Pheromonal: One Night With the Alpha novel Chapter 90

Chapter 90: Serum

"Just relax." The strange Dr. Moon’s voice is filled with her manic cheer as Dr. Reeves cinches the restraint around my wrist again. Leather bites into my skin, where it’s already chafed from before.

"We’re going to test your magic with a special serum." Eliana leans over me, her unnaturally bright eyes boring into mine. Her wide smile is too toothy and predatory to be comforting. "Don’t worry, it won’t kill you."

My stomach drops at her choice of words, even though I’m not surprised. Sure, it won’t kill me. But what about everything else it might do?

Dr. Reeves wraps the blood pressure cuff around my arm. A mechanical whir fills the sterile room as it tightens, and he reads off the machine when it’s done.

"Blood pressure one-forty over ninety." He scribbles on his clipboard. "Pulse elevated at one-ten. Sats 100%."

Then the thermometer over my forehead, with impersonal beeps. "Temperature 97.6."

"You’re a healthy girl," Eliana says happily, stroking my hair with that creepy affection of hers.

I track Dr. Reeves’ movements as he prepares a new IV line. The current one in my arm drips steadily—saline and God knows what else, maybe even drugs keeping me compliant. The sharp smell of alcohol fills my nostrils as he swabs my other arm.

"Hold still." The needle slides in with practiced precision. A few seconds later it’s taped and secure. A small container of iridescent liquid catches my eye. The contents swirl with impossible colors—deep purples bleeding into electric blues and emerald greens. It moves like it’s alive, writhing within its glass prison.

Dr. Reeves connects it to my new IV line, hanging it from the IV pole I already have behind my bed. My breath catches as the first drop enters the tube.

"No dilution?" he asks Eliana, though it seems a little late to be asking.

"No."

"What is that?" I ask, trying not to let my voice shake too much.

"A catalyst for your catalyst." Her grin stretches too wide. "Let’s see what you’re really capable of."

The liquid inches closer to my vein. Each drop sends ripples of color through the line, like oil on water. But alive. Hungry.

Maybe I’m just making it worse for myself, but I don’t think so. I swear that liquid is trying to get into me by any means necessary.

Eliana’s fingers trail through my hair one last time, and it’s nearly impossible to not jerk away from her touch. "See you after your bolus, sweetie."

Dr. Reeves pats my leg, the gesture mechanical and cold. His touch lingers a second too long, like someone mimicking human comfort from a manual.

The door clicks shut behind them. Jim slumps in his chair, eyes closed, but his breathing isn’t deep enough for real sleep. The steady drip of the IV feels like a countdown to doom.

That liquid... God, it writhes in the line, dancing closer with each drop. Purple bleeds into blue, then green, then something that shouldn’t exist in nature. My heart pounds against my ribs as it approaches the junction where tube meets vein.

I scream. And scream. And scream, my throat tearing raw. My vision blurs with tears as I writhe against leather straps.

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