Ravik wanted to help her but he was terrified of what helping would require.HeandSeverinhad already gone so far down the path of damnation—it felt like one more step would ruin him forever.
The door chimed before he could continue that line of thought, which was probably for the best.
Cassandra looked toward the door panel andSevset down his cup at once.
“Enter,” he called.
The door slid open andDr.Verityxstepped inside, still wearing his green lab coat and looking entirely too cheerful for a male who was probably about to ruin all their lives.
His golden eyes were bright, his feathers were sleek, and he had a data tablet tucked under one feathered arm.Behindhim,Lipshillhovered briefly in the corridor before chirping something about “additional nourishment being available upon request” and disappearing again.
“Ah, excellent, excellent,”Dr.Verityxsaid, looking at the dishes on the table.“Youare eating.Thisis good.Verygood.Nutritionalsupport is essential during high-output nectar production and repeated seminal contribution.”
Cassandra closed her eyes.
“Doctor,Iambeggingyou not to say ‘seminal contribution’ whileI’meating,
she said dryly.
“My apologies.”Dr.Verityxblinked at her.“Wouldreproductive donation be preferable?”
“No.”
“Cream production?”
“Also no.”
“ThenIshall simply say contribution,” the owl-doctor said.
“Thank you.”Cassiesighed.“IguessI’lltake it.”
Ravik’s mouth twitched despite himself.
ThenDr.Verityx’sfeathers shifted, and his expression became more serious.
“I have preliminary results from the nectar collected this morning.Theyareextremelypromising, but alas, the nectar is not yet sufficient for full vaccine development.”
The humor in the room vanished abruptly.
Cassandra set down her fruit.
“Not sufficient?Ifyou knew what the three of us did together—”Shebroke off abruptly, her cheeks going pink.
“Not yet,” the doctor said quickly.“Butplease do not be discouraged.Thesample is extraordinary.Itneutralized multipleHungerViruscultures, including theRavik-adapted strain and twoVisskousvariants.Italso showed early immune-training behavior, which is precisely what we need for a vaccine.”
Sev leaned forward, suddenly all scientist.
“But it degraded,” he guessed.
Dr.Verityx’shead swiveled toward him.
“Yes—exactly.Aftera brief period of broad-spectrum activity, the sample began to lose cohesion.Theattack markers remained strong, but the carrier structure destabilized.”
Sev’s face went still.
“I…see,” he said slowly.
Ravik didn’t like that look on theBloodKindred’sface one fucking bit.Somethingwas happening, he could tell—something he wouldn’t like when he finally understood it.
