Page 62 of Carnal: The Beast Who Loved Me

“Physics?”

The mayor took in a deep breath. “Extant, how do you intend to use…?”

Free came up out of his chair with a roar that reaffirmed the feline DNA that had been woven into his genetic makeup, and gave the mayor an up close, no doubt frightening, display of fangs. “ANSWER THE QUESTION!”

Rosie jumped a little at the speed and intensity with which Free’s demeanor became threatening, but her reaction was mild compared to the way the mayor paled when the full force of that intensity was directed at him.

“You’re asking me to betray my people,” Comstock whispered.

Free cocked his head. “The result of a refusal to answer my questions will be that your people will be left without protection from the Rautt. The next time there’s a raid, we’ll simply throw another log on the fire and watch from the hill. The choice is yours, but let me tell you what’s going to happen if you choose wrong. Not only will we leave you unprotected, but we’ll also invade your city with a building by building search until we’ve learned what we need to know. Decide now.”

“You’d leave us to the Rautt?”

Free didn’t reply, but sat down, fanned his hands out on the table in front of him and stared at Comstock. Waiting.

Reading the truth in Free’s eyes, that he was not bluffing, the mayor’s throat worked with a gulp before he answered, “Physics. Yes.”

Free glanced at Carnal, whose nod to his father was so small it could easily have been missed. Rosie supposed it was a signal of confirmation, sort of a double check system between the two of them. Rosie hadn’t really realized how much the two of them were alike before, since Carnal definitely favored his mother’s looks. But seeing father and son together at the same time, it was obvious Carnal took after his father in temperament, intensity, and sheer presence. She wondered if he was predisposed to adore his future mate as Free did Serene, but shook that errant thought away. The conversation at hand was too important for daydreaming about beautiful hybrids with sinfully luscious lips.

“Chemistry?”

Again the mayor whispered, “Yes.”

“I see,” said Free. “And are some subjects of study being conducted in secret?”

“Yes.” The mayor was beginning to look ill and, even though it was still cool in the room, a sheen of sweat appeared on his face.

“To what purpose?”

“What purpose?” Comstock repeated.

“Are you repeating the question to stall for time so that you can decide how to best phrase your answer?”

Comstock began shaking his head. “No. Well, yes. Perhaps. This is a very delicate, uh, discussion.”

Free brought the full weight of his considerable authority to bear on the mayor. “And why’s that?”

Rosie caught the flick of Carnal’s glance to her and back again.

“Because thereissome secrecy involved.”

“Again. Why’s that?”

Comstock’s eyes scanned the room, landed briefly on Rosie, and returned to Free. “If certain things were discovered, the Rautt would surely bring down the wrath of gods on us. Again.”

“Ah,” Free said. “You think that, if the Rautt were sufficiently motivated, that we could not protect you.”

“No offense is intended.” The mayor rushed to offer as a preemptive apology.

“No offense is taken.” Free‘s manner had returned to calm and almost casual. “You’re entitled to your feelings.” Comstock was visibly relieved until Free continued. “You don’t trust us. What you need to get from this little talk is this. We’re entitled to know what you’re up to because we don’t trust you either. When I was the same age that my son is right now,” he waved in Carnal’s direction, “I was held captive by humans, used for experiments thought too painful or risky for themselves.”

Comstock was beginning to slump in his chair. “I know,” he said.

“Are your people afraid of us?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”