Page 43 of Dark Awakening: Hidden Currents

She shook her head. "That's what you always say, but I can't help it. I know that you are immortal and that your body expels bullets, but still. A well-aimed shot could be deadly even to an immortal."

"True, but it is highly unlikely any of these humans will prove to be trained snipers or that they will even think that accuracy is needed. All any of the scum will care about is hitting their target to slow us down so they can escape like the rats they are."

Marina frowned at the vehemence in his voice, but she didn't comment on it. She knew more than she let on, and he loved her even more for understanding and not pressing him for answers he preferred not to give.

"Just be careful, okay? Don't rely on your fast-healing body to withstand an assault. Wear your Kevlar vest and your helmet to protect your heart and your head."

"Yes, Ma'am." He saluted and then kissed the top of her nose. "I have the best reason in the world to want to come home in one piece." He let go of her. "When will dinner be ready?"

"When you sit down." She turned around and dropped the vegetables she'd been chopping into a bowl. "Is Alfie coming, too?"

"Not right away." Peter sat down. "I think he and Lusha are meeting for coffee at the café."

Marina poured dressing over the salad and put it on the table. "Enjoy." She sat across from him.

"You first." He pushed the bowl toward her.

She rolled her eyes but didn't argue. He never served himself first, and she knew it would be futile for her to insist that he did.

Peter wasn't a great fan of salads, but everything Marina made tasted great, even vegetables, and he was hungry.

"I ran into Bridget at the café this morning," Marina said. "We had a very interesting conversation about the possibility of your venom prolonging my life."

Peter's eyebrows shot up. "What did she say?"

"She thinks that's a valid hypothesis, and she wants to test it. Apparently, no one has ever really studied the long-term effects of immortal venom on humans who aren't Dormants. She thinks it could potentially have cumulative healing effects and prolong my life. I agreed to provide blood samples once a week to monitor my aging process and see if it slowed down over time."

"What is she going to check?"

"She wants to monitor my cellular aging and check for any changes in my telomeres."

"What are telomeres?" Peter asked, reaching for his phone to search for a definition.

"Let me see if I remember what Bridget said. Telomeres are kind of protective caps at the ends of our chromosomes, and supposedly, they get shorter as we age. I mean, as humans age. Bridget thinks the venom might slow down that shortening process or maybe even reverse it."

Peter let out a low whistle. "Wow. I mean, I knew my venom was good for you, but I never imagined it could be that good."

"Bridget seemed pretty excited about the possibilities, so I suggested that she test Lusha as well since she's dating Alfie now. Bridget said that Lusha is part Kra-ell, so her results might be different than mine, but she is excited about testing her, too."

"That's great. I don't know how serious Alfie is about Lusha, but I have no doubt that he will enjoy participating in the study." Peter chuckled. "It's not like it's a great hardship for him."

"It is not." Marina smiled suggestively. "For the study to have the best chance, you will have to bite me every night."

Peter got hard just thinking about the duty he was going to perform with utmost pleasure. "If my venom can really prolong your life, I will double up on the biting. Every morning and every night."

Marina laughed. "You can't produce that much venom every day, and if you could, I can't blackout in the morning when I need to go to work."

Peter waggled his brows. "It depends on what time we wake up."

Normally, even once a day was considered a lot. Immortals could climax many times without even pausing to rest, but their venom glands were a different story. They usually were good for only one bite a day.

Usually.

There were ways to make them produce enough for two.

Peter puffed out his chest. "I'll make it happen even if I have to double up on food intake. I will produce enough for two bites. And there's no better time to start than now." He wiped his mouth with a napkin and rose to his feet.

"Oh really?" Marina quirked an eyebrow, amusement dancing in her eyes. "What about dinner?"