by Kelly Goode
‘She’s awake.’
Blake’s voice sounded closer than before and her eyes flew open with surprise. She looked up and found both men standing over the bed. Blake’s green eyes seemed mildly amused, but what she saw in Jonah’s eyes caused an ache low down in her stomach. It was absolute hunger, and for a second she allowed herself the indulgence that maybe this alien did have feelings for her. It didn’t take long for her usual cynicism to kick in and remind her that it didn’t matter how Jonah felt. She was married and had no right to claim another man’s affections.
‘You gave me a bit of a scare. Are you ok?’ Jonah’s voice seemed to rumble from his chest, as he gently stroked the side of her face.
‘I think so. What happened?’
‘You passed out.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘Don’t be sorry. I was a confrontational jerk and you started partially shifted.’
‘Seems to be the reoccurring theme lately. I feel like the Hulk. He used to say, “don’t make me mad”, as it brought on his change. Whenever I lose control of my emotions, I feel something take over.’
‘We’re going to get through this.’
Lydia closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. She remembered the dead alien-hybrid she’d processed in Chief Melan’s office. His limbs had been a tangled mess of sinew and fur. His face had been contorted and half missing. She couldn’t end up like that.
‘I can’t end up like that,’ she said aloud, as she opened her eyes and sat up. ‘I saw the end result of this transformation and I’m scared. Really scared.’
Jonah squeezed her hand. ‘Don’t be scared. We’ll find a way to reverse the change.’
‘But what if we can’t?’
Jonah held her stare. ‘We’ll find a way.’
‘But I spoke to Doctor Peters.’
‘Helen Peters?’ he interrupted and she nodded.
‘Yes, do you know her?’
‘We have a mutual friend,’ he replied evasively.
‘She’s involved with someone. Well not someone, a jaktten I mean, and he said there wasn’t a way to counteract a bite.’
Jonah shared a glance with Blake.
‘It’s true,’ Blake said, as if answering Jonah’s silent question. ‘Viktor has claimed her.’
‘Fuck,’ he hissed under his breath. ‘Helen Peters is with the Prince of Jakttera.’
‘Former-prince. What do you care?’
‘It’s complicated.’
‘It’s always complicated when it comes to you. Does your interest in Helen and Viktor have anything to do with money?’
Lydia’s head went from side to side, as she followed their exchange like a tennis match.
‘How do you two know each other?’ she asked, hoping to diffuse the simmering tension.
‘I’m an information merchant,’ Jonah replied smoothly. ‘I know everyone. I also know there is a jaktten out there that claims he can stabilise a human after a bite. I’m going to persuade him to sell that information.’
‘How much is that going to cost me?’ Lydia asked, feeling a glimmer of hope appear on the horizon. ‘I have access to some savings, but most of my money is tied up in my house.’
Jonah lowered his head and kissed her forehead. ‘It’s not going to cost you anything. I’ll retrieve the information and bring it to you. It’s what I do.’
Tears filled Lydia’s eyes and she wiped them away. ‘Thank you.’
‘I’d do anything for you.’
Blake cleared his throat and Lydia realised her ice queen façade had been well and truly shattered.
‘I’ll leave you two alone,’ he said.
‘I’d appreciate if you kept what I told you about the bite to yourself,’ Jonah replied.
‘Who would I tell?’
‘Carson.’
‘Carson and I have bigger things to worry about. Much bigger things.’
‘Did you finally tell her your secret?’
‘Not quite,’ Blake replied sharply and then turned his attention solely on Lydia. ‘One piece of advice before I go: Jonah isn’t known for his loyalty. Be careful around him. You’ve already seen what happens when a jaktten loses control.’
‘I’m not scared of Jonah,’ she said, not liking the hesitant tone that crept into her voice without warning.
Blake’s gaze held hers and she felt the weight of his warning within their green depths. She had the feeling that he knew Jonah far greater than either of the men were letting on.
‘Maybe you should be.’
36
‘He’s not your biggest fan.’
Jonah glanced at Blake’s retreating form and shrugged.
‘We are natural enemies; an alien and an alien hunter. What did you expect?’
‘I got the impression that you knew each other on a personal level.’
‘I make it my business to know my adversaries,’ he replied. ‘I’d rather be stabbed in the stomach than in the back.’
‘I’d rather not be stabbed at all. The Invasive Species Control Unit wasn’t set up to fight jaktten.’
‘And yet they will,’ he said, reaching out and smoothing her dark hair away from her face. ‘When it comes down to it, they will fight us.’
‘Us?’
Jonah smiled as he realised how easily he’d put her in the same category at him. Her DNA was as much jaktten as human now. Her brown eyes met his and whatever she saw reflected back at her caused her to lower her eyelids. He guessed it was a mix of desire and possession, as his body throbbed with need for this human woman.
‘Is there really a jaktten out there that can control a human’s change?’ Lydia asked, clearly trying to change the subject. ‘I’m scared I’m going to hurt someone. If you hadn’t been here earlier, I don’t know what would have happened.’
‘I’m always going to be here, Lydia.’
She shook her head, as she got to her feet. ‘You shouldn’t say that. We don’t know what’s going to happen.’
