Heart of a Lion by Lacey Thorn

Chapter Nineteen

Mitch watched as Abby, Jess, and Quinn walked away then turned to Tony.

“Did you give Mueller the serum?” he asked with no preamble.

“Yes. Jess was desperate. She came to me, asking me to help. I did what I could.”

“Does she understand the repercussions of what you’ve given him?”

“I went over what it was and what it did,” Tony assured him. “In detail.”

“So she knows it’s what has Daniel in a primal state?”

Tony nodded. “It’s also the base for what we created for Quinn. And, before you ask, yes, she does need it. We’ll start her out with an injection every five days. Then see if we can stretch it further once her levels have evened out and stopped fluctuating.”

Mitch ran his hand through his hair in frustration. “Do you think Talbot has managed to turn her into a shifter?”

“Not a question I ever thought I’d be discussing. The mere thought of the science verses nature aspect of creation and—”

“I don’t need a lecture,” Mitch interrupted. “Answer the damn question.”

“No, I don’t. But I think nature has taken what he started and run with it.”

Tony’s words sent chills down Mitch’s spine. “What does that mean? Do you think she’ll become a shifter?”

How was that even possible?

“No. I doubt she’ll manifest anything past what she exhibits now. In fact, as she stabilizes, I think we’ll see less of the claws and neon eyes. Unless she feels under attack.”

Tony clasped his hands across his chest, and Mitch knew he was going over his next words in his head.

“This is going to sound crazy but hear me out. Here come more words I thought I’d never say, but science be damned. I think Quinn has more than that female shifter’s organs inside her. I think she has a bit of her spirit, as well. And don’t you fucking tell me how crazy that sounds. I know.”

Tony looked frustrated, but Mitch wasn’t planning to argue with him.

“I agree with you, so if you’re crazy, so am I. She’s going to need to know who the woman was. She won’t stop until she knows everything she can find out about her.”

“I know,” Tony agreed. “I’ll do everything I can to help her find those answers. I’ve already got some feelers out on Lander. Don’t say anything to her yet. If I find anything, I’ll let her know. I don’t want to get her hopes up.”

“I appreciate that.”

“I’m guessing this is going to pull you from the field for a bit. Having a mate and a child now.”

Mitch hadn’t thought about it, but Tony was right. He wasn’t planning on leaving Quinn and Emery anytime in the near future.

“It’s okay,” Tony continued. “I’ve currently got some things in the works anyway that are going to require me to be gone for a bit. I was planning to ask someone to stay behind and handle the day-to-day from here.”

“What have you got going on?” Mitch demanded.

“A friend’s gone missing. I blew it off at first. Not the first time it’s happened.”

“And this time?” Mitch asked when Tony didn’t add more.

“I don’t know, but I’ve got a tingle at the back of my neck.”

And Tony never questioned his instincts. They’d proven accurate more times than Mitch could recall. More than once, he’d sent teams into an area that they would have sworn was empty only to stumble across a hidden lab.

“I’m happy to man the team when you get more details,” Mitch offered.

“Not this time. This one’s personal.”

Mitch had a thousand questions, but he doubted Tony would answer any of them. If this one was personal, it meant the friend was someone Tony was close to. Mitch had thought he could name those people on one hand. Apparently, there was even more Tony held close to his chest.

“Planning to take Aleksy and Lyra with you on this one?”

Tony smiled. “Like he’d let me leave without him. Lyra’s concerned, as well, so I wouldn’t be able to leave them behind even if I’d planned to.”

“Lyra knows this friend?”

“He’s a mutual friend. We knew him at different times. If fact, Lyra brought him back into my life. Briefly.”

There was something in Tony’s eyes when he spoke that gave Mitch pause. Tony was more than concerned. He was as close to scared as Mitch had ever seen him.

“I’ve got to check on David before I head back to the house and make plans for Quinn to meet with Talbot.”

“When do you think he’ll wake up?” Mitch asked, walking beside Tony as he headed out of the room.

“Any time now. Could be later today. His wounds are mostly healed. You know how quickly that injection takes effect.”

“Will he need boosters, as well?” Mitch questioned.

All of alpha team took boosters when they were going out into the field or if they were injured and needed the kick to speed up healing.

“That’s not the plan. I told Jess what it was and that I’d used it on Daniel.”

Mitch paused midstride. “You didn’t tell her you use it on alpha team?”

