That somewhere was the peacekeeper station on the fourth level of Tin-Fallow. Most stations had quarters for the peacekeepers. Since space stations fell under their jurisdiction and policing them was their responsibility, they needed a base from which to live and work.
They let him step back into his jumpsuit, but that was all. They paraded him, bare chest, barefoot, and manacled, through Tin-Fallow. At least they allowed Garnet time to get dressed back in her clothes. She had brought her human overalls with her in her overnight bag. She stomped behind them, flanked by keepers who weren’t being rough with her.
The same couldn’t be said for him, however. Their grips on his arms were tight and he felt the end of a shock stick shoved right against the base of his spine. It wasn’t on, so it was only pressure, but the threat was clear.
The keeper station was as stark white and blank as their uniforms. All hard edges with nothing to distract from the harsh fact that you were now in custody.
Tanin fully expected to be separated from Garnet, so he was surprised when they were led into the same interrogation room. He was shoved inside and slammed into a chair, the mag cuffs locking to it at the base behind his back, keeping him stuck there. Garnet was allowed to walk in – which she did, glaring at them hard enough to set them on fire.
She had her own chair, but she ignored it in favor of sitting on his lap, her arms around his neck, still staring them down like she might be playing his personal shield. So fierce and protective. He adored that about her.
Two of the keepers remained, standing in the corners behind his chair to keep watch over him. The others all filed out. However, the door didn’t even get a chance to close. Right after the last male left, Captain Ikvar came storming inside, and he looked fit to kill. Tail whipping, three eyes burning, claws flexing like he was resisting the urge to tear into them.
“I trusted you,” he hissed, slamming his hand on the table without taking a seat. “I gave you a chance. Atherinsistence. And you have done nothing but prove yourself as the station scum I knew you were!”
Garnet was vibrating with rage on Tanin’s lap. He wished he could hold her, stroke her back to calmness, to sweet softness. But he couldn’t, so he remained focused on the captain as he replied in an even tone-
“I’m sure at some point you’re going to tell me what this is about.”
“Don’t play the fool with me! Rik-Vane trash!”
“Hey!” Garnet snapped, her grip tightening.
But Ikvar ignored her. “I ought to send you back that void cursed place and let you die there. It’s no less than you deserve for what you’ve done.”
“Which I’m sure you’ll tell me at some point.”
Ikvar slammed his fist down again, denting the metal table. “You say this to me when you come in here reeking of sex! You fucked the human females!”
Garnet gasped, affronted. Tanin popped a brow. “One of them.”
“You as their sponsor were supposed to protect and guide them. Not take advantage of the fact that they were helpless and dependent on you!”
“One, not they.”
“You think that makes it better?! You admit to what you’ve done?”
“Fuck my female? Yes. I’m sure you do the same.”
Ikvar snarled, shaking as his claws twitched, like he was resisting the urge to bury them in Tanin’s throat. He probably was.
“She is not yours-”
“She is.”
“-and now you have broken a high crime! You will pay dearly for this. You will wish I sent you back to Rik-Vane when I’m done with-”
“Hey!” Garnet’s shout cut him off as she leaned away from Tanin so she could glare more directly at the irate captain. “Don’t you think you’re getting a little ahead of yourself? You haven’t even asked me if I wanted him to or not!”
Ikvar’s expression softened as he looked at her. “It’s alright, Garnet. I know you think you had no choice, but-”
“There you go again!” She shouted over him. “I don’t know where you’re getting your information, butI.Was. Not. Forced!I chose this! I let him dance for me. I danced for him! We mated and that is completely our choice. We don’t need your permission!”
That, finally, seemed to snap Ikvar out of his furious mission. “Mated?”
“Yes! Mated! We were actually having a great time until your stupid males came running into our room and ruined it! You ruined my mating! How dare you?!”
Ikvar seemed at a loss. “We got a tip-”