Jonah immediately reached out to steady her, but she pushed his hand away.
‘I know exactly what’s going to happen,’ he said firmly. ‘You’re going to stay in bed.’
‘I’m fine.’
‘You need to rest.’
‘I said I’m fine,’ she snapped. ‘I need to get back to work.’
Jonah knew better than to argue, so followed her from the medical bay to the main laboratory, which was occupied by the young man he’d seen her leave with a few nights ago.
‘Adam, I’m glad you’re here,’ Lydia said. ‘I need you to take a sample of my blood.’
Adam raised his eyebrows, as she strode towards him but he wasn’t looking at her, he was looking at Jonah. It was immature, but he made sure he gave him his most intimidating stare and it seemed to work as the young man’s face paled and he averted his eyes.
‘Chief Melman was down here looking for you. He gave me a microchip and asked me to tell you that he needs the data reviewed urgently.’
‘Where is it?’
‘I left it on your desk.’
‘Thank you. Set up the syringe and vials. I’ll be right back.’
Adam nodded, and Lydia’s gaze briefly connected with Jonah’s before she left the laboratory. He took it as an invitation and entered the same small room that they’d been using before she’d passed out.
‘Ask me the question, Jonah,’ she said, as she took the microchip from its case and pushed into the reader attached to her computer. Jonah hovered beside her, his excitement at finally being so close to the information that Blake had recovered made him twitchy.
‘What question?’
‘The question burning inside you.’
‘Are you and Adam just friends?’
That wasn’t the real question Jonah wanted to ask, as he already knew Lydia wasn’t interested in her assistant and she knew it too. She shook her head and met his gaze resolutely.
‘There’s only one man that’s managed to distract me and although Adam i
s certainly capable and charming, he’s not interested in me like that, nor I in him…but you already knew that.’
‘I did.’
‘So ask me the real question.’
Jonah sighed and pushed a hand through his short hair and then down across his face.
‘Can I see what’s on the microchip?’ he finally asked, clearing his throat and anticipating a rejection.
‘Sure,’ she said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world to allow him to read the classified documents. ‘Two sets of eyes are better than one.’
He frowned. ‘Are you joking?’
Lydia unlocked her computer and clicked the button to retrieve the files from the microchip.
‘We both know that if I don’t give you access, you’ll find a way to do it anyway.’
‘I wouldn’t,’ he lied.
‘Yes, you would. You’re an information merchant. The risk would justify the reward. At least this way, you’re not going behind my back.’
Jonah traced the underside of her jaw with his finger and she shivered beneath his touch.
‘You’re an amazing woman.’
She typed in her password, but a warning alert flashed on screen.
‘Stop doing that,’ she said breathlessly. ‘I can’t concentrate.’
‘Not my fault,’ he replied, moving her hair to one side so he could trace the curve of her neck down to her collarbone.
‘It will be when my account is locked because I entered my password incorrectly again.’
Jonah held his hands up in admission.
‘I’m sorry, I won’t touch you again. I didn’t realise I had such a profound effect on you.’
‘You don’t,’ she snapped, although he noticed her lips lifted briefly into a small smile. ‘It’s because I’m still a little frazzled from passing out earlier.’
This time her smile grew wider, before she suppressed it. He loved it when she dropped her guard and allowed her true feelings to shine through. He watched her carefully press each button on her keyboard as she typed her password again. Old habits die hard, as the saying goes, and he committed the keystrokes to memory.
‘That’s better,’ she said, as the system finally whirred to life. Jonah could practically feel himself whirring to life too at the thought of unlimited access to the ISCU documents. All that information just waiting for him to harness and sell was like putting drugs in front of an addict.
‘Start by cross referencing anything in these files relating to jaktten bites while Adam takes my blood sample.’
‘OK.’
Lydia left the room and joined her assistant in the main laboratory. Jonah’s heart raced as he settled in the chair in front of the computer. He planned to search exactly what she requested, but there was something he needed to check first.
T-A-R-I-K
Jonah typed the letters into the search bar and pressed the start button. Within seconds, several files came back flagged. He felt giddy from the adrenaline rush. He double checked Lydia was preoccupied and then slipped a portable device into the USB port. He copied everything relating to Tarik, and then copied everything else. He couldn’t change his ways overnight and the information was worth a fortune to the right client.
37
‘Who’s the guy?’
Lydia tried not to glance over her shoulder to where Jonah sat at her computer in the adjoining room, but failed. Their eyes met and her stomach dipped, as he seemed to be coolly assessing how close Adam stood to her. She’d never had someone like Jonah in her life before. He was intense and self-assured, and she still wasn’t sure why he was interested in someone like her, but he was. She’d heard him say as much. She just had to figure out what to do about it.
‘He’s just a friend,’ she replied.
Adam frowned. ‘He looks as if he’s contemplating charging in here.’
‘Just don’t hurt me and he’ll be fine.’
‘Great, thanks Lydia. Why did you have to go and say that?’
Adam gathered together the equipment needed to draw a blood sample and she noted his hands shook when he placed the tourniquet around her arm and searched for a vein.
