save Fleur’s life.”
Her best friend sighed and tugged at her hair then started walking in circles as she talked aloud. “Alright. I had an injector filled with Sulen’s hormone to create the bonding.”
Garik growled and Scarlett glared. “Wrong, wrong. Yes, I know. Amelie refused to go along with it, so I set the injector on the table, figuring we’d have to come up with another way to justify her approval to live here. Her visitor’s visa was due to expire soon.”
“We really weren’t going to do it,” Amelie felt the need to add.
Scarlett paused and stared into space while nibbling her thumbnail. “Amelie was getting dressed and tripped. I reached for her and we both stumbled against the table. Her hand landed on the open injector and it pierced her skin. The release is set for contact so it discharged the contents instantly.”
Gripping the back of his neck, Garik turned to Amelie and she almost shrunk beneath the heat of his stare. “Did you feel anything?”
Although Sulen said he’d felt the connection the moment it happened, she hadn’t. “No. Nothing.”
Garik didn’t relent. “How far along were you in the pregnancy?”
Scarlett answered, “It was early yet. Maybe two months?”
Amelie nodded her agreement.
“In your experience, suspend whatever you believe—do you think the introduction of Sulen’s hormone to Amelie while she was in the early stages could have influenced Fleur’s genetics?”
Scarlett dragged her hands through her hair again. “No. I don’t know. It shouldn’t be possible. It would make no sense.”
“Neither does Sulen and Amelie bonding when they’d never met and yet they did,” Garik finished on a grim note.
“I just... this is stretching things,” Scarlett said.
Garik held up his comm, screen toward them. “I sent the image to my comm and connected it with a program I use—used to use to track targets. It has a ninety-five percent accuracy in determining facial structure in case someone tries to change their appearance to avoid me.”
On the screen a large number ninety-two in white blazed over the picture of Fleur and Sulen. For the first time since Scarlett’s arrival with her news, Amelie felt a sense of hope. “I want the test. If there’s any chance, I can thwart Roan’s plan, I’ll take it.”
Chapter 15
The tests were expedited because the Ambassador of Trigodor and his team would be leaving soon for their next stop on their goodwill trip. With that in mind, it still took two days to get the results. When the notice came into her comm while she was at work, Amelie’s hands trembled.
“Toyja, I need a minute to check on something,” she called out.
‘No problem,” Toyja said from her position digging up the new sprouts Amelie had planted and were now ready for sale.
Breathing deeply, Amelie walked to the back where they kept storage for greenery requiring refrigeration. She clicked on the notice from the lab.
Less than five percent match on genetic material between the child and male donor. Anomalies recorded but warrant no further testing.
The response to the legal notice for intent to assume custody that Amelie had received this morning was attached to the lab results as well. Heart pounding, Amelie clicked that one with an unsteady finger.
Denial of parental claim. Denial for custody request. Case closed due to failure of evidence to show conclusive or sufficient relation between Roan Dunn and Fleur Czen.
So simple. Too easy. Amelie balled her hand to her mouth and held in a cry of relief. Happiness poured through body and she jumped up and down, chanting, “Yes, yes, yes!”
Relief left her weak but Amelie commed Scarlett right away. They cried together as Amelie read both messages. The medical center was inundated but Scarlett rushed out to say, “I love you. I don’t know how this happened but I’m happy for you.”
Then she had to go back to work. Amelie’s next comm went to Saedra. Amelie had Garik’s contact information, which he insisted on giving her but she preferred dealing with his bond mate.
“Roan’s not her father,” she said as soon as the other woman answered.
Saedra’s scream nearly blew out her ears. They laughed and made plans to get together for dinner. “Garik will be excited. Can’t wait to see you tonight.”
The only thing to make this day better would be Sulen. He hadn’t explained how long he’d be gone or when he’d return. Saedra assured her this was normal and that even communication outside his assignment was generally prohibited.
Today was only day two and she missed him. But more than that, this news