“Scarlett,” Saber said.“Did you learn anything?”
She shook her head.“Nothing more than we already know.We’re going to have to operate on instinct.”
“I brought the instruments you wanted, Casey,” the man said.
“Thanks, Sly.”Casey accepted a black leather bag from a man who Betrys decided looked like another Mitchell brother.He possessed the same green eyes and black hair, long in his case, and held back with a hunter-green bandanna.
“Leo, let me see your scar.”Saber took charge.
Leo obediently flopped over on his back to expose his stomach.
Betrys studied the scar along with the others.While it was visible, the old wound had lost its redness, and the swelling had reduced.“Something about his feline shape seems to make the thing inside him subside.If he’s in humanoid form, the thing bulges out and pulses a lot more.”She paused to take a breath, part of her surprised at her calmness.The man she’d touched and kissed possessed a dual nature.She’d had no idea and Iseult hadn’t suspected a thing either.Maybe his feline characteristics had been the difference that saved him from death.
“Leo needs to shift to human,” Casey said.“If what Betrys says is true, that would make the thing easier to cut out.”
“We need a container to put the thing inside.”Saber’s creased brow told Betrys he was trying to think ahead and plan for contingencies.“Something solid that will keep it enclosed.Whatever it is, we don’t want it to escape and find another host.”
“What about a preserving jar?”Sly asked.
“Just the thing.”Saber nodded in approval as Sly disappeared out the door.“Casey, get everything prepared and sterilized, ready to go before Leo shifts.We want him as comfortable as possible.”
Betrys squeezed into a corner and acted invisible, clammy hands wrapped around her middle while she attempted to tamp down her growing panic.They were cutting Leo open—a dangerous act—yet the brothers and sister and Casey worked as a calm, competent team while she was the interloper.When she realized she was swaying, she placed one palm on the wall.Goddess, she hoped Leo survived this ordeal.Iseult hadn’t done this to any other male.Was this a coincidence?Had his wound become infected since his return to the resort?
Sly rushed back, a preserving jar in hand.“I told Ma one of the beasts had a parasite, and we wanted a container so we could transport it to Dalcon for identification.She gave me a bottle of vinegar and said we should pour it over the parasite to preserve it.”
Saber chuckled.“Did she want to come and watch?”
“She’d just put a batch of scones in the cook-box,” Sly said.“She needed to supervise the new staff.”
Casey pulled several items from the medical bag.“Place a clean sheet over the table.I’m going to inject the surface area with a numbing agent.The medical wand should do the trick.It might even spit out a diagnosis if we’re lucky.”
Saber walked over to Casey and Leo.“Okay, Leo.We’re ready for you.Shift now, and we’ll see what we’ve got.”
Leo scanned the interior until he saw her trying to hide.He butted her leg with his head, and Betrys crouched to bury her head against his shoulder.The second she released him, he licked her cheek, the abrasive nature of his tongue across her skin transmitting messages of instant lust.A soft hum escaped her, echoed milliseconds later by a rumble that translated as satisfaction.Color rushed to her cheeks, and one of the brothers laughed.The heat in her face intensified.
“Save that for later, Leo,” Saber said in a stern voice, but Betrys caught the underlying humor beneath his severity.
Casey sanitized her hands.“Let’s do this.”
Leo prowled toward the sheet-draped table.He stopped beside Saber, and his sigh was loud in the silent room.He didn’t want to do this, and Betrys couldn’t blame him.
Leo took another audible breath and after a long pause, the transformation commenced.Betrys stared in a combination of fascination and horror.Surely that must hurt?Or maybe they became used to the way their skin and muscles warped and the snapping and popping as their bones and skin realigned to their alternative form.The shift took precious minutes.They’d be vulnerable at this stage.
Finally, Leo’s naked form slumped on the floor in front of them.Two of his brothers crouched beside him and helped Leo onto the table.
“Betrys,” he gasped.
“I’m here.”She moved forward.
“Stand on the other side of the table.”Saber seemed comfortable bossing them all about.“Give Casey room to work.”
“Holy fuck,” Sly said.“Look at that sucker.”
“It’s grown bigger.”Betrys stared at the distinct bulge from Leo’s stomach.“Much bigger than it was earlier this morn.”
“It needs to come out.”Saber frowned, and Betrys saw his concern for his younger brother.
Casey examined the instruments and chose a scalpel.“I think it’s trying to emerge.Whatever it is, we don’t want it running around the room.Make sure the door is locked so no one can enter until we’re done.Felix, Saber, I want you to prepare to grab it.Scarlett, you spray the thing with this knock-out solution.I’ll tell you when.Wait, everyone put on gloves.We don’t want it burrowing into anyone else.”
