Hybrid Zone Revelation, page 45
“How about I get you some coffee?” Margaret suggested.
“Just what she needs, more stimulus,” Miranda droned. After cinching the trash bag in her hands, she looked me up and down. “You okay?”
Shrugging, I slunk down into the nearest stool and cradled my chin in my hands. Margaret set a cup of coffee in front of me and patted me on the shoulder before returning to clean up duty. The way Wrangle followed her around, obeying every command she gave, it was sweet. Almost enough to make me forget the mess of a relationship that was mine and Adam’s.
Sighing, I picked up the coffee mug as Kenny took the seat next to me.
“If this works, you’re going to owe Reynolds big time,” he said.
“Little hard to collect if you’re dead,” I grumbled.
Kenny frowned at me while I watched Margaret shower the island countertop with alcohol spray. As per her instructions, Wrangle followed behind her with paper towels and wiped the surface clean. I shook my head in bewilderment. They made it look so easy. I guess it would be easy if Adam did everything I told him to. Fat chance of that ever happening.
Miranda waited until Wrangle had passed her, then pulled up another stool. “How’d the interview go?”
“Great.”
“You met with the reporter?” Wrangle asked.
“Yep.”
“Did you give her the 411, the score, the down low? Or is that low down? Download? I’m never sure with slang what’s actually being said,” Miranda shrugged.
I lowered the cup, poised to respond, then thought the better of it. I didn’t know which one it was either. “I told her what I could. Nothing about the Organization, although she knows different groups of people are involved, including governments. Fortunately, she caught on to the idea that presenting the hybrid side of it could end in disaster. It was either that, or she didn’t want to be upstaged by the press conference which I promised to get her into. Oh, and the camera girl asked if I was going to eat them, then for good measure told me Red would taste better.”
“Red?” Miranda repeated. “Red,” she moaned in sudden understanding, then, “Red?” squeaked in alarm.
“I take it Red is significant,” Wrangle said, amused by Miranda’s alternative pronunciations.
“Breathe, Miranda,” I chided as I smiled at Wrangle.
“Macy, she’s tough.”
“But she’s fair. And, she credits me with saving her brother’s life.”
“Cancer?” she guessed.
“Yep.”
“Still, you’re betting an awful lot on her,” she said worriedly.
“Just our lives,” I dismissed. “And the existence of hybrids. The world, at the most.”
“In that case,” she muttered, rolling her eyes to display her irritation.
“Speaking of the world,” Wrangle said. “Have you given any thought as to how you are going to implement the plan?”
That was a very good question. “I guess I need to start working on that.”
Finished with his part of the cleanup, he straddled a stool across the island from me. “I think you should run it like a project where hospitals submit proposals. That way, we can use their knowledge to construct a workable plan.”
“Considering I don’t run hospitals, I think that would be best,” I agreed.
“What about security with the nanobots?” Kenny asked.
“Juarez will cover that angle, I’m sure.”
“I’m not talking about the design, but with transport and retrieval.”
Retrieval?
“Getting ahead of yourself,” Wrangle said to Kenny. “Manufacture comes first. And before that, the development of the nanobots for each medical application. You have narrowed that down, right?”
Both of them swiveled their heads to stare expectantly at me.
I didn’t think my blinking at them over my coffee mug was the response they were hoping for. “Congratulations,” I announced as I lowered the cup. “You two are now team leads for the medical application project.” Pleased with my spur of the moment initiative, I waggled my eyebrows at them. “MAP for short. I’ll expect a full report addressing the issues you mentioned, along with any others you can think of, and,” I drawled, “possible solutions.” Now it was their turn to stare blankly at me.
“Did she just hire us?” Wrangle finally asked.
“I believe she did,” Kenny nodded.
“Now I’m confused,” he huffed in mock frustration. “I haven’t completed the aptitude tests yet. I might not be qualified for the job.”
Kenny snorted as he scooted the stool back and stood. “We should get started. I heard the boss is a real wildcat.”
“Oh, shut up,” I said, throwing the abandoned roll of paper towels at him as he turned to leave the room. They ricocheted off of his back, hitting Wrangle in the head. Catching them on the rebound, Wrangle set the roll back on the counter, out of my reach.
“I figured the yelling and throwing of things wouldn’t start until after we had presented our work. Seems I was wrong.” Smiling, he stood and followed Kenny out of the room.
“That ought to keep them busy for a while,” Miranda commented when they’d gone.
“Yeah. And maybe they’ll bring back something I can use.” Abruptly, I pulled my cup down and stared into the inky liquid. “Didn’t I used to drink my coffee with cream and sugar?”
“Times have changed in the kingdom,” Miranda said mournfully.
Sad. I hadn’t even noticed until now. Shrugging, I took another swallow. Bitter.
Claiming the stool that Wrangle had vacated, Margaret asked, “What are you going to do about Adam?”
Do? What was there to do? I took another sip and grimaced. Times hadn’t changed that much. Setting the mug on the counter, I looked at Margaret. “Talk to him. Try to reassure him. Not much else I can do.”
