Page 51 of Alien Engineer's Mate

A sharp knock at the door made her look up.

"I'll get it!" Eira's heart leaped into her throat as she approached the door. She really didn't want to run into those security officers again, but as the only adult here, she absolutely was not letting Leo or Sheena do it. When she opened the door, though, she found an older Tavkronian woman whose resemblance to Sheena was unmistakable.

"Lady Coleman." The alien woman's voice was crisp but kind. "I'm Advocate Tisshel Taci. My daughter called me about your situation."

"Mom!" Sheena moved past Eira to embrace her mother. Eira smiled at the moment of connection between the two as Tisshel leaned down to press her forehead against her daughter's. That moment made her realize how young Sheena still was. After all, what else did kids do when they were in trouble but call their parents?

Sheena stepped back. "I've already pulled up the security protocols and the precedents from?—"

"Show me." Tisshel swept into the room, her own datapad joining the collection on the table. A holographic display sprang to life, showing case files and legal documents. "The purist accusations complicate everything. If they void his status..."

Eira's knees buckled, and she sank onto the couch, her legs suddenly unable to support her. Emily sat curled against her side, clutching Red Dragon with white-knuckled fingers. Grace pressed close on her other side, both girls pale and quiet. She wrapped her arms around them both. This felt like a nightmare she couldn't wake up from.

"They can't just take him away." Emily's voice wavered, small and scared. "He's my papa."

Tisshel's fierce expression melted. She set down her datapad and crossed to Emily, crouching down so that she was on the little girl's level. "Of course he is, sweetheart, and no one is going to change that." She reached out, smoothing Emily's hair back from her tear-stained face with a taloned finger. "I'm a mama too, you know. My job is helping families stay together, and that's exactly what we're going to do."

Emily sniffled, clutching Red Dragon tighter and looking over the toy's be-ribboned neck. "Promise?"

"I promise." Tisshel said firmly. She looked up at Sheenara. "Actually, let's pull up the Guardianship Rights Act. I'm thinking the sections about?—"

A soft chime sounded from somewhere on the table. Sheena searched through the stack of pads and files, then snatched one up. "They've scheduled the appeal for tomorrow morning. First shift."

"That fast?" Eira's heart stuttered right there in her chest. "How can we be ready in time?"

"They're trying to rush this through." Tisshel's lips pulled back from sharp teeth. "Hoping we won't have time to build a proper defense. Assholes. These are standard intimidation tactics."

"Why?" The question escaped her before she could stop it. "Why are they doing this to him? You didn't see his face when they took him. He didn't even fight back."

Silence fell across the room. Mother and daughter exchanged glances that made her stomach clench.

"The purist movement has been against the mate program since it started. If they could prove it's flawed, that the genetic matching isn't reliable..." Sheena said.

"They'd be able to destroy everything we've built." Tisshel's voice was hard. "A hundred and forty-seven matches so far, each one a step toward saving the Latharian species. The empire can't risk losing that progress. So they react, somewhat extremely, to even the suggestion of purist sympathy."

Emily pressed closer to Eira's side. "Papa isn't bad. He makes the nightmares go away."

She wrapped her arm tighter around the little girl, her other hand finding Grace's shoulder. The girls had been inseparable since security had dragged Maax away, as if their shared fear had forged an even stronger bond between them. Kyle was so upset that he'd retreated to his bedroom, Leo reading him bedtime stories to calm him down.

"Of course he isn't bad, sweetheart." She forced a smile across her face. "Some people are just confused, and we need to show them."

"And we will." Tisshel shot Emily a warm smile. "Your papa is one of the good ones, little star. Sometimes grown-ups make mistakes, but we're going to help them understand what we already know… that you and your papa belong together."

A knock at the door made them all jump, and they exchanged glances.

"Are you expecting anyone?" Sheena asked.

She shook her head. "I don't really know anyone else on the station."

"You don't have to answer that." Sheena was already moving to stand between the door and the couch, her slight frame somehow imposing. "Without a warrant?—"

"And even with one," her mother added, rising to her full height, "they'd need to justify disturbing a minor during sleep cycle."

Her heart warmed at their protective stances. The knock came again, more insistent this time.

"Should I..." She looked between the two Tavkronian women, uncertain.

"Your choice," Tisshel said, flexing her hands. The light glimmered on talons that looked a lot more dangerous than they had a moment ago. "We're here either way."

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