Page 28 of Return of the Nine

Tonos growled, “They have been alerted that I am unstable. The halls have been cleared all the way to medical so no one is injured.”

He seemed to be more coherent and less instinctive.

“What is going on? I know that you are exhibiting signs of finding your mate, but I am the only one here.”

He paused and turned to her. “You honestly can’t feel it?”

She blinked and then gasped when he surged toward her and bent her back in a kiss that stole her breath and her ability to think coherently.

When he righted her, he smiled and the pointed teeth that were endemic to the Nine were exposed. “Does that clarify things?”

She blinked. “No. But I want to try whatever you had for dessert.”

He laughed and some more sanity came back to him.

As they turned to re-join their companions, Rothaway looked resigned, and Ziggy looked horrified. The councillor turned his wife, and they continued to lead the way to medical.

Tonos’s grip on her hand was still warm and still sent pulses of energy up her arm, but she didn’t mind. Despite what her logic said, her instincts were screaming that he was the only one for her.

“Do your people put out pheromones?”

“Yes. They help in the seduction process. Are they working?” His amusement was palpable.

She blushed to her toes and was convinced that he could gauge exactly how far the colouration went. Fortunately for her, they arrived at medical at that moment.

Standing in the gel-lined container with an audience was a little weird, but the tall woman executing the exam was encouraging. “Breathe, Tiera MacKenzie. We need regular baselines.”

“I will breathe if Tonos gets whatever shot he needs. I am not going to give you a baseline until he calms down and his wings are no longer deadly.”

Tonos flicked his wings out. “No. I don’t want it to stop.”

“Fine, don’t stop it, but slow it down. I am not going anywhere for a while.”

His wings shifted and made the sound of steel sliding on steel.

She crossed her arms from within the safety of the scanner. “I am not getting out of here unless you take that shot or supplement or whatever.”

The giantess moved to a cabinet and prepared something that looked like a gun. “I will administer the shot now, Tonos, if you are willing.”

From within the capsule, Tiera focussed her peculiar talent on Tonos, and he nodded. “I will take the shot.”

When Dr. Meevin moved and gave Tonos the shot, Rothaway reached out to catch him. His wings quivered, and they began to return to normal.

Tiera nodded and leaned back to begin her scans. She made herself feel as normal as she could and relaxed into the embrace of the gel.

It took less than ten minutes for the scanners to chirp and the machine to right itself and release her.

Dr. Meevin was stunned, “We have never seen a psychic talent of this nature. You can actually force people around to your way of thinking.”

Tiera grinned, “It has been very handy in dealing with weddings. I can use my thoughts to bully folks into doing what I want. It isn’t subtle or graceful, but it gets the job done.”

Dr. Meevin shook her head. “This changes everything about your stay here, as well as your interaction with Tonos. It was no wonder he fell for you, you radiate power, my dear.”

Ziggy grinned, “I told you so.”

Tiera exited the pod and walked back into the main area of medical, cautiously approaching Tonos.

Rothaway stopped her. “It would be best if you didn’t touch him again, not until he is in complete control of himself.”

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