“I’ve never seen him like this,” she whispered. “He’s different now.”
There was no denying that. Was it permanent? That was what concerned me.
“He’s in his suite. Calm for now,” Miranda said. “I wasn’t sure how much communicating you guys were doing,” she said apologetically.
Yeah, that would be none. “Thanks. And thanks for being so busy.”
“You’re welcome,” she smiled at me. “Thanks for hiring help.”
“More like drafted.”
“Did he get a signing bonus?”
“Did I say drafted? I meant impressed into service.”
“You mean like slave labor?”
“I gave him the title of Squire.”
“Poor, Reynolds,” she tsked. “At least, I get paid for it.” She set her mug down hard and looked at me. “I do get paid for it, right?”
“Honestly, Miranda. I don’t really know anymore.”
“Oh, I’m getting paid,” she mumbled as she brought the cup to her lips again. “I’m…” The last bit was garbled, but her eyebrows dancing above the rim of her cup gave the gist of her thoughts. “And that’s all there is to it,” she declared, yanking her cup down abruptly like the exclamation point.
It was doubtful that she even knew where the budget for the Organization originated, but if I knew her, which I did, she’d get to the bottom of it. Who she had to go through and the fallout that would entail, that was going to be a fun one to watch.
“Oh, by the way,” she said as she went for a refill. “Not that this has anything to do with anything, but Crystal has presented me with a list of demands. She is convinced she’s getting wings.”
“Wings? Do we have any winged hybrids?”
The coffee pot rang as she shoved it back into place. “Do I look like I have memorized the capabilities of all three hundred and something of us,” she demanded.
“Uh,” I stuttered. Maybe I wasn’t the only one who should lay off the caffeine. “Another one for the list?”
Miranda’s face crinkled in anger. “I’m really starting to despise that list,” she hissed.
“It’s the person with the pen that I have a problem with.”
“Yeah, let’s beat them up, and then break the pen in half. I’d like to take a dad gum nap! Or a shower. Preferably the shower first and then the nap…”
I only half heard Miranda’s rant after that. My thoughts drifted to Adam and the DNA haunting him. There had to be a way to regulate the animal DNA’s influence. Like a governor on a gas pedal. A way to ensure that the human DNA would always have preeminence.
“Macy,” Miranda said firmly enough to catch my attention. “Go see him.”
Smiling at her, I nodded. “I think I will.”
Adam was stretched out on the golden couch with one arm thrown across his forehead, breathing steadily in sleep. He looked more peaceful than I’d seen him in days. He’d shaved too, leaving the sharp lines of his chin visible. I’d forgotten how handsome he was.
“If you keep thinking those kinds of thoughts about me, I’m going to have to do something about it,” he growled softly.
Smiling at his challenge, I circled the couch to sit down beside him. “How are you?”
He opened his eyes to look at me. They were glowing slightly. “Still trying.”
Ignoring the spike of fear inspired by the last time he looked at me with glowing eyes, I leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the lips then pressed my forehead to his. “Good.” Before I could pull away he threaded one hand into the hair at the back of my neck and pulled me back into a kiss. Unlike the last time, he kept it gentle, but I couldn’t shutter my fear.
“I didn’t mean to frighten you,” he said as he released me. “Before…in Lindsey’s cell.”
“I know,” I said unconvincingly.
“Macy, I wouldn’t hurt you. I wouldn’t force you to do anything you’re not ready for.”
That was distinctly not what I felt before. No matter how much Adam regretted his prior actions, I didn’t think his leopard cared about anything but dominating me as alpha, in whatever form that took. As long as the leopard was in charge, I couldn’t trust Adam.
“Macy, I can feel your emotions churning. Talk to me,” he said softly, pulling me into the circle of his arms as he sat up.
I didn’t want to talk to him. Not about this. But I couldn’t let what he’d done to Reynolds go uncontested. That wouldn’t be fair to anyone. “You hurt Reynolds.”
His arms tightened protectively around me. He wanted to say he didn’t mean to, but we both knew that wasn’t the truth. “He tried to make a claim on you,” he said in clipped tones.
“He told me.”
Adam’s breath caught. “Does he have a claim to you?”
A claim as someone he could trust to have his back…as a friend. “Not in the way that you mean.”
“Do I?”
I could feel Adam’s heart rate increase and his breathing become shallow as he waited for my response. “You know we’ve only known each other for less than two weeks.”
His frustration with my answer permeated the lengthy sigh he heaved.
“And,” I stressed. “Part of that time, you have not been entirely yourself.”
“Macy,” he huffed, taking me with him as he leaned back into the couch. “I met you over five years ago, and I’ve loved you for just as long. A few days acting more like a leopard than a man does not overrule that.”
My mouth suddenly went dry. “It’s not five years for me.”
“I know,” he sighed again.
“And even if it had been, the way you have been…relating to me…”
“You’re talking physically?”
“With me and now with Reynolds. You are not a beast, Adam. You are a man in possession of animal DNA. You possess it, not the other way around.”
