Page 77 of Her Psycho Beasts

I glance at my dragon brother, because Xander knows exactly where this is.

“There was one guy, a higher up general or something,” Sabrina says, holding Connor’s hand. “He was awful. It was like he knew just how to get to me, you know? Said he’dresearchedabout me. Knew I hated closed spaces.” She swallows, tugging her hood lower looking around the large room as if reminding herself that she is no longer there. “He was completely mental. The cells just kept getting smaller and smaller, until eventually…” She shudders and I watch her aura closely. It shifts from grey storm clouds to black.

“Did they speak to you?” I say quickly, aiming to detract her from the dark place she’d just entered. “Did they reveal what they wanted?”

Her eyes focus on me and she nods. “They told me a lot, actually. I was pretty surprised. They didn’t seem like they were even hiding from me, really.”

I nod encouragingly.

“They wanted me for my ability to manipulate tiny objects,” Sabrina says bravely. “But I never expected them to ask me to manipulate something so fucking small. I called them insane, but they just went about their business like it was nothing. I think they’ve been doing this for a while.” She looks at Aurelia. “I thought about you, and your dad, and how he wanted you for a breeding pen.” She shudders. “I couldn’t believe it. I just couldn’t.”

“Believe what?” Aurelia asks softly. “What did they want you to manipulate?”

“They’ve been trying to do IVF,” Sabrina says. “Trying to make babies of rare orders without the conception ritual, except…it wouldn’t work. The cells would never work together. They wouldn’t tell me what orders, but I can guess…”

Dragons. Phoenixes. Shoe-bill storks. Komodo dragons.

Boneweavers.

Animas go into heat every month, their bodies ovulating and giving them the opportunity to create children. But being a magical species, our bodies have evolved to require aconsciouscreation of offspring. There must be a deliberate merging of powers from both anima and animus.

They were trying to bypass that magical process using technology.

Aurelia lets out a long sigh. “So, what exactly did they wantyouto do?”

Sabrina shakes her head. “They wanted me to try to…” She scratches her nose awkwardly, then raises her two index fingers and squashes them together. “Telekineticallymake it happen in the lab.”

Connor and Aurelia gasp at the same time. Raquel, already privy to this information by way of the other wolves under my command, shakes their head in dismay.

“They’re trying new ways to create embryos of dying orders,” I confirm, then turn to Aurelia. “That is one of the reasons Mace was in contact with Fredrick Ulman, the biologist.”

“That guy that kept all those feline animalia captive?” Stacey gasps.

Lyle nods. “My captor, yes.”

“Who Aurelia executed,” Sabrina says firmly.

“Right,” Savage says. “He’s as dead as they come.”

I cast my brother a sharp look, but Sabrina didn’t hear him. She’s still thinking about what happened next in her story.

“Then they moved me and I knew for sure ithadto be the Clawson’s place because it smelled all…dirty tiger. Most of them are feral. They don’t even shower daily.”

Minnie makes a disgusted sound. “The smell was the first thing I noticed. Grubby bastards.”

“Indeed,” Marduk says. “They are known for it. The only place that was clean was Titus’ hospital room.”

Minnie abruptly stiffens. Had I been there, I would have arranged for Titus’ death, but the Devi pack were too honourable to ask for such a thing.

“But why did they move you?” asks Lia, quickly changing the subject. “For what purpose?”

Sabrina’s grey complexion pales further. “They…” She presses her lips together, unable to find the words.

“Because Titus wants a new pack,” Marduk explains gently. “They likely wanted to consummate a bond and pledge her allegiance to the Clawsons.”

“It would have happened, too,” Sabrina whispers. “Until two of my guards turned out to be my mates. But then news about Brutus’ death came through, and the place became a madhouse.”

Xander subtly turns towards the door, and my ears pick up the pounding feet five seconds later.

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