Page 31 of Feathers and Scales

“You block the nerves out well. That was efficient.”

“I don’t like emotions, and you make me feel.” She collected the trash from the table and walked into the kitchen.

“I won’t apologize for that.”

She held in a smile.

“I would have told you what you wanted to know about my blood,” he said.

“Frankly, data might tell me more than you can.”Especially about your cell division abilities and their link to your immortality.She threw the items away.

Daxton deflected the pride-blowing implication behind her words with a saucy grin. His lack of ego impressed her.

“Since it’ll be days before I can get results from Simon…and my curiosity is getting the better of me,” she said. “What do you know about your DNA?”

Daxton shook his head as he chuckled. His easy laughter, so unexpected from such a large, domineering man caused a bubbling sensation in her chest. Her lips wanted to rise into a smile, but she ignored the temptation.

“I’m no specialist, but from what I’ve learned, nothing in our blood raises red flags,” he said. “The dragon is more of a spirit entity that can present itself biologically when needed.” His irises appeared like capsules of flowing liquid bronze.

A touch caressed the shield she’d built between them. She shivered. A spirit dragon sounded much like a Fallen. “Do you shift, or do you split into it like I can with my spirit?”

“We share flesh.”

She craved to watch him shift, even as terrifying as her encounter with his dragon had been.

She licked her lips. “No extra chromosomes?”

“Sorry to disappoint, my little Flemming.”

His endearment wrapped around her mind. The correct name-drop of a pivotal scientist in chromosome research made her cross her arms in front of her like a shield. The attraction bubbling in her chest turned chaotic.

He not only had brawn but also brains.How unfair.

“What about you?” he asked.

“I’m every bit as human as the next person.” A vexing discovery for her after she learned how to compare DNA sequences toward the end of her previous life in the 1980s.

“Boringly so,” Simon said from behind them, making her turn. He breathed heavily, which wasn’t a surprise since the specimen refrigerators were in the basement under the tower.

“Did you remember to pack the charger and your phone?” Simon walked to Cornelius’s journal atop her duffel bag and lifted the cover.

You’re too curious for your own good, Simon.As Daxton hadn’t given her permission to share the knowledge of his kind with Simon, she closed the journal on his finger. “Yes, thank you.” Worry scratched at her throat. “Are you sure you don’t want to come?”

He pulled his finger back with a dramatically limp wrist. “You mean head toward danger instead of staying here on lockdown with our fancy instruments, doing research?” He paused. “Yes. I’m positive.”

She’d also rather be staying put, but her research could continue with studying dragon history. “Daxton, did you give him the emergency contact?” She eyed Daxton over her shoulder, and he nodded. She faced Simon. “Are you good supply-wise?”

Simon sighed. “Let’s be clear—if it weren’t for me, we’d be nutrient-deprived, morale-compromised, and one algorithm away from cannibalism.”

She smiled. Sometimes his dramatics got the better of her. “I suppose you’re correct on that one.”

Daxton gaped at her, eyes wide as if she’d transformed into royalty. She covered her smiling mouth and avoided his gaze. Her smile wasn’t worth gawking at.

“Before you go…” Simon said to Daxton. “Are you willing to pay for my storytelling amazingness…my manga?”

“My blood should be payment enough, but what’s your price?”

“Whatever cash you have in your wallet will suffice.” Simon pulled the book from behind him.