or deny the conclusion, but tension rolled across her features. “You seem to know a lot about the operation. Why do you need me?”

Zophiel ignored the question. “Why did Roberto feel the need to sequester Devon in the old lab?” All she’d sensed within his mind was burning obsession, which was far from rational.

“Everything hinges on gen three and right now Devon is the only one who’s survived testing. Forcing Therians to reproduce will only get us so far. We need to be able to control which abilities are produced in the offspring.”

“Then you’ll control the offspring.” It wasn’t a question, but Carly nodded. Zophiel didn’t particularly care if the backers bred a private zoo populated by designer Therians, but this would drive Nehema crazy. Or crazier. The mental and emotional stability of her sister had always been questionable. “If the project has only been active four years, Milliner will be dead long before the offspring mature. Surely the general wants results in his lifetime.”

“By locking females in animal form, they gestate more rapidly.” Each word passed the human’s lips with obvious effort, as if they were physically painful to her. “The same is true of the offspring. It can take a lion cub as few as thirty-six months to reach maturity. Wolves mature even faster.”

“But how does a Therian survive that long in animal form? The energy drain alone would be debilitating, if not fatal.”

Reluctance became dread as Carly’s revelations became more damning. “It isn’t a continual transformation. They’re allowed to release the shift every few days. This gives their handlers the opportunity to…”

“To what? This is already so deplorable, what could possibly be worse?”

“To train them.”

“So the child is born in animal form and is only allowed to release the shift long enough to be trained? After three or four years of such treatment, the offspring would be more animal than man. Which is exactly what Milliner wants. As long as the animals obey, their savagery works to his advantage.” Zophiel shivered, disgusted by the amoral brilliance of the plan.

Carly remained silent and avoided Zophiel’s gaze.

According to Osric, Carly’s interaction with the backers began four years before, but Zophiel could almost guarantee the project had been active far longer. There was simply no way all this could have transpired in four short years. “How many Therians are being grown in these labs?” Restless anger kept Zophiel in motion. She was only half Therian, but she understood desolation and cruelty.

When Carly just stared at her in silent terror, she grabbed the human’s hair and yanked her head back. “How many?”

“I honestly don’t know.” A harsh sob contorted her features and then she rushed on, “I only recently learned there was more than one lab.”

Zophiel released Carly’s hair and resumed pacing. The human would die, writhing in agony, but not until Zophiel had wrung every fragment of information from her worthless mind. “All right. Let’s go back to Devon and the gen three serum. What makes her so special?”

A deep breath shuddered through Carly as she struggled for composure. “Devon’s reaction to gen two was unusually strong, but her physiological changes were even more remarkable. That’s when I realized Osric was right. Devon wasn’t experiencing Therian heat. We’d triggered the acquisitions phase of her definition cycle. The changes were meant to attract a male and acquire his blood thereby defining her animal nature. It had nothing to do with reproduction.”

“Did you give Devon access to the male so she could be defined?”

“No. We only had one male at the time and he was doing well just to keep up with the defined females. We couldn’t risk her harming him. The formula wore off and the symptoms faded.”

“Until you injected her with gen
three
.” The human fidgeted within her bonds looking extremely uncomfortable. “I know there is another formula, so what does it do? What were you trying to accomplish with the refined formula?”

Chapter Eight

Devon rushed across the living room and into her mother’s arms. She’d meant to keep her composure, to calmly explain her decisions and defend Ian’s role in her escape. But the moment Devon saw her mother’s tear-bright eyes, her façade crumbled. She clung to her mother and sobbed. She was safe. She was
home
. Everything would be all right now.

Erin eased back and swiped Devon’s cheeks with her thumbs. “Kyle finally told me about the contract. Is that why you ran at the rest stop?”

“It wasn’t you. It was never you.” She gave her mother another hug before she continued, “I was still so angry and so… I couldn’t deal with everyone’s emotions until I dealt with my own.”

“I understand.” Erin brushed the hair back from Devon’s face and kissed her forehead. “I’ll ban Kyle from this house until you’re ready to deal with him. If that’s what you need. Just don’t shut me out again.” Erin’s gaze narrowed and her head snapped toward Ian, speculation clear in her green eyes.

“Where is Kyle?” Doubtlessly her mother had just picked up Ian’s scent on her, but Devon wanted to concentrate on one complication at a time.

“He’s over at Holt’s or out searching, I’m not sure which.”

As if summoned by their conversation, Kyle threw open the basement door and emerged into the kitchen. He must have sensed her arrival and used the tunnels connecting the rebels’ houses and the cat sanctuary. He paused for a moment as he took in the scene, then rushed across the kitchen and headed straight for Devon.

She instinctively moved toward Ian as she shook her head.

Erin brought him up short with an upraised hand. “Don’t.”

“Dev, I am so sorry I…” His gaze narrowed and his head tilted as he inhaled deeply. Therian males were even more sensitive to scent than females. He shifted his stare to Ian and fury ignited within his eyes. “Why is your scent all over her?”

