Skin Walkers: Leto by Susan Bliler Read Free Book Online Page A

Megalya?”  Aries’ incredulous tone was accusatory.
    “I was an intern.  I didn’t know what they were doing.  I had to earn my last credits so I signed up for an internship.  God, if I’d only known.”  She fell back against the seat shaking her head.  “I’d heard them speak of their research on Walkers, Skin Walkers.  I assumed it was all fictitious or at best some idiotic plot the military was working on for super soldiers that they’d attempt to execute and surely fail at sometime in the distant future.  I didn’t know that you’re kind actually existed.  If I’d known…I never would have taken the position.  I’m not evil; I don’t want to hurt anyone.”  Her eyes flashed to Aries, “I didn’t hurt anyone.  I would never do that!”
    Aries’ eyes flashed dangerously then.  “When you said you’d heard of Conn, was it just from York speaking of him?”  She thought she’d scented the lie earlier but it didn’t make sense at the time for Shy to lie about how she knew of Conn.
    Shy shoved a hand into her hair.  “They have files Aries.  On all of you.”  She shrugged one slim shoulder negligently, “Well I assume most of you.  There were so many… I never saw anything on you though.”
    “What information did these files have?”
    “Everything.  Height, weight, sex, appearance.  It listed friends. They were trying to piece together relationships. I-I think they were trying to create a lineage.  We focused on descendency, but they don’t have much information in that regard.  They’re not sure who’s related and who’s married.  I think they’re trying to track the source.”
    “Source? ”  Aries scoffed angrily.  “The source, or sources, are long since gone.  Why in the hell would they care?”
    Shy drew in a long breath, “Replication.”
    The word had Aries turning to her in horror.  “Please tell me you’re fucking joking!”
    Shy’s head dropped closer to her chest.  “They abducted Leto and experimented on him Aries.  When I tried to put a stop to it, they locked me up.  They said they erased my identity, my bank account, my school records.  I don’t even know if I exist anymore.  They locked me up and experimented on me too.  They used me to test the viability of insemination using Walker seed.”  She shook her head dejectedly, “It worked and it’s all my fault.” 
    Aries’ eyes grew wide in incredulity.  “That’s why Leto doesn’t und erstand why you carry his scent?  He doesn’t know that they experimented on you with his seed!”
    Shy nodded, “He’s never touched me until today.”  She raised a hand to swipe at the fogged up window at her side, “But it’s more than them just experimenting on me with Leto’s seed.”  Silence stretched between them until Aries narrowed her gaze on the smaller woman. 
    “ I’m carrying his child, and he thinks I’m one of the Megalya.”  She turned to Aries, “Fuck I am!  I helped them Aries, I thought it was all just some ornate military bullshit.  Some wanna be sci-fi break through.  I didn’t know what I was doing.  I was just supposed to find a compatible female for the sample.  When none of the subjects matched I…I swapped my own DNA into the equation hoping it would work and I’d earn an easy ‘A’.  I didn’t know…I didn’t…”
    “Jesus Christ Shy !  We have to tell him.”
    “No.  He thinks I’m Megalya.  He’ll think it’s a trick.  He’ll never understand.  He’ll never trust me.  He already wants to kill me.  I don’t care what he does to me,” her tone shifted to one of resolve, “but I won’t let him hurt my baby.”
    “Shy, I don’t know what to do here.  We can’t run forever.  Conn can track me easily.   We’re bound.”
    “Then let me go.  Pull over and get out and I’ll take the jeep and keep running.”  Panic flared to life as Aries slowed the vehicle.  “What are you doing?”
    “It’s no use Shy.