“Yes,”Dr.Verityxsaid brightly.“Orrather, a simplified model of your current viral and endocrine interactions.Thanksto the research already done byDr.Severin, we know that theHungerVirusattempted to enter your system through the usual inflammatory pathway after the bite.However, your perimenopausal hormone fluctuations prevented it from settling in the expected appetite centers.”
“So instead of turning me into a flesh-hungry zombie, it turned me into…”Cassiestopped and glanced at the assistants nearby, several of whom were pretending not to listen.“Intosomething else.”
“A reproductive-hunger host,”Dr.Verityxsaid, sounding pleased with the term.“Rare, fascinating, and in your case, potentially life-saving for many millions of people.”
Cassie rubbed her forehead.
“I liked my phrasing better.”
“I didn’t,”Ravikgrowled.
“No,Iimagine you didn’t.”Dr.Verityxturned his enormous eyes on theBeastKindredwithout a flicker of fear.“However,CommanderRavik, your discomfort does not change the biological facts.”
Ravik’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing andCassiewondered how the alien doctor had sensed the bigBeastKindredwasn’t happy about being here.Maybeit had to do with the way he was glaring at everyone like a freaking storm cloud about to break.
However,Dr.Verityxdidn’t seem too bothered.Hetapped the display again, and the pathway throughCassie’smouth and throat glowed brighter.
“The first route we must discuss is oral mucosal absorption,”Dr.Verityxcontinued.“Whenyou take seminal cream into your mouth, the activeKindredmarkers are absorbed through the mucous membranes of the tongue, cheeks, gums, and throat.Thesetissues are rich in blood vessels and immune receptors, which means they carry the markers rapidly into the bloodstream.”
Cassie felt her face getting hot as she remembered how much cream she’d swallowed on the way over toCherubinThree.
“Right,” she said, trying to sound calm and adult.“Oralabsorption, through the mucous membranes.Soundsvery scientific.”
“Exactly, because it is.”Dr.Verityxchirped.“Everythingthe three of you are going to do together in order to form this vaccine is in the name of science.Nowplease attend andI’lltell you why…CommanderRavik’scream containsBeastKindredimmune-aggression markers and altered anti-Hungerrecognition proteins, especially now that he has survived both infection and cure.CommanderSeverin’scream containsBloodKindredhealing precursors and carrier enzymes, though not as potent as his essence.Takenorally, both sets of markers prime your bloodstream and teach your immune system what to recognize.”
Cassie glanced atSeverin.
“Is that whyIfelt better after…you know?”
“Yes,”Severinsaid quietly.“Itwould explain the immediate drop in your symptoms after you drank from both of us.Yourbloodstream was being primed.”
Ravik shifted behind her, andCassiedidn’t have to look back to know he was uncomfortable.Shewondered if he was remembering what had just happened between the three of them in the shuttle.Washe regretting it?Regrettingletting her kneel between them as they pressed their shafts together so she could take both of them in her mouth at once?
The memory made her cheeks burn hotter and sent a little pulse of longing through her that she couldn’t deny.God, was she already wanting more?
No!she scolded herself.Youjust drank from both of them—you don’t need anymore right now.Stopthinking about sex and pay attention to the science, damn it!
Dr.Verityx, apparently unaware that he was making all three of them relive an incredibly intimate scene, tapped the display again.Nowthe pathway through the lower part of the holographic body lit up in green-gold.
“The second route is vaginal and cervical absorption,” he went on.“Thisis not merely another dose of the same material—it activates an entirely different immune and endocrine cascade.SincetheHungerVirushas embedded itself in your reproductive pathway, we must address that pathway directly.”
Cassie stared at the glowing diagram.
“So my mouth starts the vaccine and my pussy finishes it?”she asked, raising an eyebrow.
There was a small, choked sound fromSeverinandRavikmuttered something that sounded like a prayer and a curse put together butDr.Verityxdidn’t seem at all bothered by her blunt words.
“In simplified terms, yes!Excellentcomprehension,” he exclaimed.
Cassie nodded.
“Um, thank you.Imade anAin biology in high school.”
“That’s perfect because whatI’mshowing you is, in fact, simply biology,” the doctor assured her.“Oralexposure primes the blood, while vaginal exposure activates the reproductive-endocrine pathway.Onceboth routes have received both male marker sets, the medicationIwill administer can redirect your anti-viral response into the mammary glands, where it will be expressed as vaccine nectar.”
Cassie looked at the milking table again…the nipple cups seemed to be looking back at her.
“And by expressed, you mean milked out of me,” she said flatly.
