Page 10 of Baby For the Mosaic Med Chief

His heart pounded in his chest, and his senses were on high alert. He tightened his grip on her, his voice defiant. “We won’t go down without a fight. Briana, stay behind me.”

Her grip on him intensified. She sounded afraid but also resigned when she said, “We can’t win. We have to surrender.”

Reluctantly, Quillin nodded, his gaze fixed on the encroaching enforcers. The weight of their situation settled upon them, acceptance mingling with the determination in his eyes. Finally, he lifted his hands in a gesture of surrender. “Allow us to dress.”

The leader of the squad grunted, but none of them turned their back. He did his best to shield Briana as she slipped on her clothes, including the bloodied and tattered pants. Once he was also dressed, the enforcers swiftly closed in, restraining Quillin and Briana. Metal binders constricted their wrists as they were marched from the room that had provided sanctuary.

As enforcers forcefully led them out of the hotel room, he stole a glance at his mate. Her eyes reflected a mixture of determination and fear, their silent understanding transcending words. Thoughts of the consequences they would face raced through Quillin’s mind, but amidst the turmoil, a steadfast resolve burned within him, fueled by the strength of their love. He silently vowed to protect her with his very last breath if necessary.

***

NEARLY AN HOUR LATER, no one had tried to separate them, and they stood before Grand Admiral Pate, supreme commander of the Faction forces. He was a towering Grimlock whose disapproval seemed to pierce his soul.

His sharp gaze assessed Quillin and then Briana, frowning at their entwined hands. “Explain yourselves.”

He stepped forward but retained hold of her hand. “There’s no crime here. We share a mating bond created by the Mating Flare.”

Pate’s eyes narrowed. “The Flare? That’s not possible with a human.”

“I swear it’s true,” said Briana. “We felt the bond from the moment we met.”

He shot her an amused glance, briefly distracted in the midst of the turbulence by her slight fabrication. She hadn’t felt it right away.

Pate waved a dismissive hand. “You can claim a bond, but that doesn’t make it true. You insult me with this fabrication, Med Chief.”

He met Pate’s gaze without flinching, his voice steady. “Grand Admiral Pate, the Mating Flare has brought us together. It’s a force beyond our control. Our love can’t be denied.”

Pate remained silent for a moment, the weight of his decision hanging in the air. Finally, he spoke, and his voice was filled with measured authority. “I somewhat grasp the power of the Mating Flare. It has defied understanding, but the final decision of your fate lies not with me.”

Quillin’s heart sank as Pate’s words echoed in the chamber. He knew who had the final say—the very Mosaic to whom Briana had been matched.

Seconds later, Commander Zartik entered the chamber, his indifferent expression revealing nothing of the storm that must be raging within him. To have a proxy match was a rare prize. To have her stolen away was an unacceptable betrayal. He understood the man’s position but couldn’t change destiny or undo the Mating Flare and his subsequent claiming.

Quillin’s heart clenched as he caught a glimpse of the commander’s longing gaze directed at Briana. Zartik exuded dominance and possessiveness. His eyes narrowed as he surveyed Quillin and Briana, his gaze lingering on their entwined hands. A flicker of anger flashed across his features.

“You dare to claim what is rightfully mine?” Zartik’s voice resonated with a mixture of anger and betrayal. “You, a mere Med Chief, have defied our laws.”

He stepped forward, his voice steady with conviction. “Commander Zartik, the Mating Flare formed a bond between Briana and me. It’s a connection that transcends our roles and origins. We can’t deny the power of our love.”

Zartik’s nostrils flared, his eyes narrowing as his gaze fixed on Briana. His nostrils flared as he sneezed, scowling at both of them. “I was promised the human female as my proxy, but she has been tainted by your scent mark and despoiled. She is impure.”

Briana’s grip tightened on his hand, her voice tinged with determination. “I’m not a possession to be claimed or spoiled. I choose love, and I choose Quillin.”

The commander’s face contorted with rage, and his voice dripped with venom. “If you reject me, I demand satisfaction. A blood fight. Quillin will face me in the arena.”

Quillin’s heart raced, adrenaline surging through his veins. His chances of winning were slim, but accepting the challenge was the only way to protect Briana and win approval for their mating. With a resolute nod, he met Zartik’s gaze, his voice firm. “I accept your challenge.”

Things moved quickly after that. The enforcers prodded him and Briana from the Grand Admiral’s meeting room to the arena located at the back of the Embassy. He wasn’t sure the humans knew about it, or its significance in settling Faction disputes, since he’d never bothered to visit it himself, and he’d been part of the Faction for years.

There were already people gathering, so word had spread quickly. He tried to ignore them as he turned to Briana. “Even if Zartik kills me, you won’t have to be a proxy for him now. You publicly rejected him, and you’re no longer a virgin. And he agreed to settle the matter in a blood fight.”

She glared at Zartik and then him. “This is barbaric.”

He stiffened. “It’s tradition and the only way to protect you.”

Tears welled in her dark eyes. “I don’t want to lose you.”

He put a tender hand to her cheek once an enforcer removed the binders. “I have more to lose than the commander, so I won’t allow myself to fall to his blade.” Before he could kiss her or say more, the enforcer prodded him toward the arena.

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