Saving the Beast(2)

“Is that true?” Tah turned and demanded of Clara, Logan’s mate.

She nodded. “He’s fine, Tah. I’m keeping an eye on him. I promise.”

Tah snorted. “I swear if one more person tries to hide shit from me, I’m going to come totally fucking unglued on their ass. You’re not alleviating the stress by trying to keep me in the dark. You’re adding to it!”

Tah turned and glared at Diane. “Don’t keep secrets from me anymore,” he thundered.

She felt her temper flare as his gaze locked with hers, making her feel as if she were the one responsible for all the half-truths and undisclosed information. Luckily, the Professor answered before she opened her mouth to vent the scathing remark hovering on the tip of her tongue.

“We’ve only kept quiet because we don’t know what it means,” the Professor stated. “It’s there but doesn’t seem to be causing any problems. We’re watching it. If it changes in any way, we’ll let you know.”

“I want full disclosure, Professor.” Tah growled, his canines flashing.

The Professor narrowed his gaze but didn’t reply.

“Is there anything else I need to be aware of?” Tah asked, and Diane saw him make a point of meeting the eyes of everyone in the room.

The Professor shook his head, and Diane could almost hear him reminding her there was nothing to report until there was something to report.

“Diane?” Tah asked, turning toward her once more.

“Oh for God’s sake,” the Professor boomed out when she didn’t answer immediately. “Pay attention to the conversation.”

“Are you asking me if there’s anything you should be aware of?” she asked Tah sweetly, sending a veiled look toward the Professor. She saw him blanch and give an almost imperceptible nod of his head. If she didn’t have so much respect for the man, she’d let her temper have free reign. But she did respect him, and damn it, she loved him like the father she’d never had.

“Diane,” Tah prompted again.

“No,” she answered. “There’s nothing I’m aware of. We’ve got our hands full as it is.”

Tah nodded, but Diane wasn’t sure if he believed her or not.

“What about Lydia?” Clara lobbed her question into the silence. “Any change there?”

Diane shook her head and hated the sadness that filled Clara’s eyes and the wary concern that shone in Amia’s. Both women had loved Lydia at one time as a mother figure. Amia Blane, mate to Reno, was the biological daughter of Lydia and Marcus Blane. When her mother had escaped the cruelty of the Blane Hunters, she’d left Amia behind with Marcus, the leader of the Blanes. Despite the reasons that had come to light about her mother’s decision, Amia still couldn’t forgive her.

Then there was Clara, who’d been living in the community Lydia had run to for help and safety. Clara’s father had been the captured shifter who’d sent Lydia to them. Unfortunately, his fate had already been sealed when Lydia had tried to save him. Clara had lost her dad but gained a mom for the first time since her birth when her biological mother hadn’t survived the delivery. Clara had found it hard not to remember the broken down Lydia who’d arrived devastated about leaving her daughter behind. Clara tolerated the hatred and contempt that spewed from Lydia now because she remembered the early days—the broken days. But even with Amia and Clara’s differing opinions, they still seemed to have become the best of friends, along with Abby.

“Dillon isn’t talking about what he gave her. Her blood work doesn’t show the same anomaly Logan’s does, making me think it’s not the same form of feral cat virus. There are enough similarities to make us suspect it could be a similar strain. But without knowing for sure…” Diane’s words trickled off, and she shook her head again in frustration. “Whatever drug he gave her, she’s had it in her system a long time. It’s had an enormous effect on her body, and…” She paused, unsure of how to disclose the rest.

“And what?” Amia asked and went over to stand next to Clara, taking the other woman’s hand with hers. “Tell us.”

“Lydia Blane is dying,” the Professor informed them all when Diane faltered. “Whatever drug she’s been fed, it’s taken over her entire body, every system. And now without it—she’s shutting down.”

“Dying? Is there nothing we can do?” Clara demanded, shaking her head in denial.

Logan moved behind her, wrapping his arms at her waist and pulling her back to rest against his chest while Amia continued to hold her hand.