him better than we do. If his human personality is amplified, is he dangerous?”
“No. Bossy, controlling, and protective, however,” she murmured. And she’d mated the guy.
Emma smiled. “Sounds like a normal vampire to me. Now can I please take some blood? I’ve never studied blood from an enhanced human male or a demonness who’d just mated one. This is so exciting.”
Dage lifted his chin. “I’d like him unconscious if you’re near him.”
Max stepped forward. “I’d be happy to knock him out.”
Evan growled, low and hard. “Try it.”
Desire, warm and fast, flowed through Tabi’s body. That sound. Her neck, right where he’d bitten her, pulsed as if in perfect tune. “Why don’t you take my blood first?”
“No,” Evan said, his back vibrating.
The queen sighed. “This is too much. Maybe they should accompany us to Realm headquarters, and we can make friends there?”
Dage crossed powerful arms, one still bloody. “I’ve heard worse ideas.” He looked at Tabi. “How close are you to finishing with your prototypes at your factory?”
Her mouth gaped open and she quickly shut it. “How do you know—”
“The. King.” Dage muttered. “I know shit. Just answer the question, please.”
Very impressive. “I’m probably a couple of months out, and if those work, I can go into mass production within another couple of weeks.” She tried not to sound too proud.
“Excellent,” Dage said. “I hope you give the Realm the right of first refusal. We’d make it well worth your while.”
She smiled. Most of her people, maybe all, really liked making money. It came in so handy for a demonness. “Of course.”
Emma tilted her head. “What’s your invention?”
“It’s a spray that masks faces from all CCTV and other recording devices,” Tabi said. “Since humans have caught up so quickly with technology, and since we potentially live for thousands of years, it’s necessary.”
Emma smiled. “That’s brilliant. Good on you.”
Tabi tried to gauge Evan’s mood, but his face revealed nothing. His mind had to be spinning. “So I guess we should talk?” she asked.
He turned, disbelief still in his eyes. “I don’t know what to say.”
Vulnerability twittered through Tabi, and she turned toward the queen, who’d once been an enhanced human. “Was it difficult for you to accept that there were different species on the planet?”
Emma shrugged. “No, but I’m psychic and knew there was more out there than anybody else could imagine. It seems like your mate’s ability is like a demon mind destroyer’s. He probably didn’t even realize he had an ability.”
Evan shook his head wildly and then reached for his gun in Tabi’s hands before placing it on the mantle. “I’m not saying I believe all of this, considering I might’ve been drugged last night, but if I did, are you telling me I’m about to turn into a demon?”
Max snorted. “No. Nobody turns into anything different than they started as. We’re all different species. Stop watching late night television.”
Evan lowered his chin in an intriguing and threatening move.
Tabi grinned. Man, he was sexy. Hopefully he wouldn’t turn into an immortal jerk now that she’d forced his chromosomes to multiply. And if she believed in fate, which she might, the marking did appear on her hand after he’d kissed her. That mattered to her people. “Listen. When an immortal mates an enhanced human, the human becomes immortal and can’t die except by beheading or being burned to dust. Also, mates share abilities, so that happens.”
Emma nodded. “Most mates can communicate telepathically after a while, too.”
Dage watched Evan closely. “Mating is forever. You touch another female, since you’re mated to one, and you’ll get an allergic reaction that is not funny.”
Emma looked to her side at the king. “Well, mating doesn’t have to be—”
“It is,” Dage said, his jaw hard. “When both parties are alive, even a deadly virus won’t negate the mating bond.”
Emma shrugged. “That might be true.” She smiled at Evan. “Welcome to immortality.”
He turned and looked at Tabi. “Everyone needs to get out of my house. Except for you, Tabitha.”
A shiver wound down her spine. Was it fear? No. She’d never be afraid of Evan. Maybe wary, though. Her nipples peaked.
Emma switched her bag to her other hand. “If you let me draw blood from you both, then I promise I’ll take all of these soldiers out of Indiana and fly them far away. You have my word.”
“I thought we were taking them to headquarters,” Max interjected.
“No,” Tabi said. “We have a lot going on here, but I’ll contact you if we want to seek refuge.” Heck. Once