A skinny ghost of a man slipped into the room on soundless feet. The paleness of his skin reminded her of the prison they called the labs, the lack of sun, the exhausting tests that left a person so weak that they often didn’t wake up for days, if at all. “Are you sure you’re strong enough for this?”
He was so emaciated, one good wind could knock him down.
“I’m ready. Like you said, I won’t be in any danger. I just have to answer the phone.” A fierce need to be useful entered his eyes, a need she recognized. “Let me do this for you.”
She flicked a glance at London, relaxing slightly at his subtle nod. He’d protect Jenkins if it came to it. “Thank you. What do you need to start the process?”
“I’ll need to touch him.” Distaste curled Jenkins’ lips.
She knew the feeling, but she couldn’t bring herself to tell him not to bother. She needed the abilities of a full chameleon who could manipulate both his vocal cords and his body. But what else could he pick up by touching someone, even in passing? She decided she didn’t want to know.
“How long will it take? How long can you hold his form?”
“It usually takes twenty minutes to assimilate a shape. I can hold it for three hours before the integrity degrades. I won’t be able to try again for at least a day.” He appeared apologetic and spoke quickly. “But I’m getting stronger with each shift.”
“It’s a miracle you can do this for us at all. Thank you for being willing to even try.” A chameleon was a rare thing, one of the most endangered creatures alive. So much so that most people thought them myths.
It took closer to an hour for the transformation. Jenkins’ skin bubbled, melted and twisted into the new shape. Bile rose in Raven’s throat. She couldn’t imagine the pain and was thankful the doctors had never given her a transfusion of his blood.
Ross woke partway through the transition. Instead of panic, Ross calmly observed the process, cataloging everything in a way that sent her skin crawling. Her fist curled, and only her will prevented her from stalking over and cold-cocking him into oblivion. No matter what happened, she couldn’t allow him to leave, or Jenkins would never be safe.
London steadied Jenkins when he rose. The first thing she noticed was the height.
He saw her stare and shrugged. “Nothing I can do about the proportions. I can manipulate my flesh like any shifter, but I only have my weight and height to work with.”
Goosebumps crept over her to hear Ross’s voice come out of Jenkins.
“God. That’s uncanny.” Dina summed it up exactly.
Very few shifters were born with the genes to shrink or gain mass, and those few who did were highly prized. It was a trait they’d tried to breed in the labs.
Tingling swept along her arms, and she lifted her face to the ceiling. “Rylan’s awake.”
Now all she had to do was convince him to take Ross’s blood so they could find his lab.
She’d already searched the office at the morgue but to no end. She highly doubted the guys would find anything at his home. Ross was too smart for that. It could take her hours to pick up a paper trail, but that didn’t guarantee she’d find anything in time to be of any use. Ross didn’t strike her as a stupid man. He wouldn’t hold anything in his name.
“I hear you’ve been stirring up trouble again.” Rylan’s amused voice flowed over her in a soothing wave.
He sauntered into the room, his elegant clothing neatly pressed with a style that could easily pass for a man a century ago. Charm twinkled in his blue eyes, making her heart pitter-patter pathetically. Every time she saw him, she wanted to mess him up. He exuded competence that she could rely on. After she explained what she needed, he’d help her make things right.
“No, absolutely not.” Wounded betrayal darkened his eyes, and she didn’t understand.
“You were able to tell where Cassie had been by taking her blood. We need to know where Ross keeps his lab.”
His jaw stiffened with each word.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t take blood.”
Raven hesitated, but couldn’t let it rest, not when Taggert’s life was at risk. “I don’t understand.”
“I don’t take blood from people. Ever.”
“But Cassie...”
“She was already dying. I only did it because you asked.” He glanced at Ross, his every thought completely hidden. “Don’t ask me again.”
Then Raven understood. Her blood had changed him. “You see into their minds when you take blood as any normal vampire, but there’s more, isn’t there?”