Megans Mark (Breeds 6)

"Nothing more at all?" Elyiana arched her brow curiously. "Strange, start talking about that barb and the hormone levels and your pulse rate go sky high. Has Braden ever mentioned that subterfuge has a scent?"

"Actually, he says a lie does," she retorted calmly.

Elyiana smiled demurely. "One could say denial comes in many forms," she pointed out. "As do lies. And the scent changes for each. You can keep your secrets for only so long, Megan. Eventually you have to face the consequences of the Mating and its reactions on your body. Hiding it will do you no good, and it will do nothing but make it harder to help you and Braden. "

"We're doing fine. " Megan frowned at the subtle chastisement. "No problems whatsoever. "

"Very well. " The doctor tilted her head in a small, mocking nod. ''I'll

leave you in peace to calm your mate. Jonas is rather good at inciting his anger. "

Megan's shoulders dropped. "Yeah, I heard them. "

Elyiana shot her a quiet, probing look before flattening her lips and heading to the door. "I'll leave you to him then," she said again. "If you need me, have Braden contact Jonas and I'll come out. Though I do encourage you to come to Sanctuary. " She gripped the doorknob, glancing over her shoulder and spearing Megan with a disagreeable look.

"It could mean more than just your life, Megan. It could affect others as well. "

"Elyiana" Megan kept her voice soft as the doctor paused in front of the door. "The potency of the hormone in the barb?'

"Yes?The doctor watched her with a quiet calm.

"Maybe" She cleared her throat. "Maybe it's different if it's delivered in a different way. " She felt the flush rising in her face. Damn this was hard. "Rather than vaginally, I mean. "

"Orally?'Elyiana's eyes narrowed as Megan nodded jerkily.

"For some reason," the doctor continued, "the reports we have from the mated pairs show that the males do not allow ejaculation during oral

sex. "

Megan cleared her throat again. "Maybe Braden is just odd. "

Talk about uncomfortable. Letting this woman know the pleasures she and Braden shared wasn't easy.

"Thank you, Megan. " The doctor allowed a fleeting smile to cross her lips. "I'll add this into my own private notes to investigate further. But I will still need you at Sanctuary as soon as possible. For your own safety if nothing else. "

With that oblique comment, she turned the doorknob and left the room. Now. Megan just had to get rid of her family.

The heli-jet lifted from the desert, its engines muted as it hovered for a second before heading back to the Virginia compound. Elyiana sat in the back, her case of blood, semen and saliva samples carefully locked into a storage compartment beside her. A dim light lit the interior from overhead, casting shadows across the floor as Jonas stepped from the cockpit and sat down lazily across from her.

"The hormonal changes are much more apparent with her. Braden has wasted no time in marking her. "

Elyiana met Jonas's intent silver eyes. They were spooky. No, they were damned scary.

"I can't be certain without the proper tests. " She sighed in resignation.

"But all evidence is leaning that way. The bites he has inflicted could have a lot to do with it. The bites were close enough to the jugular to ensure the hormone was delivered directly to the bloodstream. Her hearing is more acute, as is her ability to heal. I'll know more when I get the samples back to the labs, but I would guess the hormone Braden carries is much more potent than normal. "

"Why?'' Even his voice was dangerous.

"He's one of the few whose lion DNA is stronger than the scientists anticipated. " She shrugged. "It's one of the reasons he escaped the harsher punishments within the Labs and reached the higher assassin status, as you well know. I would guess that would explain why the hormone is more potent. It makes sense. "

The growl that rumbled in Jonas's chest was terrifying to hear. It wasn't the normal sound of displeasure that a male lion would utter. But was he upset with her, or Braden?

Most likely her; he seemed particularly intent on her lately.

"Don't be deliberately obtuse, Elyiana," he growled, flashing his incisors

dangerously. "Why would he need to bite her in such a manner? He's acting on instinct; I can sense this myself. Now why?"