Page 40 of Blazing Reactions

“Something amusing about perimeter breaches?” Talon asked dryly.

“No, just Lori...” Levi cleared his throat, fighting a smile. “Providing technical input.”

Another buzz. Asher caught a glimpse of the messages:

Lori:When you’re so serious, your forehead does that cute wrinkly thing.

Levi:Trying to give a security report!

Lori:Multitask, dragon boy. Also, you still owe me dinner.

Levi:You’re impossible.

Lori:You like it.

“Technical input. Right.” Talon smirked. “Tell your ‘technical advisor’ that if she makes you blush during one more briefing, I’m revoking her security clearance.”

“I do not blush,” Levi protested, definitely blushing.

“The great Levi Matthews, undone by a tiny hacker,” Talon mused. “Who would have thought?”

“Says the dragon who purrs when his mate talks about data analysis?”

“Touché.”

“Okay, back to why I’m here. The sanctuary’s wards are holding,” Levi said, dropping into a chair. “Though I’d feel better if you’d let me double the patrols.”

“Dimitri’s forces are too dwindled to worry about that now. We need to focus on stopping his hybrid experimenting.”

“How?” Levi asked.

That answer, he didn’t have.

The hospital room door opened and Everett returned, this time with their father in tow. Nathaniel Andrews was alreadydeep in conversation with himself, working out equations on a notepad.

“If we adjust the quantum resonance frequency...” Nathaniel muttered, nearly walking into a wall before Everett steered him clear.

“Dad’s been working on theories about hybrid DNA stabilization,” Everett explained unnecessarily. “He hasn’t slept in about thirty hours.”

“Forty-two,” Nathaniel corrected absently. “The calculations suggest... hmm.” He blinked at Talon as if just noticing him. “Ah, good. I need a blood sample.”

“Dad,” Asher sighed from the bed, “you can’t just ask people for blood samples.”

“But the quantum harmonic?—”

“No,” Evadne and Bennett said simultaneously.

Nathaniel deflated slightly until Talon spoke up. “Perhaps later, sir. If it might help understand what happened.”

Asher’s father brightened immediately. “Excellent! I’ll calibrate the?—”

“Later,” Evadne stressed, herding both husband and son toward the door. “After you’ve slept. And showered.” She sniffed pointedly at Everett. “Both of you.”

Asher’s warm amusement at her family’s antics mixing with bone-deep exhaustion was evident in her smile. He adjusted his position carefully, letting her lean more fully against him.

“Your family is...”

“Intense?” she offered sleepily.

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