I did exactly the opposite, squeezing my knees together. “I don’t think so.”
The doctor repeated his words.
“From your testing, you probably discovered that my hearing and brain function is fine,” I countered. “The answer is still no.”
His lips thinned into a line and he glanced at Maxim and Ryston.
“They may be my mates, but they don’t have any say. My body, my choice.”
“Is that Earth terminology?” he countered.
“Explain to me, in Prillon terminology, why you need to stick that probe in me.”
“The sensors will help determine that your nervous system is functioning at optimal levels and that you are healthy and fertile for breeding.”
My mouth fell open and I realized he was being serious. Actually, I realized the man—no, the Prillon—was always serious. So I glanced at Maxim and Ryston, who remained silent.
“I’m a scientist. I have a PhD. I am not naive enough to think that my vagina is where you test a human’s nervous system. As for the rest, no fucking way.”
I hopped off the table, tugged the blanket around me.
“Rachel—”
“Breed?” That word made me see red and I whirled around on my mates. “I’m not a dog and this isn’t a puppy mill.” I saw red, literally, swaying for a moment as I was sure my blood pressure spiked. “No. Take me back. I’m not playing this game with you. With any of you.”
When the men frowned in obvious confusion, I continued. “I’ll explain myself in terms you might understand. At the bride testing center you were worried about your contaminated flesh making you deficient in my eyes. And now you want to test me for fertility? What if I’m not fertile? What if I can’t have a baby? Will you find me deficient? Lacking? I thought we were matched because we were perfect for each other. Not based on whether or not I could get pregnant.”
“You will let your mate speak to you this way?” the doctor asked Maxim. His voice was harsh and held some surprise.
These guys needed a swift kick in the balls. Seriously. This place needed more women to bring them into some semblance of the 21st century. “And I thought you guys were an advanced race. What a joke.” I walked toward what I assumed was a door. It looked like a door, a big, gray sliding door that I hoped would open when I got close. I’d find my way back to the stupid transport room and chalk this up to a stupid, naïve moment of weakness.
I was thirty-two, not twenty-two. I knew better than to believe in fairy tales.
The door didn’t open and I gathered my will to demand to be released. I turned to find Maxim watching me intently. The doctor mumbled under his breath, but I didn’t want nor care to know what he said. Ryston stood by, waiting.
God, what kind of planet was this? People weren’t allowed to speak up for themselves? If the answer was no and I’d done something horribly wrong within five minutes of arrival, what was he going to do about it?
“Yes, my mate will always be free to speak her mind to me,” Maxim finally said. “And she’s right.”
I exhaled, not realizing I had been holding my breath.
“You can’t be serious,” the doctor countered. “The testing is a requirement of all Prillon—”
Maxim lifted his hand to silence him. “I’m aware of the testing requirements, but my mate is also correct. I don’t care if she’s fertile or not. It’s irrelevant.”
“But that was part of the reasoning for accepting mates from the Brides Program, to start families on the Colony. To grow.”
This wasn’t Noah’s ark, for God’s sake, but I doubted they knew that story and doubted they’d be happy to hear it. I was just glad Maxim was agreeing with me.
“It is not her sole responsibility to populate the Colony’s future generations, Doctor Surnen. Remember, the bond Ryston and I share with Rachel is stronger than regular Prillon mates. We have the collars and the bond that brings, but we also were matched by the Interstellar Brides Program’s matching protocol. We are doubly suited. I will not reject her, regardless of the results of your tests. Therefore, the testing is no longer necessary. She’s ours.”
The corner of his mouth tipped up as he held out his hand. I looked at it, so big, the fingers blunt and long, then walked over and took it. His touch was surprisingly gentle for one of his size. All at once I felt his emotions, his power, roiling through him. He was angry, whether at the doctor for his meddling, or for another reason, I had no idea. I could only hope he wasn’t angry with me.
“As governor, you need to lead by example,” the doctor added.
“Yes, I do. But finding mates through the Brides Program is unprecedented.”
“The very reason to ensure she is well.” The doctor was like a dog with a bone. Did he want to shove something in my vagina that badly?