Chapter 14

FOURTEEN

T he council chamber hummed with tension even before dawn. Lucas straightened his tie, surveying the gathered elders as their scents betrayed varying degrees of anxiety and ambition.

A night of being without his mate had left him with little patience for clan politics.

“The fertility crisis continues to worsen,” Elder Conley reported, projecting genetic data across the chamber’s holographic display. “Three more failed pregnancies in the younger bloodlines this month alone. The genetic degradation patterns are?—”

“Exactly what Dr. Greene suspects,” Lucas cut in smoothly, enjoying how Malcolm’s scent soured at the mention of Emma.

Malcolm’s laugh held no humor. “She accessed restricted areas and snooped through data without authorization. Exactly like her grandmother did.”

The chamber grew quiet. Too many remembered Magdalena’s complicated history with the pride. Lucas felt his beast stir, protective instincts roaring at the implied threat to his mate.

“Dr. Greene’s methods,” he kept his voice deadly soft, “have yielded more progress on the fertility crisis than decades of traditional research. Unless anyone wishes to formally challenge her qualifications?”

“Not her qualifications,” Malcolm smiled. “Merely her... suitability for certain roles. After all, if the rumors about mate bonds are true... Don’t forget the No Human Mate law.”

The temperature in the room dropped several degrees as Lucas’s control slipped. His power leaked out, making the younger council members look around uncomfortably.

Iris’s voice cut through the tension like a blade wrapped in silk. “Since we’re discussing human geneticists, don’t you think it’s appropriate Emma is now the best suited for the job?”

Malcolm had the sense to look wary. Everyone knew Iris and Magdalena had been close allies during the original work. What most didn’t know was just how deep that alliance went.

“I merely suggest,” Malcolm recovered smoothly, “that certain precautions might be wise. Given Dr. Greene’s tendency to... experiment with forces beyond her understanding.”

Lucas’s laugh held no humor. “Beyond her understanding? The woman who mapped shifter genetic stability patterns in a week? Who instinctively grasped energy signature theory faster than our senior researchers?” He let his eyes shift to gold. “The same brilliant scientist who right now is probably revolutionizing our entire understanding of transformation mechanics while we waste time with political posturing?”

His phone buzzed as if on cue. A text from Zayn: Your mate is trying to integrate crystal resonance patterns into the genetic sequencer. Should I be concerned about the glowing things?