I glanced at him, impressed by his knowledge of the legal framework.
Verek's jaw tightened. "Very well. We'll note your... objections. But this matter isn't closed. The Research Division has special interest in your case."
"Our case?" I asked. "Or our potential children?"
"Both," Dr. Soren interjected, speaking for the first time in several minutes. "Your genetic compatibility suggests possibilities we've only theorized about."
"We are not your research subjects," Redmon stated firmly. "Now, I believe this inspection is concluded."
After a tense standoff, the officials gathered their equipment and left, Verek's parting glance promising future trouble.
When the door closed behind them, I released a shaky breath. "Thank you for backing me up."
"Always," Redmon said simply.
"They'll be back, won't they?"
He nodded grimly. "With more authority next time."
Selene emerged from her room, where she'd been hiding during the confrontation. "What did they want?"
"To study us," I explained. "Like we're some kind of experiment."
"They mentioned children," Redmon said quietly. "They have plans for any offspring we might have."
The implication hung heavy in the air. Magnus Terra wasn't just interested in our match, but more in what might come of it. Children who would be half-human, half-monster.
"We need to be careful," I said. "They're watching us more closely than we realized."
Later that evening, after Selene had gone to bed, Redmon and I searched the cottage thoroughly. In the living room,behind a decorative wall hanging, we found a small black device emitting a faint electronic pulse.
"Surveillance," Redmon growled, carefully removing it without damaging it.
We found three more, one in the kitchen, one in the greenhouse, and, most disturbingly, one in the bedroom.
"How long have these been here?" I whispered, horrified at the invasion.
"Since the last inspection, most likely." Redmon examined the device. "Advanced technology. They've been watching us for weeks."
"Listening to our conversations. Monitoring our movements." My skin crawled at the thought. "They know everything we've discussed."
Redmon's expression darkened. "Not everything. They can only monitor what happens inside the cottage."
We moved outside, walking to the end of the property where the sound of a nearby stream would mask our conversation.
"Something is wrong with this entire situation," I said, hugging myself against the evening chill. "The matching, the surveillance, their interest in potential children. None of this is normal, even for Magnus Terra."
Redmon nodded, his muscled frame silhouetted against the darkening sky. "I've had suspicions since our matching was announced. Ninety-eight percent compatibility is statistically impossible according to everything I know about the program."
"You think they falsified our results?"
"Or they're using different criteria than they claim." He turned to face me, reflecting the last light of day. "Kalyndi, I believe we were matched for a specific purpose, not because of random genetic testing."
The realization settled cold in my stomach. "They want something from us. Or from our children."
"Yes." His voice was grave. "And I intend to find out what."
"How?"
