“Where’s the guest suite you told us about?Cassieneeds to rest.”
“Oh, right this way!”the lab assistant with the colorful crest exclaimed.“Please, allow me to lead you to it.”
“Thank you,”Severintold him, sinceRavikwas looking anxiously atCassandraagain and seemed entirely absorbed.
“Right this way.”Theassistant nodded and led them to the exit door of the lab.
But as they walked,Severincouldn’t help thinking about whatDr.Verityxhad said—that the three of them had already formed a bond and it was going to hurt like allSevenHellswhen they had to break it.
57
CASSIE
The world swam dizzily around and around untilCassiehad to close her eyes to keep from feeling sick.Luckily,Ravikhad a smooth gait and he carried her like she weighed next to nothing—which was certainly not the case.
Cassie barely caught glimpses of the lab complex through slitted eyes.Shesaw long curved corridors lined with green glass panels, bright diagnostic rooms where bird-like lab assistants bent over glowing instruments, and wide windows that looked out over a landscape she couldn’t quite process.
CherubinThreeseemed to be a world of high white towers, enormous silver-leafed trees, and pale gold sky, all of it blurred around the edges because the dizziness kept making her vision swim.
It might have been beautiful…it also might have been one more alien planet where people wanted to hook her up to medical equipment and do extremely personal things to her body in the name of science, soCassiedecided to reserve judgment.
Ravik carried her as easily as if she weighed nothing at all, one big arm behind her back and the other under her knees.Hischest was warm and solid against her cheek, and she could hear the steady thud of his heart under her ear.Itwas comforting, even though he was still tense enough that his muscles felt like stone beneath her hand.
Severin walked close on her other side, keeping pace with them.Everyso often his fingers brushed her wrist or the back of her hand, as though he was checking her pulse without making a big production of it.Ormaybe he just needed to touch her as much as she needed him to touch her.Cassiewasn’t sure, and she was too woozy to sort it out.
Their guide,Lipshill, fluttered ahead of them down the corridor.Thecolorful crest on his head bobbed with every step, opening and closing like a little rainbow fan whenever he spoke.Hehad a long narrow beak, glossy blue-black feathers around his face, and bright yellow eyes that kept darting back to make sure they were following.
“This way, please!Thefinest guest suite is reserved for medically significant reproductive incubation cases,” he chirped.“Youwill find it most soothing,Ithink.Veryprivate, very comfortable, and equipped with everything required for extended cooperative treatment.”
Cassie cracked one eye open.
“Extended cooperative treatment?”she mumbled.
Lipshill’s crest fluttered wider.
“Yes!Dr.Verityxbelieves your cooperative endocrine exchange may require repeated applications.Thesuite is designed for rest, nourishment, comfort, and copulation.”
Cassie closed her eye.
“Again with the copulation,” she muttered.
Severin made a low, concerned sound beside her.
“Are you all right, sweetheart?”he asked softly.
“No,” she said.“ButI’mnot sure which partI’mobjecting to most right now—the dizziness, the boob medicine, the zombie virus, or the fact that apparentlyI’vebeen assigned to a sex suite by an owl doctor.”
Ravik’s chest rumbled under her cheek, almost like he was trying not to laugh.
It was the first sound of amusement she’d heard from him in what felt like forever, and it made her feel warm and gooey inside.Shewanted to look up at him and see if his mouth was actually twitching, but opening her eyes still made the hallway spin, so she decided to stay where she was.
“Where’s the fucking suite?”Raviksaid gruffly.“Cassieneeds to rest.”
“Yes, yes, of course.”Lipshillhurried faster, his crest bobbing.“Restand nourishment first.Thenwhatever level of treatment her body requires.Thesuite sensors will alertDr.Verityxif her distress markers rise too high.”
That gotCassie’sattention.
“There are sensors in the room?”she asked, opening both eyes this time and immediately regretting it when the walls did a slow, nauseating tilt.
