Page 23 of Betrayed Pregnant Mate

“Actually,” Maisie says, her voice shaking a little bit as she half-heartedly raises her hand to get Aris’s attention. “I thought Veronica might be useful in developing a sort-of…vaccine? Against the vampire venom?”

Aris’s eyes widen, and he nods between Veronica and Maisie.

“Veronica,” Aris says, “would you be willing to participate in the creation of a vaccine? If it requires testing and samples from you, I’d assume?”

Maisie nods, and Veronica plays with the end of her ponytail, as though thinking.

“I’m willing to help until Percy is healed,” she says, “but after that, I still plan to leave Rosecreek.”

A shiver runs up my back at the thought.

“A vaccine would certainly be beneficial,” Aris says, “permission to focus all your efforts on that endeavor for the time being. After the analysis of the wolfsbane sample is complete, that is. We need confirmation that it’s the same strain. When Rosa returns, I’m sure she’ll be interested in helping with the vaccine development, as well.”

“Thank you, sir.” Maisie squeaks out.

“Veronica,” Aris says, turning to her. “Linnea had mentioned that you were planning to leave—but while you’re here, would you like an appointment at the local clinic? You’re under to obligation to accept, but I thought you might like something to occupy your time.”

I would like to occupy her time. I’d like to take her back to my apartment right now and not let her leave until I’ve touched every inch of her body. But that’s not going to happen.

When I see Veronica’s face light up at the idea of working in the clinic, warmth spreads in my chest, and I can’t help thinking that it might be one extra point in Rosecreek’s column, something to make her glad she stuck around.

“That would be wonderful,” Veronica says, and Aris says he’ll send her over the information and get her in touch with the coordinator there.

“Alright,” Aris says, “let’s run through our objectives. Olivia and Byron, keep looking through those hard drives. Send me a report each day of what you find, but if it’s something urgent, come and find me. Maisie and Veronica, you’re working on that vaccine. Ado and Percy, I’m sending you to scope out an address that Olivia uncovered in the hard drives.”

My heart is beating so hard that it might leap out of my chest. Aris doesn’t give the moment any extra fanfare, or acknowledge it, but this is the first time he’s sent me out on assignment since I got the antidote.

When Ado’s eyes meet mine across the table, I can immediately feel that he knows how big this is for me. A rush of companionship rushes through me, and I get to my feet, a full smile stretching over my face.

“Okay,” I say, bouncing on my heels, “let’s go!”

Chapter 11 - Veronica

I’m outside the clinic, shaking hands with the clinic’s coordinator, Daphne when I see movement from the corner of my eye. Before even turning fully to see him, I know who it is.

The person I thought I would never see again. The guy I thought was shaken from my trail when Percy kept me in that basement for over two weeks.

“Do you know him?” Daphne asks, tracing my stare to where he’s standing, waiting for cars to pass so he can cross the street. Although he’s been following me around for years, he’s never actually spoken to me directly, and my skin prickles at the thought that he might be heading this way to confront me.

He’s ruggedly handsome in a way that might appeal to someone who isn’t terrified and annoyed by his presence, with a mop of dark brown curls and a well-groomed beard. When I’ve described him to the police departments, I’ve guessed that he’s around six feet tall, but he doesn’t look it because he’s the stocky kind of person with enough muscle that he seems a little shorter than he actually is.

To my horror, he looks both ways and crosses the street, heading toward me.

My brain is split—on one hand, it might be nice to finally confront him, tell him to leave me the hell alone, but on the other, I know that confronting stalkers can just motivate them more.

“Veronica,” Daphne says, putting her hand on my arm. “Are you okay? You’re looking a little pale.”

My heart is skipping around in my chest, trying to find a regular beat. My mouth tastes like battery acid, and my mouth is suddenly dry. It doesn’t matter what I want or don’t want—this is happening now. He’s nearing us, with a determined look that sends pure ice flooding through my body.

“Hey,” someone else says, and I see Linnea approaching Daphne’s side. “What’s going on?”

“This guy—” Daphne starts, then stops when a Ford Bronco comes to a sudden halt in the parking space next to us, and Percy comes tumbling out, all legs and limbs, not at all like the trained special ops agent he’s supposed to be.

He looks up after catching himself from face-planting on the ground, clearing his throat, and meeting each of our eyes.

“What is it?” he asks, a murderous look behind his gaze. “It felt like something was wrong—”

At this moment, my stalker finally gets near enough to us that he can talk, and he stops a few paces away, raising his hand and looking quizzically at the scene.

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