Page 110 of Tamed By Her Touch

“These titers are extremely high.”

Sendar shrugged.

“Yes. And?”

“How high are the viral loads in your symptomatic patients?” Kaelus demanded.

Sendar frowned.

“We do not have symptomatic patients.”

“You misunderstand me. I am comparing these measurements with the samples we brought from Glenvarren,” Kaelus said.

To illustrate his point, he accessed the encrypted data Commander Sylvan had given him before the mission and projected the Glenvarren viral profiles beside the Titus Four samples.

But once they were up, he simply stared. The levels of viral contagion in the samples were almost identical. In fact, in several cases, the Titus Four males actually carried more virus in their blood than the infected males on Glenvarren.

“This makes no sense,” he muttered. “How can this be?”

Sendar gave him a curious look.

“What doesn’t make sense?”

Kaelus turned to him.

“You told us your males carry the same virus but experience none of the savage behavioral effects.”

Sendar nodded.

“That is correct. So what is the problem?”

“The problem is, I expected to find reduced viral replication or evidence of partial immunity,” Kaelus explained.

“But?” The other male raised his copper-colored eyebrows.

Kaelus shook his head.

“There is neither.”

He pulled up another sample…then another and another and another. The same pattern appeared every time.

Kaelus stared at the samples in disbelief.

“The virus is replicating normally. Your males are not immune to it at all!” he exclaimed.

Sendar shrugged.

“We have known for generations that the Love Virus remains present in the body of every male who lives on Titus Four.”

“That is not what I mean.” Kaelus felt a growl of frustration rise in his throat and swallowed it down with difficulty. He pointed at the figures.

“Look at these androgen receptors. Look at the viral proteins associated with neuroendocrine disruption. They are almost identical to what we see in Glenvarren samples.”

Sendar nodded.

“And yet our men are not savage.”

“Exactly.” Kaelus sat back. “So the difference is not infection.”