The blood samples went into a machine that hummed and clicked. Minutes passed as tears of rage and humiliation streaked down my face.
The machine beeped. The lab woman stared at the screen, her professional demeanor cracking for the first time.
"That can't be right," she murmured. She ran the test again. The machine beeped a second time, displaying the same results.
She pressed a button on her comm. "Sir, you need to see this. Room three. Immediately."
Within minutes, the door opened. A tall human man in an expensive suit entered, followed by Captain Hayes. The man looked at the screen, then at me, his eyes widening.
"Ninety-eight percent," he whispered. "That's the highest we've ever recorded."
"Ninety-eight percent what?" I demanded, my voice cracking.
They ignored me, huddling around the screen, whispering urgently.
"Is this verified?" the man asked.
"Triple-verified," the lab woman said. "The genetics are unmistakable."
"What genetics?" I shouted. "Tell me what's happening!"
The man finally turned to me, a smile spreading across his face. "You, my dear, are a miracle. A ninety-eight percent genetic compatibility match with a mapinguari warrior. Do you have any idea how rare that is?"
My blood turned to ice. Mapinguari. Everyone knew about the most feared of all the monster species that had conquered our world. Massive, with claws that could shred metal and a roarthat could shatter glass. And I was supposedly compatible with one.
"There's a mistake," I insisted. "Test me again."
"We did," the lab woman said. "Three times. You're a perfect match for Commander Razak."
"Who the hell is Commander Razak?"
"Your future husband." The suited man's smile widened. "The Governor's most decorated warrior. He'll be delighted."
Husband. The word hit me like a physical blow. "No. I refuse. I won't do it."
Captain Hayes stepped forward. "That's not how this works. The treaties are clear. High-compatibility matches are binding."
"I don't care about your treaties!" I thrashed against the restraints. "I'm not marrying a monster!"
The suited man nodded to the lab woman. "Prepare her for the ceremony. The Commander is already on site for an inspection. We can proceed immediately."
"Immediately?" Even the lab woman seemed surprised. "Sir, protocol suggests a transition period of at least… "
"The Governor wants to make an example of this match. A ninety-eight percent compatibility is unprecedented. It will show the value of cooperation between our species."
They released me from the chair, only to drag me down another hallway. I fought every step, screaming threats and obscenities until my throat was raw. None of it mattered. They forced me into a preparation chamber as a small room with a mirror, a washing basin, and a white garment laid out on a bench.
"You have twenty minutes to make yourself presentable," the lab woman said. "There's water to wash with and a ceremonial garment to wear."
"And if I refuse?" I spat.
"Then we'll wash you and dress you ourselves." Her expression hardened. "But trust me, you'd prefer to maintain that small dignity."
The door locked behind them with a heavy thud.
I immediately searched the room for weapons, for escape routes, for anything. The mirror was an unbreakable polymer. The wall held the washing basin. The only vent was too small for even a child to crawl through.
From somewhere nearby came a sound that made my skin crawl. A deep, rumbling roar that vibrated through the walls themselves. Commander Razak, I presumed. My supposed "match."
