Page 76 of The Way You Bite
“Yes,” said Jacob. “It’s a mutated corona virus like FIP, which leaves immune complex depositions. Once I found out I was sick from the virus, I built this facility and studied with one of the best virologists in Canada. We continue to search for a cure. I have hope even if I may not be around to benefit from it.”
“But FIP is incurable in cats. It’s a slow death.”
Lexan said, “Recent information has surfaced that the virus was released by authorization of the Italian DiFalcos.”
“Why would they want to kill you? I thought they wanted you as slaves again?”
“I think we’ve progressed far beyond enslavement. When we fight this time in the open, it’s to the death. They hope to weaken us by eliminating all our ancient ones, the ones who remember how to fight.”
“Except you.” He was at risk. She already knew he was at risk from assassination, but maybe this was part of the reason for his seclusion.
“I’ve been exposed, but I didn’t get sick. All of my boys have been exposed, but for some reason we didn’t get ill. To expose us they must have a werewolf working for them who knows where we live.”
“A traitor.” Her mind whirled. Unable to do much with a traitor scenario, she focused on the science. That was something she understood and could dissect. “It’s like FIP, then. The mutated virus doesn’t have virulence for all cats, although veterinarians aren’t sure why.” She wanted to figure out the mystery. Her mind bounced between human medicine and veterinary.
“I won’t let you get involved,” Lexan said.
She scowled.
He held up his hand. “The ones at most risk are the demisangs, like you. They all die, and more rapidly than any pureblood wolf.”
“We’re in the safest end of the facility. It’s not an aerosolized contagion that we know of, but precaution is important.” Jacob waved at her mask. “I wanted to meet you. Blay told me about you and Lexan. It’s a gift to have each other.”
“We shall leave you, then.” Lexan nodded his head and moved to exit.
Jacob grabbed her arm as she turned to go. His grip hurt. She tugged to release.
He whispered. “You have to finish my work, Vee. You have to. The only one who can understand this is you.” He thrust a flash drive into her palm. “I’ll be dead within the next day or two. It’s up to you now to help them and carry on my research.”
She yanked her arm away and followed Lexan out of the facility, fingering the flash drive.
The sun had set, the air crisping without daylight. A blue hue from a full moon on its rise bathed the trees. It lured her with the freedom to run and feel the wind on his face.
She hugged her arms.
“Are you cold?”
“A bit. Where exactly are we?”
“Quebec. One of Blay’s estates.” He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his body. She relaxed into him. “He’s got thousands of acres here. Lots of space to be free. He’s owned it for decades. Like many of us, he collects properties across the globe.”
She gazed up at the two-story antebellum house with a wrap-around porch. It was out of place and time in Canada. It should be a house on the coast of the southern United States, somewhere with water and mosquitoes. Somewhere with plantation fields, huge wicker fans, and everyone wearing white.
“It’s a pretty house. What’s your house like?” She wondered if Lexan’s house was equally out of time.
“I have four. They are each unique.”
“Of course you have several. You’re the werewolf king.”
“My having homes has nothing to do with my position as leader of our people. I chose a few places across the world I liked. Each is remote and highly secure. I’d like to show them to you.”
She smiled up at him. “That sounds nice.”
…
He liked her in his arms, even if she was only using him for warmth, and fought the urge to bury his face in her soft hair. If he did, he’d push for a repeat. Sex wasn’t everything. He wanted to slow down their relationship, which seemed to be strapped onto a rocket. He wanted to talk with her, to know her. But he wasn’t sure how to do that when now he had to help her through the most terrifying part of any werewolf’s existence.
He’d never really been interested in the slow-down part of a relationship.
