Mending the Beast (Awakening Pride #10) - Lacey Thorn Page 0,6
to see. “Get this. It seems Reno’s sister, Lyra, was mostly deaf before mating.”
Daniel was mentally nodding though his body never moved. He’d give anything to be able to tell his brother what the hunters had done. Or at least, what one in particular had done before Daniel had been shot. Perhaps, there were words he wished he could take back, too. Today is a great day to die. What had possessed Daniel to say that? He wasn’t sure. But he had. He’d turned to shift and…that was the last thing he remembered. Since waking, he’d learned he’d been shot multiple times. That his lion wasn’t healing him. No shit there. Daniel hadn’t felt his animal since he’d woken up locked within himself.
“How’s he doing today?”
Daniel swore he felt the energy in the room change as Professor Mueller stepped through the doorway. Daniel had no idea where the older man got it from, but he seemed to never stop. Always researching, studying, seeking answers. The only thing that pulled him away from his work was Abby and Regan. Or any of the babies who’d been born into the pride. The professor, as he was called by most of the pride, was an honorary grandfather to all of them.
“The same,” Gabriel answered with a growl. “Have you found anything to explain why he’s not waking up? Why his lion isn’t fighting to heal him?”
“It’s what I haven’t found that most concerns me,” the professor replied.
“What is that?” Gabriel demanded.
“I’ll go over it when the others join us.”
“You can tell me now,” Daniel’s brother challenged. “I’m his family.”
“We’re all family.”
That was Tah’s voice. Daniel would bet the alpha had his wife with him, as well as Reno and Logan. The three men had been friends for a long time and spent most of their time together, usually with their mates. He wasn’t sure who else would be joining them. Maybe Gideon. The jaguar shifter knew his way around a lab and tests. And perhaps, Diane, the trusted doctor of the pride.
“I don’t think you really need me for this.”
That was a new voice. Daniel had heard many names over the last few days, though. Now, he just needed someone to match a name to the voice for him. Damn, he wished he could open his fucking eyes and see, let them know he was awake even though his body wasn’t showing any signs of it.
“Tony, I’m glad you could join us,” Tah said, and now, Daniel had a name. According to what Laura had said during one of her visits, Tony Sandoval was a multi-millionaire who also happened to be a watcher and claimed Aleksy Costas as his brother. Since Reno’s sister, Lyra, and her mate, Aleksy, were in Oklahoma, Tony was, too. Laura had mentioned he’d scooped up all the land around them and had a crew flying in to begin work on a home. Daniel wondered what Tah and the pride thought about that.
“Will Aleksy be joining us?” The professor popped the question, sounding far too eager to Daniel.
“No,” Tony stated. “And before you ask, no, you won’t be getting any blood from him. His choice, not mine. Though I agree with him. I oversee Aleksy’s care as well as his mate’s now. That’s not negotiable. I’d really stop pestering him, Professor. Trust me when I say, he’s not a shifter you want to piss off.”
“He’s a primal. I could use his blood for analysis. It might hold answers to questions we haven’t even thought of,” Professor Mueller groused.
“I’ve thought of them. Trust me.” Tony’s tone was short and clipped, as if he were tired of the conversation. Daniel felt sorry for him. The professor could be tenacious when he wanted something. He wouldn’t give up easily.
“Well, fortunately, I’m willing to share what I know,” the professor continued. “Now, that we’re all here, I’ll let Gideon tell you.”
“Daniel’s animal genetics are receding,” Gideon stated, and Daniel yelled a challenge that no one heard.
“What does that mean? How are they receding? Why? I thought you didn’t find any drugs from the bullets in his system?” Gabriel sounded furious, and Daniel wondered if anyone else realized how scared his brother was. Christ, he hated that Gabriel was worrying about him.
“We’ve run every test we can think of, multiple times. Nothing is showing up. What we are seeing is a rapid decrease in the animal DNA. Right now, his blood would make you think he’s a shifter with a recessed animal. One that