A sickening dread washed over him when he recognized the familiar abnormality of your eyes.

His fingers grasping your chin, Gabriel gently tipped your head back to examine your features in greater detail.

Though your irises had turned crimson, your sclerae were still their normal pearl-white color. And if there was any change in the color of your skin, he couldn't tell.

But no longer languid, weak, and distracted from pleasure, you quickly grew uncomfortable under your lover's scrutiny and brushed his hand aside.

You gathered the remnants of the examination gown from the floor and held the torn pieces over your nudity. "I'm fine, Gabe."

"You're not fine," he began to argue, then stopped when he noticed something else. His fingers closed around your elbow, holding your arm immobile for inspection. He muttered something under his breath, but all you could make out was, "...healed."

The sensation gripping him from the inside out almost made him physically ill. Gabriel appeared legitimately afraid, and his fear was starting to affect you adversely.

Before you could even utter another word, he swept you off your feet and carried you out of his quarters.

"Gabe, where are you taking me?" You asked, watching as the corridors grew dark and winding. Looking straight ahead, he left your question unanswered and kept his urgent speed.

Large sliding doors gave way into a poorly-kept laboratory. The harsh, fluorescent lighting revealed every dusty corner of the room. In silent awareness, you took in your messy surroundings.

Littered with paper trails, broken glass beakers, and assorted liquids bubbling in stained graduated cylinders—the laboratory was hardly in appropriate working condition, and you couldn't help but wonder whom it belonged to.

Gabriel and you were soon greeted by the owner of the lab, someone you were keen on never seeing again. "Reyes, what a... pleasant surprise this is." The lanky red-head turned her gaze to you. "I didn't expect for you to return so soon."

After Gabriel set you on your feet, he gave Moira O'Deorain a snarl and seized the woman her by the collar of her lab coat. "This is your doing!"

"What?" Genuine confusion occupying her long face, the world-renowned geneticist cast her heterochromic eyes on you and attempted to analyze Gabriel's apprehension—it was not like him to lose his composure so easily... whatever it was that troubled him must indeed be significant.

"Cut the bullshit," Gabriel's anger flared and his grip turned knuckle-white. "You gave her what you injected into me."

The confusion receded from her features, and Moira O'Deorain faded into air—just as she had done before. Liberated from Gabriel's hostile grasp, she reappeared before you. And without hesitation, she began to examine you at length. "I have done nothing of the sort. Ogundimu took that chance from me."

A mechanical clicking forced your attention back to Gabriel. He'd drawn his gun and trained its barrel in the direction of the preeminent geneticist. "You'll find out what's wrong with her," he growled. "You'll do it now, or I'll kill you."

"There is no need to resort to threats. I'm always happy to oblige, my most esteemed commander." A devious smile spread her thin lips as her gaze swept over your form yet again.

You resisted the urge to physically distance yourself from the woman. "These have to be side effects of having sex with you, Gabe," You were lying through your teeth, hoping to convince the two others in the room. "There's nothing else going on. I promise."

But your fiancé was adamant. "[Y/N], how could you possibly know that? Your eyes are red, and you're regenerating quickly—if you're turning into what I am, then we need to put a stop to that right now."

"Would that be so terrible?" The geneticist pondered, intrigue lacing her voice. The grin on her face spread even wider.

"I'll be damned if I let her turn into a monster like us," Gabriel gritted his teeth, trying to rein in his contempt.

Moira hummed pensively and trained her astute gaze on you—as if plotting something sinister. She was not fazed in the slightest that she'd been deemed monstrous. No, she could care less.

For it was her monstrosity that served as catalyst for knowledge, and the woman thrived upon it. "Perhaps we should test this hypothesis. Copulate again and let's see if it is truly sex that is transforming you."

You have long understood that the cause of your bodily changes was slowly growing within you, housed within your womb—a conception of your relationship with Gabriel. You needed to protect it.

In the heart of Talon operations, keeping your pregnancy undisclosed was of vital importance.

And there was no way in hell you'd risk your unborn child becoming a part of her twisted experiments.

But, alas, there was already a knowing glint in her eyes. It was deeply disturbing. As she closed in on you, she whispered so that only you could hear, "We both know what is taking place inside of you. It is why you are the perfect specimen, [Y/N]."

Apprehension squeezed your chest tight. "The hell I am," You snapped, pacing several steps away from her. "If you touch me again, I'll kill you."

Moira O'Deorain perceived no threat from you. She merely looked at you with the same unnerving expression—as if you were a scientific curio to add to her ever-growing collection.

"Don't you wish to know of your child's genome? And aren't you the slightest bit concerned about the hardships you may face in pregnancy and postpartum? What if this child kills you before you give birth? Are you blatantly ignoring that possibility?"

She posed valid questions, and everything she had mentioned about your pregnancy was certainly worrisome. But how could you bring yourself to trust her after knowing what she'd done to herself? To Gabriel...?

"I'll take my chances." You pressed your lips into a thin line.

"Don't I have a say in this?" Gabriel interrupted your exchange. "We're a couple, and if this pregnancy could kill you, I'm not willing to take any chances. We can terminate it if we have to."

"I--" You meant to argue, but a deathly sensation tore inside you. It was a ripping pain that coursed along your lower belly, unforeseen and unrelenting. It brought you to your knees and formed tears in your eyes.

"[Y/N]!" Gabriel knelt beside you, fiercely grabbing hold of your arms. "What's wrong?!"

Stunned by the throbbing in your womb, you could hardly speak—only managing a whimper. You tried to make clear your blurred sight, blinking away the tears, but darkness would soon claim you.

In that helpless moment, you felt fear. Fear that harm might befall the life inside you after all.

Drifting out of consciousness, you felt your motionless body being lifted onto a cold, hard surface.

And the last thing you saw before the oblivion claimed you was Moira O'Deorain's wicked grin.

--

A/N: Hey friends! Apologies for my hiatus. I went on a much needed vacation with my husband. In addition, we are in the process of buying a new house—I've been absolutely swamped! I'm sorry!

Regardless of all that's going on in my life, I hope this chapter finds you well. As always, thank you for your feedback and for your votes. I'm always striving for improvement. And most of all, thank you for reading!

P.S. I have a list of to-do's. These include writing several requests and reading/giving feedback on several books. I promise I haven't forgotten your requests, and I thank you for being patient with me!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Love,
Mei