16. Evelyn
Evelyn
I bury myself in my work.
It’s the only thing I have left. The only thing I can do.
I play the part of the obedient scientist. I pretend everything is normal. I pretend I still believe in this project.
That couldn’t be further from the truth. The last thing I’ll ever do is give Dr. Kelly his army of orc babies. The thought alone makes me sick to my stomach.
I came to Xavros to save lives. That’s what they told me. I was going to help the orcs, solve their fertility crisis, and stop an entire species from going instincts. That is noble, important work.
That is work I still believe in.
Dr. Kelly doesn’t care about saving orcs. He only cares about owning them. Controlling them. Breeding them like cattle.
It’ll be a cold day in hell before I’ll help him achieve that.
For now, all I can do is sabotage my research. I’ve spent the last few days analyzing Varkul’s samples, carefully studying his genetic makeup. And the results? They’re incredible .
Orc DNA is astonishingly similar to human DNA. More than I ever could have imagined. If I was honest, I’d say cross-species fertility is highly likely.
I could present my findings to Dr. Kelly and give him exactly what he wants.
But I won’t.
Instead, I’ve written in my reports that the results are inconclusive. That orcs and humans are likely incompatible. That much more research needs to be done. Years and years of it.
It’s not much, but it’s something. I’m trying to buy myself some time until I figure something out.
I try to focus, but my mind drifts. To him .
My cheeks flush as heat spreads through me.
I spent hours scrubbing Varkul’s scent off my skin. But even now, days later, if I breathe in too deeply I swear I can still smell him. That raw, masculine musk, rich and heady. It haunts me.
I still remember how he feels. That thick, throbbing length, pulsing in my hands. He was so big, so strong, so warm .
I squeeze my eyes shut.
Get a grip, Eve.
I’m a scientist. A professional. Not some hormonal, desperate —
“Dr. Carter?”
I nearly jump out of my chair. My heart pounds in my chest as my head snaps up.
Dr. Kelly stands in the doorway of the lab, watching me. A small, smug smile curves his thin lips.
I swallow hard, trying to look neutral.
“How are we doing?” He asks casually, stepping inside.
“Fine.”
He studies me. “You seem tired. Are you sleeping well?”
I stiffen. I haven’t slept in days. Every time I close my eyes, I see him. Varkul.
His face twisted in pain. His roar cut short by bullets tearing into him.
They shot him like a wild animal, right in front of me. For a moment, I thought I had lost him.
But orcs are resilient.
He survived. Barely. He’s in the med-bay now, guarded around the clock, slowly recovering. I know because I’ve been checking on him. Sneaking in when I can, watching his chest rise and fall, making sure he’s still breathing.
I force a tight smile. “I’m fine, really.”
His sharp eyes flicker. “Any news to report? Any progress being made in the exciting field of orc-human fertility?”
“No.”
His smile fades. “No? Nothing at all?”
“Nope. I’m afraid not.”
“Are you sure, Dr. Carter?”
I hold his gaze. “Yep.”
For a long moment, we just stare at each other. Then, Dr. Kelly sighs and clasps his hands behind his back.
“That’s disappointing.”
Good .
“Well,” he continues. “I’m afraid we’ll have to accelerate our research, then.”
My stomach knots.
“Accelerate?”
I don’t think I like the sound of that.
Dr. Kelly nods. “We don’t have time to waste. I’m getting impatient. I want results. And if we can’t get them the scientific way…” His voice trails off, his meaning crystal clear.
Ice trickles down my spine.
He’s talking about forced breeding . About giving me to the orc and letting him have his way with me, whether I like it or not.
And if not me, then some other poor girl. That thought makes me sick to my stomach.
It should be me, a voice in the back of my mind says.
I keep my expression blank, but inside, panic surges through me.
“I will gather more samples and do more testing,” I say, keeping my voice as steady as possible. “Perhaps a fresh batch will provide a breakthrough.”
Dr. Kelly smiles. “Perhaps. Because if it doesn’t… well. I think I’ve said enough. Good afternoon, Dr. Carter.”
Kelly turns to leave. My hands clench into fists as I watch him go. I have to do something.
But what?!