Page 68

"Shit, that's like Nazi Germany level bad."

"Exactly. So, I'm trying to find a cure before things get worse."

"And your four boyfriends? Where do they fit in?"

"They're not my boyfriends," I protest.

"What would you call them then?"

I pause, considering. "It's complicated."

"That's Facebook relationship status language," Emily scoffs. "Be specific."

"I don't know what they are," I admit. "But I need all of them."

"Need them for what? The cure or your vagina?"

"Emily!" I sputter, nearly dropping my phone.

"What? It's a valid question!"

"Both, okay? I need them for both," I confess, "And I just found out they're all genetically compatible with me. All four of them. Which is supposed to be impossible."

"Wait, like soulmates? You have four soulmates?"

"Something like that. It's more biological than spiritual. Their DNA matches mine in a way that creates perfect hormonal balance."

"So, your body literally craves all of them?" Emily sounds fascinated now.

"Yes. And they're all drawn to me too. It's making things... intense."

"I bet. Four alphas all wanting the same omega? That's like the setup for either the hottest porn ever or a murder spree."

"Thanks for that mental image," I mutter, reaching for a fresh slide to prepare another sample.

"So, what happens now? Do you pick one? Take turns? Set up a rotation schedule?"

I nearly drop the petri dish I'm holding. "I don't know! This isn't exactly covered in dating advice columns."

"You could write one when this is all over. 'How to Manage Your Harem of Hot Supernatural Men' by Dr. Dahlia Baldwin."

I throw my head back and laugh. "You're ridiculous."

"But you love me," Emily sings. "And admit it, I'm asking the questions you're too scared to ask yourself."

She's right, but I'm not about to tell her that. "I need to focus on finding the cure first. Everything else is secondary."

"Even mind-blowing sex with four different guys?"

"Even that," I say firmly, though my body strongly disagrees.

"You're a stronger woman than I am," Emily sighs dramatically. "So, how's the cure coming along?"

"Slowly. I thought I was onto something, so I isolated the virus structure, but I'm still missing it. The virus attacks the cells that control shifting, causing unpredictable transformations that eventually tear the body apart."

"That sounds horrific."

"It is," I confirm, picking up a new slide with a blood sample from Mara. "I'm testing different compounds to see if anything neutralizes it."