Page 17 of Pawsitive Data

Iris let out a decidedly unelderlike snort of laughter. “Oh, I like her.”

“She’s human,” another elder protested. “And apparently incapable of maintaining appropriate professional distance.”

“To be fair,” Emma cut in, “it’s hard to maintain professional distance when your boss’s pheromones keep announcing ‘mine’ every time someone looks at me.”

Lucas’s growl cut her off, but not because he wanted her to stop. The sound was pure possession, triggered by her casual acknowledgment of their bond.

“See?” Emma gestured at him enthusiastically. “The vocalization patterns align perfectly with traditional mate-claim behaviors in large cats, particularly when?—”

“Dr. Greene,” Malcolm interrupted smoothly, “the security breach, not your observations about my nephew’s... mating habits.”

“Of course, I believe the attack proves I can handle knowing about shifters. I mean, my first response to supernatural danger was scientific curiosity, so clearly I’m not the panicking type.”

She beamed at the council. “Plus, I can help with the fertility crisis, which seems more important than maintaining secrets I’ve already discovered.” She made a small gasp as if just realizing something. “Unless there are more surprises. Please tell me someone can breathe fire.”

ELEVEN

Lucas laughed and pulled her fully against his chest, uncaring of the council’s disapproving looks.

“No fire breathing,” he murmured in her ear. “Though I could show you what else I can do.”

Emma’s pulse jumped. “For real?”

“For real,” he agreed, letting his fangs drop just enough for her to feel them against her neck.

Her scent bloomed with attraction.

“If you two are quite finished,” Malcolm cut in icily, “we have serious matters to discuss.”

“More serious than the fact that shifter genetics are the most amazing thing I’ve ever studied and I might actually be able to help your species survive?” Emma straightened but didn’t leave the circle of Lucas’s arms.

“Though I’d need to run tests, preferably with blood samples from both forms. Your genetic structure is a scientific miracle and I really want to help and?—”

Lucas pressed his lips to her temple, cutting off her babble. There was no doubt. She was meant for him, meant for their people. A mind brilliant enough to solve their crisis wrapped ina package brave enough to face down their dangers with nothing but curiosity and a paper clip.

“The council needs to discuss this development,” one of the elders announced formally.

“Ooh, are you going to?—”

“Emma,” Lucas rumbled against her ear.

“Right. I’ll just...” She mimed zipping her lips, then immediately unzipped them. “But if you do shift, could I maybe take just one tiny DNA sample? For comparison purposes?”

Iris stood, commanding attention with the kind of natural authority that made Emma whisper “I want to grow up to be like her.”

“It seems clear,” Iris announced, “that not only has Dr. Greene already discovered our nature, but she’s potentially advanced our understanding of our own genetics further in one day than our researchers have in decades.”

She smiled warmly at Emma. “And she did so while treating our differences as fascinating rather than frightening. When was the last time any of us met a human whose first response to seeing a shifter was to try to help them?”

“While attempting to measure their muscle density,” one elder muttered, but he sounded more amused than angry now.

“The fertility crisis grows worse by the month,” Iris continued. “We need fresh perspectives. New approaches. And perhaps...” Her knowing gaze flickered between Lucas and Emma, “some new blood in our gene pool wouldn’t be amiss.”

Emma brightened. “Oh! You mean controlled genetic variation through careful introduction of compatible human DNA?” She glanced up at Lucas, blushing.

Malcolm jumped up from his seat and several elders scooted uncomfortably in their chairs. “Absolutely not. No human DNA?—”

Iris exerted power from her position of authority. “I move to officially sanction Dr. Greene’s research theories,” Iris said firmly. “And to grant her full access to our genetic records and medical facilities.” She paused, eyes twinkling. “Provided she promises not to attempt sample collection during any more security incidents.”

---