Ian smoothly stepped in front of Devon as he widened his stance. “It’s none of your business, little boy. Back off.”

“The hell it’s not! She’s my sister and I’m head of her clan.”

“What’s the matter Kyle?” Devon sidestepped so Kyle could see her. “Afraid Lokesh won’t want me now?”

Kyle’s anger remained focused on Ian. Golden light sparked in his hostile gaze and claws slowly extended from his fingers. “Get. Out.”

“Not gonna happen.”

Devon couldn’t see Ian’s face but he sounded almost amused. “Kyle, this really is none of your business.”

Without looking at her, Kyle asked, “Did he hurt you?”

“Of course not.” She tried to move to Ian’s side, but he blocked her path. “It’s insulting that you would even ask.”

“Did he define you or just…sleep with you?”

Before Devon could object, Erin grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the advancing men. “When they get like this, it’s better to just let it happen.”

“But—”

Ian let out an enraged cry as his wings unfurled with a sharp snap, but they were different this time. Rather than dark brown feathers, black leather stretched over the flexible skeleton and lethal looking spikes protruded from each joint as well as the tips. These wings weren’t meant for flight, they were designed for battle.

A low rumble drew her attention to Kyle’s face and she gasped. His features had partially shifted, creating a shocking combination of human and cougar. He looked fierce and deadly, and enraged. She’d never seen her brother like this before. Partial shifts required a level of control she hadn’t realized Kyle possessed.

“Bonding with an Omni Prime has its advantages,” her mother whispered.

Kyle lunged and swiped at Ian’s face. Ian twisted, barely avoiding Kyle’s sharp claw. Before Kyle could swing his other arm, Ian slapped him back with the flat section of one wing. Kyle flew like a toy, colliding with the wall hard enough to dent the drywall.

“We’re just going to let them tear each other apart?” Devon tugged against her mother’s restraining hands.

“It’s worse if we let it fester.” Erin’s hold was firm, her tone emphatic. “Think about Ian and Quinn. That went on for years.”

Something dark and elemental stirred within Devon as she watched the fight progress. She’d never had anyone who cared enough about her to fight for her before. Defending her hadn’t been Kyle’s role while their father was alive and her father had always had more important things on his mind.

Kyle retracted his claws and fisted his hand. With practiced precision, he landed a punch on Ian’s jaw. Ian responded with a sharp uppercut that jerked Kyle’s head to the side. Blood escaped the corner of Kyle’s mouth as he lunged for Ian. Another feline growl echoed in the room as Kyle drove Ian to the floor.

Ian wrapped his wings around Kyle, drawing their bodies so tightly together that Kyle could no longer swing his arms. They rolled across the hardwood floor, jarring the coffee table before reversing direction and lodging against the entertainment center. Kyle struggled wildly within Ian’s hold, but Ian seemed content to contain the aggression.

“Calm down and I’ll let you up.” Ian allowed his wings to dissolve, revealing their exact position. Ian straddled Kyle’s legs and pinned his shoulders to the floor. Kyle’s hands were trapped beneath Ian’s knees.

“Fuck you,” Kyle snapped.

“But isn’t that why you’re so pissed off?” Ian had the audacity to laugh.

“This isn’t funny, old man! You know damn well she’s been in love with you since she was a kid.”

“Ever think there might be a reason she can’t shake the attraction?”

Ian’s question made Erin look at Devon. “Is it true? Are you his mate?”

Devon jerked her arm out of her mother’s grasp. She had yet to discuss the possibility with Ian. There was no way she was going to debate it with her family. “Let him up. This isn’t why we’re here.”

Ian heaved himself off Kyle then extended his hand and helped the younger man to his feet. “My intentions toward your sister are honorable, Mr. Lashton. You have nothing to worry about.”

The assurance was tinged with enough mockery to make Kyle glare again. “If you hurt her, I’ll find a way to kill you. I don’t care how powerful you are.”

Ian grinned and looked at Devon. “That won’t be necessary.”

“What’s going on with the search?” Devon asked, more than ready for a different subject.

As Kyle calmed, his features returned to normal and the golden light in his eyes subsided. “We don’t know much more than Payne told Ian. It’s hard to track someone in midair.”

“They left nothing behind on the window?” Ian sounded doubtful. “What about the room in which Carly was being kept? There should be residual energy or echoes of thoughts and emotions.”

“That’s why you’re here. If we’re dealing with a raptor, you have the advantage over all of us.”

Ian turned to Devon and kissed her lightly on the mouth. “I shouldn’t be long. Are you okay here or would you rather come with me?”

“I’ll stay here.” She pushed to her toes and returned his kiss, feeling the need to stake her claim. “And don’t be distracted. I’m fine.”

He nodded then motioned for Kyle to lead the way.

Erin waited until the men had disappeared down the stairwell leading to the tunnels before she spoke again. “I don’t know how to react to this.” She searched Devon’s gaze for a long time before she asked, “You didn’t do this because of Lokesh, did you?”

