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No conception yet.But we have some definite changes going on here, Charity. Changes the others
aren t experiencing yet. Your ovaries are enlarged, the breed hormone is stronger now than it was when I
did the initial blood tests in the field hospital. I would guess ovulation is beginning. It shouldn t be long
now.
Charity bit her lip nervously at that information.
Do you think compatibility will occur? she asked her worriedly. She wasn t ready for a child. Wasn t
ready to be bound that much tighter to Aiden during such a dangerous time.
Nikki sighed. I need to get into the ovaries. But Aiden and Wolfe have expressly forbidden this. I could
steal the egg forming and test it. This would give us the answers to compatibility, and in your case, the
time you need to accept whatever is between you and Aiden.
Charity watched the other woman in surprise. Why would they forbid such tests?
Nikki leaned back against the post behind her, watching Charity carefully.
Because of the Council and their tests.Remember, Charity, they have been free for only a short time.
For some, only a matter of months. Many of them still have nightmares; many others are still adjusting to
freedom and the lack of Council restrictions. They have no desire to experience the tests again, she said
reflectively. It is often painful to watch them adjusting after a lifetime of hell.
Charity swallowed tightly. The six months she had spent as their prisoner had been hell on earth. She
clearly understood how they felt. But this was her body, her decision.
How quickly could you do the procedure? You would have to sedate me&
Nikki shook her head negatively. The sedative could change the outcome of the tests, make them false.
The procedure would have to be done free of anesthetics in your system.
Charity inhaled roughly, remembering the exam days before. I don t think I can stand it, Nikki. The
pain is excruciating.
Another puzzle. Nikki frowned. I cannot figure that one out, Charity. There is nothing in your system,
no reason why you should have such an aversion to any touch but Aiden s. To a point, Faith and Hope
were the same. The Feline Breeds have experienced this, but conception occurs quickly in them, without
drugs or hormonal treatments. From what I ve learned the last few days, you are in the final stages before
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conception. If we do this, it must be done quickly.
Charity turned away from her, staring across the compound as she focused on the mountains outside the
high walls. She shuddered at the thought of attempting such a procedure without a sedative. The pain was
terrifying.
I don t know if I can do it, she whispered. I know I can t, Nikki. You have to find a way to sedate
me.
Silence stretched between them. Let me run a few more tests then, she sighed. I need to be certain,
Charity, that I can chance a clear result on the ovum. Otherwise the test will be useless. We ll get in
enough trouble just doing it. She sighed mockingly. To think, I gave up a nice little cushy government
job to follow these Breeds. How dumb was that? They are much too stubborn.
Charity gave the other woman a knowing look. She knew well her friend s dedication and affection for
the Breeds she worked with. As she started to reply a shrill alarm blasted through the compound,
imperative, shrieking in its loud demand.
In the cabin. Nikki jumped up, pulling at her shirt as the two guards rushed around her.
Inside, Ms. Dunmore. The automatic rifles were raised in readiness as Nikki dragged her into the open
door of the cabin followed by the guards.
What is it? Charity bit out as the door slammed behind them, the guards moving to the kitchen and
living room windows to peer outside them with narrowed eyes.
Fly by, Nikki bit out. We ve been getting them with increasing regularity.
Charity moved to the other side of the window, peeking out carefully.
Jeeps were racing through the compound, several with mounted guns and rocket launchers. It was like a
war zone now. Men and women raced through the compound as the sound of heavy aircraft coming in
low began to vibrate through the cabin.
Council? she asked the guard worriedly.
Mongrels, he bit out. They have hired guns now. Wolfe, Jacob and Aiden are under constant threat.
Charity turned back to Nikki. What is he talking about?
Mercenaries, Charity, she said softly. We can t trace them to the Council, but we know well who is
behind it. Don t worry, Aiden would have called in our government reinforcements the moment the
aircraft hit the radar screens.
Chapter Twenty-Six
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The sound was coming closer. The hard, pulsing beat of a jet-powered helicopter seemed to echo
through the frame of the house.
Do they attack? She could feel her heart throbbing in her chest, fear racing through her blood stream.
Sometimes.Get back from the window. If there are sharp shooters watching for you, you ll make too
easy a target. Charity jumped back before the words were out of his mouth.
She stared at Nikki across the room, seeing the other woman s concern.
They rarely attack in the daylight, she said carefully. They re getting desperate.
The words were no sooner out of her mouth than the cabin trembled as a hard, shocking explosion
sounded outside.
They hit Wolfe s cabin! the guard yelled furiously. Sons of bitches. They hit Wolfe s cabin.
Hope, Charity breathed out desperately as she turned to the guard. Give me your fucking weapon.
Get out there and see if they need any help. I don t need a damned babysitter.
Charity, stop. Nikki moved quickly to her, then stumbled as another blast rocked the building. We
have to get to the Labs. The underground shelter there will protect us.
What are they doing? Charity was enraged, furious. She could hear the screams outside, the sounds of
returning fire. We have to get to Hope, Nikki.
They are trying to draw you out, Nikki yelled furiously. Don t worry about Wolfe and Hope. Wolfe
knows how to protect his mate. I promise you, our best men, as well as Wolfe, are guarding her now.
They re turning. Get the hell out of here, they re heading in our direction, the guard at the window
called out as he turned and jerked the front door open quickly.
The Labs, Nikki called out. We ll only be safe in the Labs.
Come on. He grabbed Charity s arm, rushing her for the door. They took out Wolfe and Jacob s
cabin and are heading back.
Charity moved between the guards, making no move to question them or to delay their plans. She was
aware of Nikki behind her and the sound of the helicopter as it moved in once again.
Sons of bitches have to have a plant, one of the guards cursed as he rushed her from the porch and
under the cover of the trees that grew alongside the gravel path. Let s move.
The helicopter was moving in faster now. Charity could hear it, the motor throbbing, rotors beating in
time to the desperate throb of her own heart. The guards were running beside her, checking behind them
often, as curses sizzled from between their lips.
One minute she was running with him, the next she felt as though some unseen hand had picked her up,
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