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Now she seemed calmer, I thought maybe we should talk a little more about what had to happen next. “It’s going to be okay, and once we tell the clan, you won’t have to worry about keeping so much a secret.”
“Do you really think it’s the best idea to tell them everything, though? I’m afraid it might make them hate me even more.”
“They could never hate you, Mariah.” It hurt that she felt that way. I wanted my clan to be unified, to accept my mate. “They’re going to get to know you and come to love you as much as I do, I have no doubt. They’ll understand that what Tomas did to you wasn’t your fault or your choice.”
“Yes, but will it create unnecessary fear? If they know about the serum, are they going to worry what Tomas will do next?”
I had to smile at her concern for the clan. She might not see it yet, but I knew she’d be amazing standing by my side and leading the clan together.
Her words struck a chord in me, though. Tomas had been far too silent for far too long. We knew now that he was working to recreate the serum, and that he didn’t have enough of Mariah’s blood for what he needed. I was worried about what he was going to do next, so how could I tell my clan they shouldn’t be concerned?
Just then, there was a rapid knock at the door, followed by Jax’s voice. “Evan? Mariah? Are you in there?”
Mariah glanced at me before she shot to her feet and flung open the door.
“Jax!” she scolded. “Look at you! When was the last time you slept?”
Jax ran a hand through his messy hair, brushing off her concern. “I’m fine. Besides, all the sleepless nights were worth it. My hard work paid off.”
I came to Mariah’s side, my eyes widening as a smile spread across Jax’s face.
“I’ve uncovered something new.”
Chapter 12
Mariah
Evan’s office was hot, thick with tension, and pulsing with dragon energy I’d previously been unaware of. Was it always like this when a group of shifters were in one room under stressful conditions?
My heart thundered, my dragon stirred restlessly, sensing the collective anxiety. This could be it—the lead we’d been waiting for. Part of me was afraid to know, though, even if it was vital information.
Evan stood next to me, his arm around my waist, and fingers gripping my hip. He was a pillar of strength for me, always there to rely on, providing silent support. I leaned into him as Jax glanced around the room.
“Are you ready?” Jax’s fingers hovered over the keyboard on his beast of a laptop, his gaze catching mine.
While his words were for all of us—Lucas had been in the office when we came up—the concern in his eyes said he knew how this might affect me. We’d both endured Tomas’s wrath.
“Play it,” I breathed with a quick nod, steeling myself for what was about to come.
Jax pressed play on the audio recording he’d hacked into, and the room filled with the cold, cruel voice of the man who still tormented my nightmares.
“You promised me results!” Tomas bellowed, his rage evident in every word. “I’ve given you everything you need, and you still haven’t replicated Mariah's cells!”
“I assure you, I’m doing my best,” another voice said. A man. He sounded tense, with a trace of fear in a somewhat familiar accent. I narrowed my eyes and glanced at Jax, who nodded his confirmation, his lips pressed tightly together.
It was the doctor who’d been in that clinic—that prison—with Jax and me. The one who’d taken my blood over and over.
“Your best isn’t good enough!” Tomas roared, and I flinched in spite of myself. Evan’s arm tightened around me as my hand came to my stomach.
“It’s just going to take a little more time,” the doctor continued. “With only a few remaining vials, I’m trying not to waste a drop of her blood.”
“We don’t have time.” I could hear the sneer in Tomas’s voice. Could clearly picture the fevered look in his eyes.
“I understand, sir, but unless we have her here—”
“Will her blood be of any use now that she’s a dragon?”
“As I’ve said before, I believe so, but we won’t know until—”
