“What does that mean?”Cassandraasked.
“It means the nectar knows what to kill,”Dr.Verityxsaid.“Butnot how to remain stable long enough to teach another body how to resist infection before exposure.Atrue vaccine must not simply destroy theHungerVirus.Itmust create lasting immune recognition.”
“And we’re missing that?”she asked.
“Not entirely.Youhave the foundation,”Dr.Verityxsaid, sounding excited again.“CommanderRavik’scream provides powerful recognition-and-attack markers.CommanderSeverin’scream provides healing precursors andBloodKindredcarrier fragments.Yourbody is combining them beautifully in your mammary glands.Butthe final binding element is not present in sufficient strength.”
Sev’s hands closed slowly around his cup.
“My essence,” he said.
Ravik’s entire body went cold.Fuck—not the essence again!
Dr.Verityxbobbed his feathered head.
“Yes.Youressence is the living carrier medium.Yourseed contributes useful precursor markers, but the binding agent itself is produced in the essence glands and delivered most effectively through the fangs.”
Cassandra looked atSev, then atRavik.
“Delivered,” she repeated slowly.“Youmean biting.ThewaySeverinbitRavikto cure him of the virus in the first place.”
“Yes,”Dr.Verityxsaid.“Abite fromCommanderSeverinappears necessary to bind the vaccine response.”
Ravik pushed away his plate.
“I don’t like where this is fucking going.”
“It’s going where it needs to in order to make the vaccine.”
Sev didn’t look at him as he spoke, which only madeRavikangrier.
“Fuck that,” he growled.
“CommanderRavik,”Dr.Verityxsaid calmly, “Iunderstand this is culturally and emotionally difficult, but the data is clear.”
“You don’t understand shit,”Ravikgrowled.
“Ravik,”Cassiesaid softly.
He heard the worry in her voice and forced himself to stop.Notto calm down, because that was impossible, but at least stop growling at the owl doctor like he was anInfectedcrawling over the tower rail.
Dr.Verityxdid not look offended.Heonly tapped his tablet and a small hologram appeared above it, showing streams of gold and red markers twisting together and then fraying apart.
“The next treatment must be more complete,” he said.“Cassandrawill need one more full dose of cream from both males, delivered through the lower mucosal pathways simultaneously.Vaginaland rectal absorption together will activate the reproductive-mammary pathway and the pelvic lymphatic network at the same time, which should push her nectar production to peak broad-spectrum output.”
Cassandra’s cheeks went bright red.
“Wait…both at the same time?”she squeaked.
“I’m afraid so.”DoctorVerityxnodded.
Sev closed his eyes for half a second, a look of despair flitting over his face before it went carefully blank.
Ravik just stared at the owl-like doctor.
“Both our shafts in her at once,” he said, his voice flat.
“Yes.”Thedoctor nodded as though it was no big deal.
