Amaros chuckled and left with Michaela to meet with his sexually-frustrated leaders, whose carnal nights Sherman had interrupted by Amaros’s order.
~YH~
“Excellent.The People’s Governor will be pleased to hear of your safe return.”The lead scientist, a man whose name they’d never gotten to know, was just like rats who were not deserving of knowing who poked and prodded them.
She and Avalore remained silent, forcing their worn and frightened expressions to stay.
The lead scientist stepped closer to them, his keen eye assessing them both.The other scientist appeared eager and relieved, but this middle-aged man with shaggy, black hair and thick, brown glasses seemed more apprehensive.
It wasn’t clear to her if he was suspicious of them or the preternaturals.
Thump.Thump.
His heartbeat sang to her.The room was filled with a cacophony of heartbeats from the five white coats and two guards, a Vampire’s perfect symphony.
Michaela’s nose twitched, and she could sense his blood, more intense because of his closer proximity to her.It was thick and rich, flowing in streams through his veins.
Her gums burned, and she subtly glided the tip of her tongue over her sharp teeth.Her beast fluttered in her core, wanting to feast, rip out some throats, and bathe in the blood of her enemies.But she swallowed and forced it back, just as Amaros had trained her.It wasn’t time yet, and she needed to keep herself under control because this perceptive scientist would surely pick up on crimson rings appearing in her eyes.
Everyone was counting on her and Avalore.No one else could give the shifters the direct access they needed to get inside rapidly.
“You two were clever rodents.Luring in the guard and attacking him before you escaped.”He tutted and shook his head.“Be grateful he didn’t die and woke up after a few days.Otherwise, you’d be looking at extermination.The Governor of the People doesn’t take kindly to murders within the Wall and deals with them swiftly, as you all know.Nonetheless, you both volunteered for these experiments for the good of the human population that is left and that comes before all things.”
We didn’t know the extent of what we were volunteering for.
There was a low rumble.
Thankfully, everyone glanced around and above, trying to figure out where the sound came from, and didn’t suspect it came from Avalore.
Please, Ava, don’t glow.
When they’d all gathered at a secret location in the Drahk territory hours ago, no longer trusting the meeting grounds to be a secure place, she’d been wowed by her friend’s transformations.
When they changed into the dirty, ratty clothing they had on now, Michaela had seen her friend's beautiful markings.Earlier, she had noted the difference in hers and Avalore’s smelly, torn clothing, while she was missing almost a whole pant leg, and the sleeves of her shirt were missing; Avalore's rips and holes were strategically placed.
There was a tear below one of Avalore’s ample breasts, revealing unmarked skin of her torso, the collar of her long-sleeved t-shirt was torn towards the front, and the hem was shredded, but it hung around Avalore’s full, clothed hips.Avalore’s clothes were filthier than as if she had fallen into a river of mud—all to disguise the scale markings.
Michaela remembered how Liekki’s, Ava’s mate, scale marks had glowed when she’d almost bitten her friend.Ava no longer had that sweet human scent to her, so Michaela had no craving for her friend.She was more than grateful for Ava’s change.
The shaggy-haired man cleared his throat.“No matter.That won’t happen again.There will always be guards at this back gate.”He swept his critical gaze down the length of her before he moved directly in front of Avalore.“Where have you two been all this time?”
“Some caves north of the Wall.We wanted to see if we could find others, maybe survivors.Yesterday, those beastly people found us and dragged us back here.”Ava stretched her eyes wide, shifting her gaze around as if traumatized, while she lifted a hand and made a production of scratching her long waves, causing clumps of dirt and mud to fall around their feet.“We didn’t know they were out there.”
That was true.
If the situation weren’t so serious, Michaela would have laughed at her friend's production.
“Eck!”Two scientists skittered back in disgust as some of the muddy dust drifted their way.
“They’re beasts, man-shifting animals!”Ava shrieked, looking as if she was close to losing her mind at any moment.“Why didn’t the People’s Governor tell us.Warn u-us!”
Michaela used Avalore’s gross distraction to reach out to Amaros, and figured Michaela had done the same with her mate while Michaela was talking.
Amaros.
Are you okay?His voice came into her mind like a soothing balm, calming her agitation.
Everything relied on her and Avalore, the early intel, and getting back to the vehicle gate to let the Vampires and Lupines in.
