“Brought you some food,” Krista said. Mikaela followed behind her.
“I’m not hungry.” Ariel turned back to the computer.
“How’d it go last night?” Krista asked as she set a plate of fruit and croissants next to her.
Mikaela snatched up a few strawberries before leaning against the desk, facing Ariel.
She sighed, turning to face her intruders. “It went fine.”
“Funny,” Mikaela said, lifting a piece of the fruit to her mouth. “That’s exactly the same thing Rob said at breakfast.”
Ariel felt her cheeks get hot and she quickly tucked her hair behind her ear, trying to hide her embarrassment. She could talk about pretty much anything in a clinical setting, but when the attention was focused on her, she felt totally inept. Just remembering how Rob had mastered her body sent a shiver of remembered need coursing through her.
“Oh my God, you slept with him!” Krista screeched.
At the scornful look in her sister’s eyes, Ariel said, “Seduction is a necessary part of testing the compound.” She quickly grabbed a croissant to help shove any more lame excuses from spilling out. She could lie all she wanted to herself, but vocalizing that threadbare excuse made her feel even more ridiculous.
“So you feel nothing for Rob? He’s just a lab rat to you?” This was from Mikaela. Great. So now they were both ganging up on her. She needed to divert their attention and fast.
“Look, I can’t explain what’s happening with him, but maybe you can help me find some answers. I’m actually here trying to research their family history. If we know more about why they have the ability to shift in the first place, then treating them long term will be so much easier.”
“You think we’re stupid enough to fall for that evasive tactic? We’re both lawyers, for crying out loud. We’ve seen defendants do a better job when being questioned by the prosecution.” Krista crossed her arms and glared at her.
Mikaela sighed and looked at Krista. “Let’s give her a break. Rob is a big boy, and he’s not talking either.” She glanced at Ariel. “Yes, he’s not been playing Twenty Questions and it’s pissing my husband off.” Then she chucked and ate another strawberry.
Ariel took a deep breath and focused on Mikaela. It was easier than trying not to squirm under her sister’s stare. “What can you tell me about their family history?”
“Well, let’s see. Thomas’ parents died when he was very young. He doesn’t remember them. He also doesn’t talk about how he was able to mate with his wife. He’s very secretive about all that.”
“Do you think he really knows something and is hiding it from his sons?”
Krista frowned, looking over at Mikaela. “You don’t think that, do you? I couldn’t imagine Thomas being that careless where his boys are concerned.”
“No, I don’t think it’s anything like that. If I had to guess, I think he really doesn’t know anything about where he comes from. He probably stumbled into his—for lack of a better work—heritage and might’ve taken his mate in a manner he wasn’t proud of, so he doesn’t talk about it.”
“As in…you think he might’ve raped their mother?” Krista paled.
“Oh, no, no, no. If he took her against her will, then they both would be dead. Remember what happened to Eric?” Ariel frowned, trying to remember the name, and Mikaela paused. “Eric was the youngest of the brothers. He mated with a woman against her will. She attacked him after she shifted and they fought to the death.”
“So what keeps them from attacking any woman they mate?”
“Love. If a woman is willing to spend the rest of her life with one of them, then she wouldn’t attack after being mated. The men are very primal in that state, so it’s hard for them to grasp their humanity. If a woman he doesn’t love is attacking him, his natural instinct is to protect himself.”
Love. Ariel didn’t believe in love, so how could an imaginary state of mind stop two people from killing each other? She needed something more convincing than a fanciful illusion.
“Anyway, I think Josh’s parents knew each other, maybe were already sweet on each other, and Thomas mated her. You know how they get when the need to mate overtakes them. It’s not all sweet kisses and flowery words.” Mikaela giggled.
“And he’s from a different era. Where women today might get off on being dominated, thirty years ago it probably wasn’t as socially acceptable,” Ariel guessed.
“Exactly. If he’s ashamed of his mating, he wouldn’t want to talk about it. Besides, talking about how he mated with their mother has nothing to do with how he came to be the way he and his sons are.”