Page 48 of Their Marked Mate

Alex nodded. “That’s no longer his primary role, but he has the skills.”

Glad that they were still on the same page, Luna asked, “Do you think he’ll do it?”

“None of the exotics like to leave Shadow City, but they have technology that might make a remote partnership possible. I’m pretty sure I can talk them into something like that.”

“Any support is better than what I have now.” She smoothed down her borrowed shirt and looked into Alex’s eyes. “Please, alpha, may I go take a shower? I’ll sleep much better if I’m clean.”

He looked as if he’d refuse then he released a sigh. “Go on. It will take more than a shower to rid your body of our scent. Besides, you submitted like a good girl. You’ve earned your rest.”

* * *

Bright and early the following morning Alex sent a telepathic ping to Soko. The Shadow City leader responded a few minutes later and Alex asked if he would send Carlos to the underground passageway nearest to the lupine village. Soko told Alex that he could come to Shadow City if he wished to speak with Carlos, but Carlos had better things to do than running ‘topside’ whenever Alex called. The occupants of Shadow City were the fastest hybrids on the planet, which was the reason for Alex’s suggestion. Soko enjoyed being difficult and everyone knew it. At times Alex was amused by Soko’s contrariness. This was just not one of those times.

Left with no other option, Alex loaded up a datasheet with the pertinent information. He quickly folded the device and slipped it into his back pocket. Luna was sound asleep in the arms of his beta, but this was too important to delay. He slipped from the cabin and hiked down to Shadow City. Security was notified each time Alex scanned open a security gate, so he wasn’t surprised when Carlos was waiting on the walkway overlooking the city.

“Thanks for seeing me,” Alex greeted. “I have a project I hope will interest you.”

“Does this concern the alliance?” Carlos stared at him with intense silver eyes. Alex had never seen him in animal form, but the rumor mill put him on team feline. In human form, Carlos had silky dark hair and angular features, but there was something in his eyes that appeared catlike. Besides, Alex had disliked him the first time they met, which further indicated his feline nature.

“Exotics and wolves are facing a similar complication,” he began. Only for Luna would Alex play nicely with a cat. “We’re failing to trigger bonding fever naturally.”

“Soko said you have someone working on the problem.” Despite the indifference in Carlos’ tone, intense interest gleamed in his silver eyes.

“Luna is making progress, but she’s a geneticist, not a doctor. We would both feel more comfortable if you would agree to assess her conclusions and supervise patient care.”

“She’s human, I take it.” Disdain made each syllable brittle, and human sounded like a disease.

“She had a front row seat at Nuevo Biotech, so she knows the process like the back of her hand.”

“Then how the fuck can you trust her?” Carlos sneered, his gaze flashing with open hostility.

“We’re in the process of claiming her,” Alex admitted, seeing no benefit to withholding the information.

Carlos studied him silently for a moment, then his features formed an expressionless mask. “I’m not leaving Shadow City,” he insisted. “Are you going to trot all the females down to me?”

Alex inhaled slowly and kept his hands from balling into fists. Instinct urged him to challenge the cat and establish dominance over the situation. Carlos clearly disliked him as much as Alex disliked the cat. But they needed each other. So logic won out and Alex kept his tone civil. “I was thinking of something more technological.” He pulled the datasheet out of his pocket and unfolded the device. “This has all the information to date. We’ll upload any progress, so all you have to do is analyze the findings. When, and if, a physical examination is necessary, we’ll bring the patient to you.”

Another tense pause followed and then Carlos shrugged. “Our program will doubtlessly be patterned after yours, so it makes sense to ensure your success.” He looked at the datasheet, but didn’t take it from Alex’s outstretched hand. “I’ll send a runner up with one of ours. This sort of collaboration is impossible without interactive communication.”

“All right.” Alex folded up his datasheet and slipped it back into his pocket. “Have you guys reestablished off-world communications?” He hadn’t realized they had datasheets that could do more than send email.

“Not yet, but we’re close,” Carlos admitted with a grin. “The power of Shadow City is that we’re all different. All the other villages are limited by your similarity.”

Not willing to start a fight over something so irrelevant, Alex just nodded and turned to go.

“Aren’t you going to ask about my fee?”

Alex paused for another deep breath before he turned around. “I presumed I’d be paying you in females.”

“You’re paying Soko in females. I’m talking about my fee.”

Alex imagined pummeling the arrogant cat to a bloody pulp as he struggled for composure. “What’s your fee?”

“You will owe me one favor payable in full whenever I ask.”

“I don’t make open-ended promises.”

“Then find another doctor.” He turned around and started to walk away.