Cat Scratch Fever; Blue-Collar Werewolves V by Buffi BeCraft Read Free Book Online Page A

almost made Naomi wonder if someone else was awake.
Sarcasm replaced the deference he’d given her and Morrow. “I almost
didn’t recognize you in the new getup. Though I’ve got to admit,
the glasses add a nice touch. Very Clark Kent.”
    Dr. Drake straightened, his dark impassive
gaze taking in the bay of cells he was responsible for. Naomi could
almost see a smile ghost at the corners of the scientist’s mouth
before he moved out of sight. The clank of the cage opening slapped
her as hard as Nathan’s obvious defection. “Nathan. How do you
feel?”
    “I’ve felt worse,” the panther told him.
“Thanks, but we’re not leaving. You’ve got the same look in your
eyes that your real boss gets when he’s about lock down the home
front and send out the troops.”
    “I’ll go if you’re offering.” Morrow
said.
    “No,” Nathan insisted. “It’s not time. We’re
waiting.”
    “Oh, what now?” Naomi abandoned her spot at
the back of her cage. She pressed as close to the bars as she
could, without touching the vicious silver. She wanted to taste
freedom again. “You run with the psychics too?”
    “Nathan, if I do not remove you and the
others in my care immediately, then Faust Kemlec will kill you
himself. He is not only a brilliant businessman, but an extremely
prejudiced supernatural-phobe.”
    “Supernatural-phobe?” Nathan laughed. “I
know you talk in gibberish most of the time, Doc. But you’re making
this up as you go along, right?”
    “You do not want to stay for Kemlec’s big
unveiling.” Now it was Dr. Drake’s turn to lower his voice. The
perfectly reasonable, logical turn took on a darker urgent quality.
“You heard him. He desires a virus that will infect every
supernatural, ultimately killing off anything with any magical
ability. Go home , Nathan. Take them with you.”
    “I take it that Kemlec isn’t lumping himself
into that group.” Naomi ventured. She could see the ramifications
of a virus like that. Many psychics had such minor abilities that
they were considered human, but they weren’t. They used small
magics without realizing it. How many humans had a bit of untapped
fairy or other supernatural blood running through their veins?
    “No. He is not,” Dr. Drake answered her, but
his attention apparently stayed with the werepanther. “Nathan, I
never intended for the cats to stay past their recovery.”
    “Where did you plan to send them, doc?” he
taunted. “Palestine? Think the wolven will allow everyone to hang
out at their place? Or has the local fairy lord opened a
supernatural animal sanctuary?”
    “I…” Drake faltered. “Packhome is the only
safe place. The wolven Pack is fairly lenient in that regard.”
    Nathan snorted. “Haven’t you heard? Packhome
is gone, wolf. Geesh, you people need to watch the news. The church
burned it down to the ground.” He waited while the revelation sunk
in. “Those of us who helped evict the Church of the Clean from your
territory didn’t get any special treatment. We got drafted into
your damned Pack, then the alpha told us we weren’t good enough to
hang with them. Don’t get me wrong, some like the protection that
living on the fringes of your Pack’s territory gives. But that’s
not acceptance. It’s barely tolerance.”
    “Nope.” The panther paused, his tone hard.
“I am needed here , and by whatever you hold holy, I am
staying here until I do what has to be done.” Nathan’s words
brought a flash of Naomi’s dream back. Her all-powerful dream man
curled up on himself in horrible pain while she was helpless to do
anything for him. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to
make sense of the situation. What was the truth?
    Dr. Drake stepped back. Naomi could see the
wolf in the scientist’s eyes now, though his scent still lied. His
dark skin took on an ashen quality, obviously taking an emotional
hit from the panther’s revelations. “Fine. Stay.” He clipped his
words as he moved to open his