Wake A Sleeping Tiger (Breeds 22)

She had a feeling Cerves wasn’t the only reason they were visiting Dr. Jekyll’s lab.

“Here’s the thing about Graeme,” Cullen stated softly with a flash of brotherly patience. “Sometimes, it’s just easier to give in and let him get things out of his system than to argue with him. That way, Mr. Hyde isn’t nearly the nuisance he could be.”

“What kind of things?” Maybe she should escape now while she could still possibly get away with it.

“Scared?” He slid her an amused glance as he moved to the computer monitors, activating the screens and reading what appeared to be an extensive analysis of some blood sample. “You’ll face down cartel assailants and Coyote soldiers but balk at the sight of Graeme in a lab coat?”

“I’m not allowed to shoot Graeme,” she hissed, glancing to where the other Breed and his wife had stopped at one of the far counters where Graeme was checking information on another, smaller computer. “Not so with cartel assailants and Coyote soldiers.”

“Yeah, Cat would get a little put out,” he agreed. “But if we don’t play nice, then he might refuse to tell us whatever he’s learned about Cerves.”

As a bribe, or a threat, it would probably work, Chelsea thought with a sigh.

“Leave my equipment alone, Ash,” Graeme demanded as he and Cat headed toward Cullen. Behind him, Ashley had paused next to a large cabinet lined with long, narrow drawers. “Your alpha should keep you locked up for the sanity of everyone who knows you.”

“Not to mention those who don’t,” Cat laughed teasingly as she shot Chelsea a subtle wink.

“Oh, they are so unimportant if I have yet to meet them,” Ashley assured them as she moved closer and perched on one of the cots that sat against the stone wall, her gray eyes twinkling merrily. “Cullen, you are looking so well mated,” she drawled teasingly, her Russian accent still very apparent despite the years since she’d left the country. She turned and winked at Chelsea then. “Way to go, girlfriend.”

The Coyote female wagged her brows then and blew Cullen a kiss as Graeme moved to her, carrying a small plastic tray with several vials and needles lying atop it.

Pushing up the sleeve of the overlarge coat, Ashley extended her arm and Graeme quickly and efficiently extracted several vials of blood.

“Graeme is a secret vampire,” the younger woman grinned as Chelsea watched dubiously.

“Mad scientist is more like it,” Cullen grumbled as he turned back to face them, his arms crossing over his chest as he leaned against the heavy table holding the array of computers.

“Katya, our Coyote specialist, is so jealous of him.” Ashley gave a quick little roll of her eyes. “She thinks he knows more about Coyotes than she does.”

“I do,” Graeme stated absently as he carried the tray and the vials over to a work center that held several smaller machines.

“Okay, Chelsea.” Ashley jumped from the cot, her chin jerking toward it. “Your turn, chickie.”

“Whoa.” Chelsea stepped back quickly, straight into Cullen’s chest. “Not in this lifetime. I’m sure he has enough of your blood to entertain him for a while.”

Cat snickered at the comment.

“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you from Dr. Jekyll,” Cullen assured her, the amusement in his tone causing her to shoot him a look of promised retribution. “I’ll take care of you myself.”

Gripping her waist, he lifted her to the cot as Graeme placed another tray containing the vials and extracting kit on it.

“Why does he need my blood?” She flicked the items a frown before eyeing Cullen suspiciously.

“Because,” Graeme answered for his brother, “I based your hormonal therapy on Cullen’s blood samples since I didn’t have yours. Your blood and DNA sample will give me a much more accurate baseline to work from.”

Graeme was inputting information into one of the machines as he spoke. “There’s a reason why you’re able to go about a normal routine without a few quickies every couple of hours.”

A flush heated her face as he looked over his shoulder at her and shot her a teasing grin.

“Graeme, stop,” Cullen warned his brother as Chelsea extended her forearm to him warily.

Graeme gave a mocking little snort of amusement.

“Also,” he continued, turning back to the machine. “If you’re going to continue moving about in public, then a stronger scent blocker would probably help. It will keep the Council’s Breeds from detecting the mating scent.” He frowned. “They’ve been skulking around a bit more than normal lately.”

She looked up at Cullen, wondering what the hell he was getting her into.

“Don’t forget the DNA swab.” Graeme stretched his arm out behind him, a sterile swab gripped between his fingers.