Page 120 of Tamed By Her Touch

Kaelus stared at him. The words were correct. The expression was correct. Even the slight shimmer of moisture in Sendar’s metallic eyes was correct. And yet something felt wrong—felt off.

He thought about Sendar saying Galandra had become obsessed. He’d said that she was stubborn—fixed on an idea she refused to let go of.

Kaelus had the sudden uncomfortable impression that Sendar’s greatest grief might not be that his wife had died…it might be that she had refused to stop asking questions before she did.

He had no evidence—only instinct. But Kindred instincts existed for a reason and were seldom wrong.

“I’m sorry,” he said at last.

Sendar nodded.

“Thank you. Shall we return to our work?”

Kaelus nodded.

“Of course.”

They left the old containment chamber, though Kaelus looked back once before the heavy metal door closed behind them. For some reason, the sight of those ancient restraint chairs remained with him.

He hoped he would never see them again.

17

KAELUS

Back in the main laboratory, Kaelus returned immediately to the blood samples. He pulled up the unidentified molecule once more—something about it nagged at him—wouldn’t leave me alone.

“You said Galandra found inconsistencies in the historical viral records,” he remarked.

Sendar sighed.

“Doctor Kaelus, please⁠—”

“Was this compound present in old male samples?” Kaelus asked.

Sendar shook his head.

“I don’t know.”

“Then let me look,” Kaelus insisted.

Sendar frowned.

“I have already told you those records are restricted.”

Kaelus shot him a look.

“Isn’t that convenient.”

Sendar’s expression hardened.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means every question I ask that might actually explain why your males remain sane leads to records I am not permitted to see,” Kaelus growled, letting his frustration show.

Sendar frowned.

“May I remind you, Doctor Kaelus, that you are a guest here. We owe you nothing—we are allowing you to access our records as a matter of professional courtesy.”