"This isn't information just anyone should have." Ely's lips thinned in disapproval.
Rachel arched her brow at Elizabeth.
"Mating heat is incredibly painful for the females," Elizabeth began.
"I know that part," Rachel broke in. "Painful. Aphrodisiac in the tongue, sperm that stills the heat and a kiss that makes it worse. The mating bite is forever and only after it's given does the heat begin to level off. But still a mate can't bear others' touch, nor can most females function outside the bed." She rolled her eyes. "Sounds like paradise for your men."
"All but Jonas," Ely growled.
Rachel stared back at her curiously. The other woman was angry and trying hard not to hide it.
"You and Jonas have produced a hormone that if we could figure out how it works, could help to ease the heat in our females," Elizabeth told her. "Even I, once every three months, experience that irrational, torturous need as my body attempts to force me to conceive."
"Even when you're pregnant?" Rachel asked.
Elizabeth paused. "The hormones are different then."
"Do you breast-feed? I breast-fed for the first few months, I know I had to be very careful of my diet. Is that a problem with mating heat?"
Elizabeth shook her head. "I thought for years there had to be a correlation. There were only rare times that my desire for my mate was normal, Rachel. But I found nothing unusual then."
Rachel shrugged. "I'm not a scientist, Dr. Vanderale, nor do I pretend to understand what you're dealing with here. But I will tell you, I'm not dealing with it any longer. You have all you're getting from me."
"You're selfish." The accusation from Ely surprised her, and obviously surprised Elizabeth as well. "Jonas deserves better than a mate who refuses to make the sacrifices he's made all his life for his people."
"Exactly," Rachel stated coolly. "He's sacrificed all his life with little understanding and even less consideration from the majority of you. When was the last time Jonas was asked not to sacrifice for someone? Not to find a way to manipulate or work miracles? When was the last time he was allowed to be a man?"
"He's not a man, he's a Breed," Ely snapped back.
"And you're in love with him." The knowledge was more intuition than based on evidence. "But you're not his mate."
Elizabeth inhaled sharply.
"Jonas is just a friend," Ely argued stiffly.
Rachel rose from the gurney, gathered her clothing from a nearby counter and moved for the bathroom.
"And I'm finished with this argument. I refuse to argue with you, Ely." She turned back to the doctor, seeing the anger and confusion in her eyes. "Jonas thinks very highly of you, but I wouldn't suggest attempting to try to convince him that I'm not his mate. That friendship could be damaged in ways you don't want to face if you do so."
Stepping into the small bathroom, Rachel re-dressed as she fought to get a handle on her own emotions. Ely wasn't a threat to her relationship with Jonas, she tried to assure herself. They were mates; that was for life. There was no way to break it. And Jonas loved her. He had told her he loved her. She was his life.
Moving back to the main lab, she faced a single person, clearly waiting for her. Elizabeth Vanderale was working at one of the intricate machines that lined a counter.
"Ely sees Jonas as her white knight," Elizabeth said as she turned, propped herself against the counter and watched Rachel. "She's protective of him, Rachel. And perhaps confused by her own feelings."
"He's mine." She wasn't about to let him go.
Elizabeth nodded. "I couldn't have asked for a better mate for him. You'll complete him, Rachel. That's important."
There was something sad, something regretful in the other woman.
"Why is that so important to you? I haven't noticed Leo caring. The best he can manage is to cut at Jonas each chance he has."
Elizabeth glanced away and drew in a hard breath. When her gaze returned to Rachel, it was filled with sorrow, and longing.
"Jonas knows the answer to that, Rachel," she stated. "And only he can fix Leo's disposition where he's concerned. I've done all I can do."
"Because the boy is too damned stubborn by far."