Total pages in book: 165
Estimated words: 159487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 797(@200wpm)___ 638(@250wpm)___ 532(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 159487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 797(@200wpm)___ 638(@250wpm)___ 532(@300wpm)
Cassandra swallowed hard.
“So both of them in me at once and then Severin has to bite me?” she asked.
“Not just you,” Dr. Verityx said. “He must also inject his essence into Commander Ravik—after he bites you, of course.”
The room went silent—so silent that Ravik could hear his own heart pounding. He could hear Cassandra’s breath catch and Sev’s cup settle against the table with a soft, almost careful click. He could hear the hum of the suite sensors and the faint whisper of wind through the silver leaves outside the window.
He could also hear his own voice from earlier, sharp and angry, throwing words like weapons.
Hell, I’ll suck his cock or let him suck mine, if that’s what it takes to cure you.
He had meant it as fury—as proof of his commitment. As a line so extreme it showed how far he was willing to go for Cassie. He could do filthy things if science demanded them. He could close his eyes, grit his teeth, and endure the shame because Cassie needed him.
But this wasn’t just ordinary sharing they were talking about. Blood Kindred didn’t bite during sex unless they wanted to Bond the person they were biting to them for life.
This wasn’t just sex—this was Bonding Sex and it formed a permanent connection—a Soul Bond that could never be broken.
“No,” he said. “No, I’m not fucking doing that.”
Sev looked at him then and the pain in his face was worse than anger would have been.
“Ravik,” he said quietly.
“No.” Ravik stood up, because sitting still suddenly felt impossible. “I already let this go too fucking far. I said I would help make the vaccine. I gave Cassie my seed. I shared her with you last night and again this morning. I let myself stand beside you, both of us sucking her breasts while she had that damn thing inside her, because she needed us and because the doctor said it was necessary. But this is different and you know it!”
Dr. Verityx tilted his head.
“Different because it may form a permanent bond? I know Kindred anatomy and physiology is wired in that direction.”
Ravik rounded on him.
“Don’t fucking say that like it’s a nothing but a lab result!” he growled.
“It is a lab result of sorts,” the doctor replied, unruffled. “But it is also an emotional and spiritual concern, which is why consent remains essential.”
Cassie put a hand to her throat and her eyes went wide.
“Would it really Bond the three of us together?” she asked softly. “I mean, if you both were in me and you bit me and Ravik?”
Sev’s face tightened.
“It might,” he said in a low voice. “I can’t rule it out.”
Ravik’s heart fisted in his chest.
There it was—the truth. Not hidden behind nectar or vaccines or viral pathways. Not wrapped in Dr. Verityx’s cheerful chirping or Sev’s careful scientific explanations. If they did this—if he and Sev both entered Cassie at the same time and Sev bit them both while she was producing the vaccine nectar—it might Bond them—all three of them—together.
Forever.
Dr. Verityx’s feathers shifted as he looked between them. “Based on your samples and your dependence markers, I suspect the Triune bond is already attempting to form. This final treatment may only complete what your bodies have begun.”
Ravik laughed once, harsh and humorless.
“My body isn’t fucking participating in this. It’s too fucking far.”
“Ravik,” Cassie said and the tone of her voice made him look at her.
She was sitting on the bed in the red silk robe, her eyes wide and wet, her hair loose around her shoulders. She looked tired and beautiful and so full of longing it made him ache.
Ravik could see hope in her eyes, could smell the need and the fear she was trying not to show.
“Ravik,” she said again. “I won’t ask you to do this if you can’t. But please think about it before you say no. You and Severin belong together—I can see that. And I love you both. Would it really be so bad to stay together forever, like we were in the bunker?”
Ravik felt like she was holding his heart in her soft little hand and squeezing.
If she had begged, if she had demanded, if she had said he owed her this because she was suffering and because the vaccine might save thousands, he could have refused easily. But she was giving him a choice and saying she loved him—loved them both.
That hurt because what she was asking was forbidden. Why couldn’t she fucking understand that, Ravik wondered.
Sev stood slowly.
“There may be another method,” he said, though his voice was strained. “Dr. Verityx and I can review the data again. Perhaps an essence extraction could be stabilized outside the body if we—”
“No,” Dr. Verityx said, and for once his chirping voice was entirely serious. “I am sorry, Commander Severin. We tested that pathway with your previous sample. Your essence degrades too quickly outside a living exchange. The vaccine requires peak Triune output, simultaneous marker delivery, and direct essence binding.”