Ravik buried his face in her hair and inhaled deeply.
“Ravik smellsCassie,” he informed them.“WillletSevknow if she’s needing again.”
“Well thank you, but if you smell anything beforeIcan get some sleepImight just shoot myself,”Cassiesaid dryly.“Thisstupid virus makes youtired.”
Severin’s mouth twitched, but his eyes were still serious.
“Rest if you can,” he said.“I’lltest the sample and come back as soon asIknow more.”
Cassie nodded, too exhausted to argue.
As he climbed carefully off the bed with the sealed wand case in hand, she feltRavikshift behind her, settling them both back against the pillows.Hetucked her close, his body warm and massive and protective around hers, andCassiesettled against him with a sigh of relief.
She watchedSeverinpause at the doorway and look back at them.
For a moment, no one spoke, thenRavik’shand lifted from her hip and reached toward him—not quite touching, becauseSeverinwas too far away, but the gesture was there.Itwas an invitation…a question…a silent pull thatCassiefelt in her own chest.
Severin’s expression flickered from determination to regret and then back again.
“I’m sorry,Ravik,” he said to his friend.“Iwant to hold her between us too—especially after the sharing we had.ButIneed to work.”
Then he turned away and disappeared into the corridor, carrying the glowing sample that might save them all.
Cassie closed her eyes and leaned back intoRavik’sarms.Herbody was finally quiet and she was at peace.
But somewhere deep inside, she had a feeling everything had just gotten much more complicated.
40
SEVERIN
Severin carried the sealed case back to the lab as though it contained something explosive—in a way, perhaps it did.
The portable collection wand lay inside its sterile casing, filled withCassandra’sglowing honey.Hecould still see it through the clear sample chamber—pearly-gold and faintly luminous, threaded with tiny sparks of light that moved sluggishly through the fluid as though it was alive.
Which was impossible, of course—human sexual secretions didnotglow.Theydid not produce light and they didn’t carry enough active anti-viral compounds to make aHungerVirussample recoil like a shadow exposed to flame.
And yet,Cassandra’sdid.
Severin placed the case on the lab table with more care than he had used handling volatile plasma charges.Hishands were steady, but only because he had spent most of his adult life forcing them to be steady while working with volatile chemicals and samples.Inside, the rest of him was not steady at all.
He could still feel the heat of the mating chamber clinging to his skin…could still hearCassandra’sbroken cry as she came around the wand.Andhe could still seeRavikholding her open and safe in his arms whileSeverinfilled her with cold science and hot hunger and tried not to admit that the two had become hopelessly tangled in his mind.
Gods, he was in trouble.
Not just because he wanted her and not just because he wantedRaviknear her—wanted the three of them tangled together in that hugeVisskousnest-bed as though the three of them belonged together.Desirewas dangerous, but desire could be controlled.
But this was something else—Cassandra’sbody was changing andRavikwas coming back.Andthe cure—the real cure, not another temporary suppression or failed anti-viral—was finally taking shape in front of him.
When he had it completed, if it brought his best friend back completely,Severinknew he would pay for this night’s pleasure.Ravikwas right—BeastKindreddid not share mates.Andwhile his friend seemed willing enough to share right now,Severinwas certain he wouldn’t be happy when he remembered it and fully comprehended what they had done together later on.
But in order for any of that to happen—and in order for the three of them to get off thisGoddess-forsaken, infected planet—he had to complete the cure.
Carefully,Severinwithdrew a micro-sample from the wand’s collection reservoir.Theglowing honey clung to the slender pipette, viscous and faintly warm, though it should have cooled by now.Heplaced a drop on the slide, added a preparedHungerVirussample from aVisskoushost, and sealed the cover before sliding it under the scope.
For a moment, nothing happened…then the virus recoiled.
Severin stopped breathing as he watched the reaction.
