Page 23 of Feral Mate

CHAPTER 12

MASON

The bonding link was becoming stronger. Even in his sedated sleep the day before, he had been aware that Emery had injected him with something after Perkins had. While what Perkins had used had weakened him and made him dizzy and nauseous, whatever Emery had given him had not only counteracted whatever it was that Perkins had dosed him with but seemed to be accelerating his healing. It was as if he could feel everything that had been broken or shredded putting itself back together.

He’d spent most of the day before somewhere between comatose and a deep, sedated sleep, but now, as night was beginning to give way to dawn, his sleep was becoming more natural. He felt he had more control—both in his waking and sleeping states. His mind and body were both coming back online, and he could feel his old strength and power surging through his system.

Mason needed to reach out to Emery along the link. He needed to know she was all right, and she needed to know that any concerns she might have over what she’d used had been unfounded. The link when they were close to each other flowed freely; he needed to see if he was strong enough to communicate with her.

He’d been drawn to her the night before in his dreams. They’d both been mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted, and he had joined her in bed, spooning her back to his front and holding her close. The sleep and the medication Emery had given him had done his body, mind, and spirit a world of good.

Reaching down the link, he began to wake her soul-self. While his inclination was to wake all of her to the dream state so he could lose himself in their lovemaking, he knew what was more important was communicating with her.

“Mason?” she asked, confused.

“You’re still asleep. I needed to find a way to communicate with you. Perkins dosed me with something but whatever you gave me seems to have counteracted it and I think it’s making me stronger.”

She looked relieved. “Thank god for that. Mason, did your brother know what they were doing?”

“Not for a long time. When he figured it out, he took as much of the data as he had access to and got out.”

“Where is he now?

“The last time I saw Carson and his mate, they were headed for a rendezvous with the Resistance.”

“So someone knows what’s going on?” she asked.

He nodded. “Not only knows but is gathering forces to rally against them. The worst problem is that it isn’t just NLGP. They are part of a much larger group known as the Shadow League.”

Emery snorted. “There’s no such thing.”

“I wish that were true. But we can discuss all of this when we’re safe. What did you find?”

“It’s horrific. Documentation, notes, pictures, videos—all of which show they are experimenting on humans and shifters in ways that are beyond your worst nightmare. They tortured a dragon…”

“I know. For what it’s worth, Warrick—that’s the dragon you saw—is safe. They tried dosing him with all kinds of things to get him to breed and when that failed, they started taking samples to use. I don’t know what for…”

“I can guess. They’re trying to get viable clones, which could explain their interest in my work.”

“Not just any clones, but some kind of super soldier, loyal only to them, with no mind of its own. I think we ought to focus on getting out of here. I may well be next on their parts list for their experiments.”

“It would explain why they wanted you healed up. That kind of thing could kill someone in a weakened state. Anything I leave will be tainted. It’ll look good until someone either tries to replicate it to verify my findings or tries to use it without doing so.”

“You do understand why I’ve been able to visit you in your dreams and how we can now communicate without being in the same room, don’t you?”

“Only fated mates and twins can communicate. As Carson has the distinction of being your twin, that makes me your fated mate.” She laughed. “I can’t tell you how glad I was to figure out you and Carson were twins. It was so disappointing to meet Carson and feel nothing.”

“I can imagine. I hope you like cats; Carson and I are snow leopards.”

Emery laughed again. It was the sound of summer sunshine combined with fairy dust. “I’m a cave lion.”

Her body posture indicated she was tense and waiting for a bad response on his part.

“Emery,” he purred. “I can’t imagine anything cooler.”

“I’m so glad you feel that way. I was afraid it might turn you off.”

“Why? Because your shifted self is stronger than mine? Oh, hell no; bring it on. Besides, if we're going to be together, we need to be the same species, and I very much doubt snow leopard DNA would trump cave lion. Do you know Deke Campbell? The guy they call the Finder?” She nodded. “He’s a good friend. I served with him, and he’s the guy heading up the Resistance. He’s going to be glad to have you as one of us… Wait, you are okay with joining the Resistance—I don’t mean the fighting but helping with research? My guess is you’ll be working with Carson.”

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