“You don’t trust me,” he suddenly realized.
“Do you trust you with me right now?”
I witnessed him replay the scene in front of Lindsey’s cell. The anger and suspicion, the challenge and finally the hunger with which he had kissed me. Disgust filled him as he acknowledged that he’d only been a passenger and not in control.
“I won’t let that happen again. I meant it when I said I wouldn’t force anything on you.”
“You can only do that if you’re in control.”
“You’re right,” he breathed.
Something in him shifted. Determination rose from his core and slowly rolled through him, settling over him like a cloak. For the first time since his return, I felt truly hopeful about his recovery. But hopeful or not, I wasn’t about to ditch my principles.
“And I’m not…” I stopped when he began to laugh silently.
“May I repeat that I’ve been following you for five years. I am aware of your views on marriage and intimacy.”
Squeezing my eyes shut, I asked, “And you’re okay with that?”
He shifted uncomfortably behind me, alternately flexing and relaxing his biceps. I knew he was looking for a big way to say no without saying no.
“I wouldn’t say I’m okay with it. A man has needs, wants…I want you.”
My heart sank at his words.
“I am, however, determined to wait until you’re ready.”
“And if that is not until after marriage?”
Tightening his hold on me, he planted his chin on my shoulder. “Then I’ll fiercely anticipate the honeymoon.”
“I’ll bet,” I laughed.
“Any chance you want to get married now? I’m sure someone around here has credentials.”
“Could I please have some time to adjust to the idea?” I pleaded.
“Just remember, I’ve been waiting for five years already.”
“It doesn’t count if I didn’t know you were waiting,” I retorted.
“It counts,” he growled softly. “Of course, I could sway you to my way of thinking.” As proof, he began trailing kisses along my shoulder, slowly working his way north.
I could see how that might work. Luckily for me, the door chimed.
“Down boy,” I scolded when he growled in protest. Freeing myself from his arms, I began to make my way to the door. “I have—No.” I paused and turned to look him in the eye. “We have work to do.”
He extended his hand to me, and I returned to pull him from the couch. I was pleased to see that the glow had faded from his eyes. For now, anyway.
“I’ll get the door. You put a shirt on,” I ordered.
“Does this bother you?” he asked in mock surprise, pushing his very well developed pecks forward.
Working to drag my gaze from his chest, “You’re bad,” I laughed.
The door chimed again, this time punctuated by rhythmic pounding. “Macy. What’s the hold up?” Miranda yelled. “Are y’all decent in there?”
Adam took the opportunity to strike several poses. “What do you think? Am I decent?”
“Go put some clothes on,” I moaned, completely flustered by his behavior.
There was an abrupt halt to the pounding on the door. “Did you just say put some clothes on?” Miranda bellowed.
“Hold your horses, I’m coming,” I yelled at her.
“What’s going on?” she asked as soon as the door opened.
“Nothing.”
“That’s not what it sounded like,” she argued, her eyes darting rapidly about the room for any scrap of evidence.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I waited until she consented to look at me. “Did you come here for a specific reason? You know, other than to insult me.”
Her face fell as her search ended in disappointment. “Yeah,” she said dryly. “Can you teleport me to Renard’s office. Olivia needs help.”
“Sure.” Turning at the sound of Adam reentering the room, I watched him put on his shoes. “Where are you going?” I asked sharply. The look he gave me was priceless. Sorry, I cringed. I’m a little overprotective right now, I guess.
He finished lacing up the boot he was working on, then stood and walked towards us. “Excuse me,” he said to Miranda, who willingly stepped aside. Taking my face in his hands, he kissed me gently. “I’m going to meet with Cedars and Juarez. Find me when you’re done?”
I nodded and watched him leave. I didn’t like letting him go, but I knew he wouldn’t tolerate any babysitting. Still, I didn’t want another episode like earlier.
“Hey, tell Cedars to keep an eye on him. Let me know if he gets…”
“Homicidal?”
I frowned at her.
“Jamie’s watching. So is Juarez. After today, I think they all are. But he seemed better. That was much better than how he has been treating you.”
“It is,” I nodded.
“What happened?”
“He asked me to marry him.”
“What?” Miranda whipped her head around so fast she had to grab ahold of the doorframe to steady herself. “What did you say?”
“It wasn’t a real proposal.”
“If that man asked you to marry him, he wasn’t kidding.”
“Probably not, but I have to make sure, and he has to make sure, that it’s Adam asking and not Adam the leopard asking.”
“Does it matter?”
“It does,” I nodded. “You ready?” I extended my hand to her.
Clasping my hand, she threw the question back at me. “Are you ready?”
“That’s why I said no.”
The next moment we were in the lobby outside of Renard’s office. It felt strange being surrounded by this much rock. The living quarters had gargantuan windows everywhere. Here, it was a cave. Following Miranda, I stepped through the door into the office. Olivia was seated on the floor in front of a row of filing cabinets. She looked up at us as we entered.
