She turned to Kirr, a smile breaking across her face. They’d done it. She was approved, and with what had happened last night… She opened her mouth to ask what the next steps were for them, how they made this official?—
"You have been matched with a warrior from the V’Rexx clan," Kaarigan said. "He is a solid match, ninety-four percent compatibility. He is currently stationed in the Riatta Sector and will arrive for the courtship phase in two days."
The smile froze on her face.
"What?" The word fell out of her mouth, clumsy and stupid.
"The warrior from V’Rexx," Kaarigan repeated, as if she were hard of hearing. "Has an excellent combat record and a very stable temperament. The system indicates he will be able to counter your more… flighty tendencies."
"No." Kirr's voice was a low rumble, dark and dangerous. "That will not happen."
Kaarigan's eyebrows lifted slightly. "I can assure you, War-Commander, that the system is never wrong."
Kirr's fingers locked around hers, his grip tightening to the point of pain, but she didn’t care. She just held on. "This female is already claimed. She has been living in my quarters. My claim has been accepted and witnessed."
"I'm aware she was assigned to your supervision." Kaarigan's tone was dismissive. "And I heard about the theatrics at the function. However, under Revised Protocol Seven, rank and even claim cannot pre-empt a verified match. War-Commander."
"She is mine," Kirr said. The menace wasn't low-level anymore. It was filling the room, suffocating. "I have claimed her. She accepts my claim."
Kaarigan angled the dataflex toward them. "The Program does not recognize informal claims made outside the matching parameters. To do so would invite chaos. Every warrior with a high enough rank and a pulse would be poaching candidates before they were properly assessed."
The blood drained from her face. Cold swept through her, bone-deep.
They were taking her away from him.
"You can't do this," she whispered. "I... I helped save the station. You said the breach was cleared."
"And it is," Kaarigan said. "Which is why you are being rewarded with a prime match. Warriors from V’Rexx are highly sought after."
"I don't want a warrior from V’Rexx," she snapped, panic making her voice shrill. "I want Kirr. We're... we're together."
"That is unfortunate," Kaarigan said, his voice clipped. "But personal preference does not dictate genetic compatibility. The program is designed to ensure the survival of our species, Miss Sawyer. Not to cater to temporary infatuations."
"Temporary?" Kirr roared. He stood up, his chair scraping violently against the floor. He towered over the table, seven feet of furious Latharian male. "She has accepted my claim, and I have taken her to my bed. There is nothing temporary about this."
She stared at the polished wooden surface of the table, terror knotting in her gut. They’d slept together, wanted to stay together… but it didn't matter. None of it mattered. Her feelings didn’t matter.
"Then you have violated the supervision protocols," Kaarigan said coldly. "We could bring charges. Taking advantage of a vulnerable candidate under your care? It does not look good on a record, War-Commander."
"Try it," Kirr challenged, his voice dangerously low.
Kaarigan ignored him to focus on her, shuffling his dataflexes as he moved on. "When your cousin regains consciousness, she will also be processed through the matching algorithm. Given the Program's current placement needs, it's unlikely you'll be assigned to the same sector. But you'll have communication privileges, of course."
Her fingers found her scar. Pressed until the old wound ached.
Not just Kirr. Delilah too. Everyone she loved, scattered across the galaxy and she'd be matched to some stranger who was supposed to fix her "flighty tendencies."
"Kirr, stop." Harper grabbed his arm. She could feel the tremors of rage running through him, but she could also see the truth in Kaarigan's eyes. This wasn't a fight they could win. Not here. Not now. "Please."
Kirr looked down at her, his golden eyes wild, pupils blown wide. He looked desperate.
The desperation broke her. Kirr M'Aab, the unshakeable War-Commander, the man who had ordered an entire station around during a crisis, was powerless here.
He couldn't save her.
This is my fault. The thought crawled up her throat like bile. She’d let herself believe she could have it all… love, happiness… the man she wanted. But it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered.
Kirr's wrist computer chimed.