“No,” Tony admitted with no remorse. “She didn’t ask. She asked if it was the same thing I’d used on Daniel. It is. I’m not ready to disclose that bit of information yet despite what I said when you mentioned telling Quinn. Jonah’s not comfortable sharing the information. He’s not the only member of alpha team that feels that way.”

“I’m still planning to tell Quinn about me. Especially knowing she’ll be getting an injection based off it. Anything I can do to ease her uncertainty on that, I’ll share. She deserves that.”

“I agree, but remember you’re part of the team and be respectful of them, as well,” Tony warned.

“I will. I can’t imagine her saying anything if I ask her to keep it quiet. If that’s what the team wants, then I’ll do that. But you know living here, this close to the pride, it’s bound to come out. I think Tah and the rest of them would take it a lot better if you came clean sooner rather than later.”

Tony sighed. “I know. Aleksy’s been telling me the same thing. We’ll have a team meeting before I head out and discuss it in full. You can bring Quinn if you want. Lyra will be there. As far as I’m concerned, Quinn will be part of the group now that the two of you are together. How do you feel about that, by the way? I’ve been so focused on what’s been going on with everyone else that I haven’t checked on you.”

“I can’t imagine my life without her in it now. She’s amazing. Everything she’s been through. It could have destroyed her.”

“True.”

“What?” Mitch asked when he noted Tony staring at his neck as if he were looking for something. Then it hit him. “For God’s sake, Tony. She hasn’t bitten me.”

“She might, so be prepared.”

“You just got through telling me she’s not a shifter and won’t exhibit any further attributes of one. Or at least, no new ones. Her teeth are perfectly human.”

Tony shrugged. “The other side of her might need the bite to feel…included. Quinn might not realize it. Like the desire might be there, but she might question it. With her teeth, it probably won’t remain as it does in other feline shifter couples. You won’t bear a mark on your skin the way Abby and Diane do.”

“I get that. I’ll play it by ear. We haven’t even gotten that far yet anyway.”

Tony stopped in the middle of the hallway. “Are you telling me the two of you haven’t had sex yet?”

“Jesus! Would you keep it down?”

“Fine. Are you telling me you haven’t—”

“No. When do you think we’ve had time for that? She was pregnant when we met.”

“You still slept together every night,” Tony reminded him.

“Yes, and I held her. We talked. Cuddled. I didn’t instigate anything sexual. That wasn’t what she needed from me.”

She’d needed a friend first. And as the nights had passed, they’d gotten closer and closer. It had been fast by some standards, but they’d built a foundation formed on conversation and trust. Mitch felt that would serve them better in the long term considering what they’d be dealing with.

“I never took you as a cuddler.”

“Shut up,” Mitch warned.

“Okay. She’s not pregnant anymore.”

“No, she’s not. But she was shot. Had a major surgery—you might remember that as you were the one who removed her ovary and uterus. Then she was shot a second time while she was still recovering from the first. What kind of man do you think I am, Tony?”

“Sorry, I wasn’t thinking. I know your honor code, and I know you’re old school when it comes to women. For what it’s worth, I think your sister would have liked Quinn and vice versa.”

“Thank you. I haven’t told her about Misty and Walt yet, but I will.”

“You’ve done everything right with Quinn. You’ve put her first. Hell, I’ve been around shifters so much, I’ve forgotten not everyone falls fast and hard when they first meet. Whatever you two need, I’m there for you.”

“Thanks, Tony. I’m glad you said that.”

Tony gave him a long, assessing look. “Why do I feel like taking that last sentence back?”

“Because I have an idea. One you might not like, but I need you to hear me out.”

“This is about Talbot, isn’t it?”

Mitch nodded. “I think it’s time we let him out of his cage and brought him here.”

“No,” Tony said, the quiet tone letting Mitch know how serious Tony was.

“I said hear me out. I’m not saying to move him for good. But you know Quinn won’t speak to him alone.”

“I gathered that earlier.” Tony didn’t look impressed.

“At minimum, it will be me and Quinn, and Reno and Amia. I’d place my bet that Tah will be there, as well. Holloway will want to be present also. Jonah won’t be left out. You’ll be there. And my gut says we’re going to have at least one of the wolves, as well. Probably two.”

“I see your point,” Tony conceded. “Tell me what you have in mind.”

“I think it’s time you fuck with his head,” Mitch said.

“How?” Tony demanded.

“By killing Quinn.”