"The mate already murdered the Queen that spawned me," Hardison admitted. Dammit, the embryo that got that host was going to be awesome. Maybe he should just go kill that host before it had a chance to...host.

"These bodies are puny and weak and pitiful," Hardison declared, even as his hands found Parker's waist and pulled her in. "I will much prefer our proper forms when the evolution is finished."

Ignore how he was nuzzling her hair.