The glasses seem to project a faint outline of a keyboard onto the table in front of him, along with a pale circle marking the touchpad area. Blue’s slender fingers move lightly over it.
After a short pause, during which everyone stares at Lowen, he turns his head back toward us and speaks.
"That is a valid question. There are very few alpha-beta TM cases like yours, so the existing research base is extremely limited. Your case holds certain research potential. Analyzing these mechanisms, even if they diverge from the established models, could provide new insights into aspects of beta fertility that remain insufficiently understood."
Silence reigns. No one interrupts Blue, who seems lost in thought, as if his mind is working at full speed.
"I am willing to consider your petition. However, as the Follow-Up medical team remains incomplete, I cannot yet determine whether we will have the capacity to examine your case in a manner that would yield meaningful results. I should have an answer within six weeks."
I let out a breath I was probably holding the whole time. Damn. That’s a surprise. I was already starting to accept, in my head, that our only alternative would be living in the woods of North Carolina, defenseless against Rocco.
I exchange a look with Salt, who stands beside me, motionless and stiff, his fingers clenched tightly around mine.
"Thank you. Your approach truly reflects that of a thorough, inquisitive scientist," I offer a compliment, which is clearly not well received.
"I’ve already agreed. Flattery isn’t necessary."
I swallow.
"That was sincere. But there’s one more thing. Couples who are expecting a child are usually removed from the island within a few weeks, so our stay would have to be extended while we wait for your decision."
"I believe Mr. Gomez will take care of that."
Blue looks over at Gomez.
Gomez flinches slightly. He clearly did not expect to be pulled into the conversation at this stage.
"Of course, of course, that won’t be a problem. However, I would like to emphasize, Mr. Lowen, that I was not aware this particular couple were True Mates. We would have handled it better if I had known all the facts—"
"That’s enough explanation! A simple ‘yes, I’ll take care of it’ would have been entirely sufficient, Mr. Gomez," Blue says coolly. Dear Fate, this man must be a nightmare to work for. I glance at Gabriel, who seems completely unfazed by his boss’s boorish behavior.
"Of course, I’ll take care of it," Gomez replies quickly.
"I also suggest that you focus on a necessary increase in security on the island. Mr. Drax should never have been able to get here. This is a serious breach of all protocols."
"I will handle that as well. I would only like to point out that we were not informed that Mr. Drax remained at large after his interrogation by the supervisory committee. Had we known, we would have approached the situation differently," Gomez adds unexpectedly, his tone slightly defiant, he’s clearly unwilling to accept any share of the blame. "He should be behind bars."
From across the room, Blue’s expression hardens even further.
"I’ll let that comment pass, since you’re unaware of how the investigation into Mr. Drax has developed. He submitted verified recordings of meetings with Sidorov showing he repeatedly questioned the betas’ consent and whether it was genuine. Sidorov assured him everything was legal. Mr. Drax considers himself a victim of our program."
Completely unexpectedly, Salt straightens up and interrupts the discussion.
"Sure, he might’ve flipped the script and played the victim, but that doesn’t let him off the hook for coming back to theisland and trying to kill four people!" he snorts, looking pretty outraged, which is understandable, since Drax really got away a bit too easily.
Blue Lowen tilts his head and replies calmly.
"Mr. Einarson, are you not the person whoactuallykilled four people in a moment of emotional turmoil? Not merelyattemptedto?"
A heavy silence falls.
Blue is clearly impossible to argue with.
Gabriel glances at Salt in surprise. I get the impression he shifts slightly forward, as if trying to shield Blue from Salt’s gaze alone. His devotion to ensuring the security of a tiny scientist borders on amusing.
"Surely you’re not defending Drax," I blurt out. "He riddled Salt with bullets."
"I’m not defending him. Nothing excuses what he did. However, Mr. Drax worked here in good faith, believing the operation was legal. He was then interrogated, accused, and publicly condemned. But all his assigned cases ended in pregnancies, so despite ethical concerns, his pheromones proved highly effective. For that reason, we offered him participation in clinical testing at one of our closed laboratories. He will be studied under proper scientific supervision."
