Page 37 of Heart’s Prisoner

"No need to be so uptight, sweetheart. Men don't find that shit attractive." He laughed. "Just some advice. But it's cool, I still like ya."

Lana didn't stop as she walked across the lab toward unit three. She realized she was the only one left before the night shift arrived. She glanced at Torrence as she went by and he gave her a cold stare before opening the door.

Once inside Xerus' unit, Lana went over to the transfer box and opened it.

"Not even a hello? I am a little hurt."

Lana paused, then set the food inside and closed the box. She put the tray on the table and went over to the wall controls and lifted the screen from the window. Xerus looked down at her curiously, his arm raised to the glass as he leaned against it.

"Sorry I, um, I'm just tired, is all, and..."

Xerus stiffened. He lowered his arm and his nostrils flared. "You have a mate."

Lana was dumbstruck. "I'm sorry...what?"

Xerus turned from her and moved from the window. "I can smell the male on you. Are you newly mated?" His tail curled behind him and Lana thought she caught the black shine of his fangs. His voice was clipped, almost cold.

Lana almost laughed. "No, no, you are wrong. Dead wrong."

Xerus glanced back at her, confused. "Dead wrong?"

"Yes. Really wrong."

Xerus turned back to her. "Then why do you smell like one of those males? His scent is all over you so he must have touched you."

Lana couldn't believe what she was hearing. She made a noise of frustration and picked up the tray. "Yes, he did touch me." Lana`s stomach twisted remembering the feel of Galger's heavy hand on her.

If Xerus had fur Lana suspected his hackles would be up. Then he seemed to calm. "Forgive me, I am not use to human customs. It confuses me. Do you not take mates?"

"We do and that's not something we need to discuss at this moment."

Xerus titled his head down and his eyes darkened. He looked like he was about to say something but thought against it.

"Now, I really am tired." Lana moved to the wall controls. She gave Xerus one quick glance, meeting his intense stare, before putting back the screen.

***

Lana gasped as she sprung upward from her bed. She stared wide-eyed into the darkness and blinked several times, knowing now she was awake. She untangled her legs from the sheets and dragged her feet over the side, sitting with her back bent forward and her head down. She took long, deep breaths and wiped away the damp hair clinging to her brow. She looked down confused and touched herself between her thighs to find her pajama shorts soaked. Cursing she flung them off along with her drenched tank and padded over to the bathroom.

These...nightmares were getting out of hand.

She turned on the shower and set it to cool then forced herself inside, wincing as the water rushed along her back. She tried not to think of the dream as she cleaned herself up but her mind was too wired and her control was slipping. Images of Xerus stepping out of the cell, coming toward her, had been a regular routine in her sleep. But the moments after were new. And disturbing.

Lana cursed again and shut her eyes, letting the water pour down her head. Images continued to assault her: Xerus inches from her, his tail sliding up her leg, his devilish hands on her hips, nails digging into her skin, pulling her closer. His tongue slipping out between black fangs and...

Lana shut the water off and stepped out. Shivering, she turned on the heater and a blast of hot air blew around her. When she was dry enough she shut the heater off and put on a robe, wrapping it tightly around her. She walked back out into her room and went for the computer.

As soon as she logged on she saw a message from Nicole in response to her email. Lana read it carefully, her expression growing more concerned as she skimmed through the message.

Lana,

Thank you for your concern for Dr. Kingsley. I assure you he is under the best of care and his condition is nothing to be worried about. But I thank you dearly for making me aware of the situation regardless. If you happen to notice any other odd occurrences down in twelve please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you!

Nicole Kingsley

If it wasn't something to be worried about then why did she want to know about any otheroddoccurrences on twelve? Something seemed off about the message but Lana couldn't figure what. She closed out the email but didn't move from her desk. Just sat for a long time, staring at nothing.

When the clock read 6:30 and the lights in her room began to slowly turn on, Lana decided it was time she got ready for the day. As she went about her morning routine, making coffee and warming a bagel then setting out her uniform, she heard the ding on her computer of another message coming through. Lana opened her email and saw it was from Jacob.

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