‘We still need a sample of Carson’s blood,’ she said, hoping to take his mind off the elephant in the room - that elephant being Jonah. ‘Have you spoken to her yet?’
Adam shook his head. ‘She was called to look at a crime scene yesterday. That one near your usual bus stop.’
‘What would that have to do with ISCU?’ Lydia asked, trying to ensure she kept her tone light and breezy.
‘The police think it was an animal attack. Carson’s cover story is that she works for animal control so one of the detectives asked for her opinion. Bet you’re glad you got that taxi home or else you could’ve stumbled into the middle it.’
Lydia felt Jonah’s bite mark heat up beneath the sleeve of her top and changed the subject.
‘We need to establish why Carson’s file was restricted, but carefully. If we make an accusation and we’re wrong, Chief Melman will kill us. Or worse, he’ll fire our arses and I’ll never work in alien forensics again.’
‘I didn’t mess up the test,’ Adam replied. ‘I don’t know why Carson’s DNA flagged up with alien markers, but I have faith in the science. I trust the result. That’s why I asked the chief to speak to her.’
‘You did what?’ Lydia felt light-headed. ‘I thought we agreed we couldn’t trust him.’
‘Carson doesn’t trust us either. This way, the order to submit a blood sample comes from her superior and she has no choice but to comply.’
‘What did you say to him?’
‘Only what you told me to say. That we needed to eliminate her DNA from the crime scene to make it easier to process. I asked for Blake’s blood too. I wanted to make the story more convincing, but the chief flat out refused.’
‘That’s interesting,’ she said.
‘You’re telling me. I’d go as far to say he even seemed a little freaked out by the request and you know it’s virtually impossible to ruffle the chief’s feathers. Damn, I can’t get a vein on this arm. Shall we try the other?’
‘No,’ Lydia snapped.
Adam frowned. ‘What’s wrong with your other arm?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Then let me try.’
‘No.’
‘Come on, Lydia. Don’t be a baby.’
‘I said no.’
Adam reached for her arm, but another hand closed around his wrist and stopped him touching her.
‘She said no.’
Lydia looked up and found Jonah beside her. He’d moved as stealthily as a predator and the expression on his face made her stomach drop and not in a good way this time.
‘Let go of me,’ Adam said, trying to pull away from Jonah. ‘I’m just doing my job.’
‘It’ll be harder to do with a broken wrist.’
Jonah’s eyes were no longer grey, but startling amber. His biceps were bunched so tightly that she could see the outline through his shirt. His aggression was palpable and called to that part of Lydia that she was trying hard to suppress. The distinct desire to sink her teeth into Adam’s flesh emerged like a thirst that could not be quenched and a growl escaped from the depths of her chest. She felt the skin on her hands stretch, as claws sprouted from her nailbeds.
Fortunately, Jonah noticed the change and immediately released his hold on Adam. He grabbed her shoulders, as she lunged. It was a short, frenzied attack and only Jonah’s strength stopped her teeth from making contact with Adam’s throat.
‘What the hell is wrong with you?’ he shouted, falling backwards but springing easily to his feet again. ‘You attacked me.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Lydia said, coming back to her senses. ‘I’m so sorry, Adam.’
Her knees weakened, as the adrenaline left her body as quickly as it had arrived.
‘She’s ill,’ Jonah said flatly, as Adam rubbed his throat. ‘She needs to go home.’
‘I think she
owes me an explanation first.’
‘She doesn’t owe you anything.’
‘She damn near ripped my throat out. And don’t think I didn’t see the freaky eye colour change. I may be new to this team, but I know enough to determine you’re an alien.’
Lydia looked down at her hands. Her claws had disappeared and she wondered if she’d hallucinated seeing them spring out of her nailbeds, but one look at the long red scratch on the side of Adam’s neck told her that wasn’t the case.
‘Sit down, Adam,’ she said. ‘I’ll tell you everything.’
38
Lydia stood at her kitchen window and watched the raindrops pummel the flowers in her garden. She felt a connection in the way they took a beating without grumbling. She felt as if she was taking knocks left, right, and centre at the moment and a single tear rolled down her cheek.
Adam had taken her admission about the jaktten bite first with surprise and then with curiosity. She realised she had unfairly misjudged his youthfulness for foolishness. Jonah had sworn him to secrecy under the threat of grievous bodily harm, but it wasn’t needed. Adam had agreed to help progress the examination of her DNA in search of a cure, which left her time to review Doctor Malone’s files from the microchip.
She’d watched the video journals with equal amounts of fascination and trepidation, as Malone spoke of his need to hide “Sabrina” from the desquamaters. The same Sabrina he later confessed to taking from her family and feeding with cats. There were pages and pages of documents to read too. Each one contained a formula or a calculation and she focused first on any that dealt with DNA mutations until her eyes burned with strain and Jonah insisted she called it a day.
‘Mum?’
The hesitant voice cut through her thoughts and she haphazardly wiped at her face as she turned and greeted her daughter.
‘Hey, Freya.’
‘Is everything alright?’
Lydia nodded. ‘I had something in my eye. Probably an eyelash or some dust.’