Kennedy’s teeth showed as she smiled. “I know when this started,” she said. “The day Abram’s family was saved from death. I know about humans and I know about Paterians. That stomach is toorge to be anything other than female and of T’vailk heritage.”


    My men didn’t know what the point of this conversation was and neither did I. Whatever Kennedy was saying was very interesting to the Administrators in the room, the rest of us were confused.


    “Kennedy, I don’t understand your point,” I finally addressed her.


    “Females of T’vailk heritage,” Kennedy said with flourish, “will not be conceived outside of a mate bond. We don’t know why, but only men with T’vailk Mountain heritage are born from men in thepounds. In the camps, only two Sisters of this line have been born to a mated family.”


    I didn’t say anything and just nodded. That was interesting, but I wasn’t sure of what her point was. She seemed quite sure of herself as she talked. The Administrators were starting to look less angry and more puzzled.


    “Do you need to sit?” Kein asked softly putting a hand on my lower back.


    I really did and wan’t surprised he’d picked that up. My feet and back were a little sore. The rapidity of this pregnancy had not given me much time to adjust to my body’s demands. Still, it seemed impolite to sit in front of the Administrators.


    Bane huffed and smiled before turning to the side. The Administrators should be respected, but family came before them any day. I needed to sit for myfort and my family had no issue catering to my needs. Bane brushed past several men and picked up a chair, bringing it back to me.


    I was settledfortably as Kennedy continued her talk about what sounded like gics to me. My men stood calmly around me as we watched our daughter make her point. This had be her show entirely. We were watching just like everyone else was.


    Much of what Kennedy said, we didn’t understand, but it didn’t matter. What I’d told the Administrators was the truth. I would not be separated from my family again. I’d rather leave this camp.


    A rustle of feet came from behind us as several men entered. It was Mund and his Brothers with several of our friends. The men walked boldly forward and stood behind Damien after sping my men on their shoulders and me on mine. The symbolism was not lost on me. Our friends wereing to our defense and it made me smile.


    I kept an ear out and men continued to enter and stand with our families. The men that came were all friendly with us and had seen the change in all of us. They knew that Rose and I were not ves to our respective families and they were not owners. We had made this choice because we wanted to be together.


    The push and shove behind me became louder and I turned my head to see Armant and his Brothers striding purposefully through. The younger men either stepped aside or Armant moved them bodily. The old Warriors were as resolute as I’d ever seen them. Our coworkers walked in front of me and I saw the concern on their faces.


    “You want this?” Armant asked me firmly, interrupting Kennedy at the front of the room. “This wasn’t forced on you? You are safe with us here. We will protect you if this is not what you want.”


    I smiled and took in the concern on our coworker’s faces. “I love them, Armant. I’ve forgiven them and we have moved on. I most certainly want them.”


    After assessing it was also what Rose wanted, Armant grunted as he and his Brothers took a spot beside me facing the Administrators. They stood for my right to decide this on my own.


    Kennedy finished her monologue, finally. Her point was that if we had truly bonded, then there was no way our men thought of us as ves anymore.


    “They have all changed,” Kennedy had announced at the end. “The women have found their independence and their strength. The former vers have atoned for their bad behavior and put that way of thinking behind them. While these rtionships are not what you wanted to see happen, it is what the individuals involved wanted. We must respect that choice.”


    The Administrators didn’t seem to want to believe her, but the camp felt differently. Ratru’s and Arik’s families had showed up and stood next to Rose. Even Rayn and his Brothers came inside and made their stand with us. We had a right to our own choices, even if it wasn’t the popr option.


    The Administrators watched Rose and me for a moment before Hassar spoke.


    “We do not want you with vers,” she said stoically and I sighed taking Kein’s hand in mine.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    It didn’t matter what they thought and I told Hassar so.


    “I appreciate all you’ve done for us, but we won’t stay apart. This isn’t your choice to make. It is ours. If we can’t be together here then we will leave this camp and find another that will ept us.”


    The Administrators just stood and stared at us all. They didn’t want to let us go. Hannah and Kennedy had worked hard to get this camp ready for a human. Other camps were less safe. Letting Rose and me leave may be our death sentence.


    “This is an impasse, then,” Damien said, voicing the thoughts I had.


    “Quite the stalemate,” Basin agreed while nodding.


    Hassar and Reed cocked their heads and Gunth crossed his arms. “What are you two saying?” Gunth asked the men curiously. “You both used words I do not understand.”


    Damien was surprised as he looked at me and shrugged.


    Basin looked at Rose and smiled. He exined the word he’d used was in English and he had not meant to offend. Rose’s way of looking at this situation was so clear. We were noting to an ord. The English word was so clear in her mind it was hard to ignore.


    “As I stated already,” Kennedy said happily, “they are bonded. That word Basin used refers to a game on Earth. When you reach that point in the game, neither side can win.”