Both males went instantly still.
Ravik took a step back andSeverinlifted both hands, palms out, though his gaze remained fixed on her arm.
“Did we hurt you, sweetheart?”he asked softly.
“No.”Hervoice sounded shaky.“No, it’s not pain.It’s…it’s like…”Shestopped, mortified.
“Like what?”Severinasked softly.
Cassie shot him a glare.
“Like somethingIdonotwant to describe—especially not while standing in the kitchen after supper.”
Understanding flickered across his face.
“Pleasure?”he murmured.“Isthat what you feel when we get too close?“Desire, maybe?”
She closed her eyes.
“I hate this conversation.It’sso freakingembarrassing.”
“Cassandra, you don’t have to be embarrassed.Youjust?—”
“Yes, okay?”she snapped, opening her eyes again.“It’spleasureanddesire.Whenyou touched me, the bite wound sent heat all through me, and whenRavikgot close, it got worse…or better.”Sheshook her head.“Idon’t even know anymore.”
Ravik made a distressed sound.
“Cassie is sick?”he asked, sounding worried.
“I don’t know,” she said, and the honesty in her own voice scared her more than the glowing wound.“Idon’t knowwhatIam.”
The room went quiet and for a moment, the only sound was the low hum of the bunker’s ventilation system and the faint clink of a bowl settling against another on the counter.
Cassie stared down at her arm, watching the glow pulse beneath her skin, and the terrible truth she had been avoiding all day finally rose up and looked her in the face…
She was infected.
Not like theVisskousand not likeRavik.Shewasn’t going to start hungering for living flesh or losing her mind but she was infected just the same.
And the infection was getting worse.
She could ignore an ache between her thighs.Shecould ignore tight nipples and embarrassing fantasies and the urge to take three showers in one afternoon.Shecould even ignore the way bothKindredwarriors seemed to know exactly what she was feeling every time she got too close to them.
But she couldn’t ignore this—her body was literallyglowing.
“OhGod,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around herself.“OhGod, what amIgoing to do?”
Ravik took one careful step toward her.
“Cassie?”he said, and there was so much worry in his deep voice that it nearly broke her.
Severin’s expression softened.
“We need to get you to the lab.”
Cassie gave a short laugh that sounded more like a sob.
“There it is.Iknewthe lab was coming.”