“No.” She rubbed her forehead as she moved to the sofa and sat. “It wasn’t planned. It just sort of happened.”

Her mother sat beside her and took her hand. “Nothing ‘just sort of happens’ with Ian. Who was the aggressor?”

“I was.” She paused to make sure Erin accepted the statement before she went on. “Ian said Payne sensed a connection and it made Ian think about me differently than he’d allowed himself to think of me before.”

Erin rubbed her hand over her eyes, her head gently shaking. “He’s been through so much, survived so much. And there is such darkness inside him. I wanted someone…less complicated for my baby girl.”

Devon smiled. “I’ve always been attracted to complications. You shouldn’t be surprised.” She’d seen glimpses of Ian’s darkness, but he’d been nothing but gallant and caring with her. It was impossible to live as long as Ian had and not collect baggage. But as far as she could tell, Ian didn’t allow his past to control him.

“Do you want him to define you or is this just a romance?”

Devon didn’t miss the hopeful catch in her mother’s question. “Not yet and we’re not sure what
this
is.”

Erin shook her head again, her expression drawing tighter. “Well, you can’t be defined by anyone until we know what those bastards injected you with.”

“The formula had nothing to do with definition.” Even as the words passed her lips Devon knew it wasn’t true. When Carly realized Devon wasn’t defined, the doctor’s focus changed and so had the formula.

“Are you certain? Do you know what was in the injection?”

“Injections.” She looked away from her mother’s troubled gaze. It was hard to remain calm when every word she spoke compounded her mother’s pain. “I was injected six times and, judging from my body’s reaction, there were at least three different recipes.”

“Were you given the same thing as Dhane?”

Devon’s gaze snapped back to her mother’s. “Why? Is he all right?” She’d been so overwhelmed by her own recovery that she’d nearly forgotten about the young wolf-shifter.

“We took him to the Garrans’ clinic this morning.”

Dread dropped like a stone into the pit of Devon’s stomach. Paul Garran and his wife Lenore were both medical doctors. Their eldest son was a veterinarian and their two younger sons were research scientists. The Therian community relied on the family heavily and compensated them generously for their focus and dedication. Still, their time was extremely valuable, so only severe or unusual cases were taken to the Garrans’ clinic.

“Wasn’t Landon able to find a female to…give Dhane what he needed?”

“Dhane was saturated with enough energy to feed three full-grown men for a week and he mounted the she-wolf repeatedly. None of it helped. He’s stable—more or less. But he can’t release his shift. The Garrans are trying to figure out why.”

“Is there anything I can do?” Dhane had saved her life. Neither of them had any idea that a rescue party was on its way and still the young wolf-shifter had acted with bravery and honor.

“They’d like to run tests as soon as possible, though the results would have been more meaningful if—”

“If I hadn’t run off with Ian?”

Rather than respond to the question, Erin asked, “May I call them and let them know you’ll be over within the hour?”

The thought of having anyone poke and prod her left Devon feeling slightly nauseated, but it couldn’t be helped. Each successful assault began with dependable information and, unfortunately, the most dependable information available to the Therians was contained within Devon’s body.

“Make it an hour and a half and you’ve got a deal. I need to say hi to the cats.”

Erin finally relaxed and the sparkle returned to her eyes. “They missed you.”

“I missed them too.” Erin founded the sanctuary, but her obligations to the rebel cause left the everyday operations to Devon. “What’s gone on since I’ve been away?”

“Carmelita is definitely pregnant and Adonis is finally gaining weight.”

“That’s wonderful.” Devon smiled. She’d optimistically named the male lion Adonis, hoping he’d eventually live up to the name. He’d been in such sorry shape when he’d arrived, no one expected him to survive.

“We acquired a new tigress while you were gone. Look her over and let me know what you think. She’s eating well and seems to have adjusted to the new habitat, but she wants nothing to do with any of the other cats.”

“That’s not unusual, especially if she was abused.”

“I know, but there’s something about her that’s just…off.”

Devon nodded, thrilled by the prospect of returning to her familiar routine. “I’ll take a look.” They lapsed into silence for a moment then Devon said, “Talking with Ian has given me a new perspective on some of your legends.”

“He witnessed many of the events as they took place.” Erin smiled, clearly pleased by Devon’s interest. “That’s bound to make any story more interesting.”

“I knew you believed the stories were true, but I never thought about them as anything but legends.” She returned her mother’s smile and felt a rush of happiness. Things had grown so strained during her father’s illness, she was ready to feel comfortable with her mother again. “Once things settle down and I’ve readjusted to—everything, I’d like to study the sacred journals, maybe take them a little more seriously this time.”

Erin beamed. “The vault is always open to the future Historian.”

The phrase made Devon fidget. She was too anxious right now to think about what that would mean. Her mother was so immersed in Therian tradition and lore that she often seemed to belong to a different place and time. Devon wasn’t ready to consider a similar fate. She needed to figure out her place in the present before she opened herself completely to the past.