“No.” She bit her bottom lip, her eyes filling with tears in an apparent display of empathy. “That’s an Earth rule, not a Coalition one. They will allow full grown adults to make the decision to become a citizen of another world and give up citizenship. But a child? No. They’re not allowed to make that decision until they come of age. And no adult is allowed to make it for them.”
She killed any hope I might have felt. “So I’m screwed. I have to choose between Kiel and my son.”
“Yes.” She wiped a tear off her cheek. “It appears that way. You’ve made your choice. Are you really willing to give up your marked mate to return to your child?”
“It’s not like a have a choice.” The words fell from my lips in a whisper.
“Yes, you do.” Rachel closed her eyes and held them closed for long moments, as if my pain were her own. “It’s a sucky choice, but it is a choice. Are you sure? Maybe we can figure something out?”
I felt the weight of the question pressing on me. It was like an elephant. Oppressive and squashing me like a bug. I had to choose between the only man in the universe for me and my son. I couldn’t have both. There was no question as to my choice. While it would feel as if my arm was ripped off by leaving Kiel behind, it was Wyatt who needed me more.
“I can’t leave him alone. I can’t abandon him.” The tears came in earnest and I sobbed. “He’s my baby. I can’t—”
Rachel’s face transformed then. Every hard edge, every calculating gleam was gone. She had to use both hands to wipe wet cheeks as she turned back to the screen. “Then we must get you back before Prime Nial forces you to stay. You might choose your son, but I can’t guarantee the Prime won’t choose to protect his own people, the warriors who fought for him.”
“Are you kidding me?” Prime Nial—
“I don’t know. I doubt they’ve ever faced this problem before. But are you willing to take the chance?”
“No.” I wasn’t. No question. Wyatt needed me. I’d made him a promise that I would return to him, and I intended to keep it.
The screen buzzed for a moment as the link connected and a familiar face appeared. Rachel greeted the woman whose stern face filled the screen. “Warden Egara.”
“Rachel,” the Earth warden responded. “Miss Walters.”
The mate of the Governor of Base 3 spoke, her voice clear and determined. “We need your help.”