“Well,Isee the virus in your blood, but it isn’t multiplying.Orat least, it isn’t multiplyingyet.”TheBloodKindredlooked up from the scope and stared at her speculatively.“Ithink we need to keep you here to study this phenomenon.Butfirst, we need to see where you were bitten or scratched.Ravik—strip her.”
6
CASSIE
Cassie was equal parts relieved and horrified.Itwas good to know she’d be allowed to stay in the bunker.Butshe didn’t want to be kept in a cage like a scientific specimen and shedefinitelydidn’t want to be stripped naked in front of the two huge warriors!Afterall, theKindredmade a big deal out of the fact that they never forced or raped women, but they were far from theMotherShiphere—all bets were off.
But she barely had time to struggle beforeRavikwas pulling her red silk robe and nighty off—unwrapping her like a greedy child might unwrap a gift atChristmas.
Before she knew it,Cassiewas standing in the middle of the room with her arms crossed over her breasts and her thighs pressed tightly together, trying her best to hide her “lady bits,” as her grandmother had always called them.
“Please relax,I’mnot going to hurt you,”Severinsaid, stepping closer.Thecool overhead light winked off the lenses of his glasses, rendering them opaque so she couldn’t see his eyes.
“Yeah, right!”Cassiespat.“Ofcourseyou’re not going to hurt me.You’rejust going to rape me—that’s all.”
“What?”Severinsounded genuinely shocked.“RavikandIareKindredwarriors—we revere and worship theGoddessand the divine feminine that resides in all women.Wewouldneverforce ourselves on you.”
“Then why make your big friend strip me?”Cassiedemanded.“Andwhy is he sniffing me again?”
BecauseRavikhad stepped up behind her and had his face pressed to the side of her neck once more.Tohis credit, his hands were on her shoulders—not her breasts or anywhere else—but it was still unnerving to have a seven-foot-tall alien warrior sniffing you while you were stark naked,Cassiethought.
“Ravik, stop that,”Severinordered.Helooked atCassie.“Ineed you naked becauseIhave to know how many times you were bitten or scratched and youclearlycan’t be trusted to tell the truth since you lied about being infected.”
He was clearly still miffed about being called a rapist butCassiewas prepared to call him a lot worse if he orRaviktried anything.Andthough theBeastKindredhad pulled back some, she could still feel his hot breath against the side of her neck as he inhaled her scent.
Suddenly, he surprised her by speaking in her ear.
“No hurt you,” he rumbled in a voice so deep she could feel it vibrating through her entire body.“Noforce females.Femalessacred.Kindredmust never hurt them.”
The angry, offended look fell ofSeverin’sface to be replaced with an expression of shock.
“That’s the most he’s spoken in months!”he exclaimed.“Andhe’s almost speaking in complete sentences!”
“So…what does that mean?”Cassieasked, frowning.Shewas still trying desperately to cover herself and it felt odd to be having a conversation with a strange male while she was buck naked.
“What does itmean?”Severinrepeated.“Why—don’t you see?He’sfollowing our conversation—he understands what you’re afraid of and he’s trying to reassure you.”Hetapped his temple with one long finger.“Thatindicates higher brain function—which is the first thing to go when the virus really takes hold.Somethingis bringing him back.”
“So…this is normal behavior for him?Allthis…sniffing?”Cassieindicated the way theBeastKindredwas still inhaling her scent—though at least he no longer had his face pressed to the side of her neck.
“No, of course not,”Severinsaid impatiently.“Buthe’s more himself now than he has been in months.Imean, he’s moreherewith me—with us—mentally.”
“Well,I’mhere too andI’mnaked,”Cassiesaid bluntly.“Imean,I’mhappy your friend is talking again, but can we please finish this soIcan get dressed again?”
“Fine.”Severingrew cold again, his glasses flashing blankly as he nodded his head.“Spreadyour arms please and let me see you—allof you.”
“Spread my arms so you can see all my lady bits?Idon’t think so,”Cassiesnapped.
Severin sighed.
“Fine—we’ll do it the hard way.Ravik—spread her arms for me.”
“Hey!”Cassieprotested but the massiveBeastKindredwas already taking her by the wrists and spreading her arms wide.Sincehe was still standing behind her, she felt like they were in the classic “Titanic” pose.
OnlyRosewasn’t butt-naked when she andJackstood on the prow of the ship,whispered a sarcastic little voice in her head.
She didn’t know when she’d felt more vulnerable…more naked.Butthere was nothing she could do about it.
To his credit, the bigBloodKindreddidn’t leer at her or make any remarks about her body but he wasextremelythorough.Helooked between her fingers and toes and inspected her inner thighs.Heeven ran his fingers through her hair and looked at her scalp, which sent more shivers down her spine.
