Page 29 of My Defiant Mate
His voice—certain, raw—makes my chest ache. He's fighting for us with everything he has. And what am I doing? Hiding in the back, frozen.
No more.
"He's right."
My voice rings out, stronger than I expected. Every head in the room turns toward me. Henderson's face darkens with fury. The board members look surprised. But Jionni—his whole face lights up, his eyes flashing with something fierce and proud that makes my heart race.
I step forward, moving to stand beside him. Our shoulders almost touch. I can feel the heat radiating from his body, smell the familiar, intoxicating scent that first turned my world upside down.
Dr. Lawson raises her eyebrows. "Mr. Song-Gi. I wasn't aware you would be joining us."
"Neither was I," I admit. "But I couldn't let Jionni fight for us alone."
Henderson stands, his chair scraping against the floor. "This is highly inappropriate. Mr. Song-Gi has already agreed to end this... relationship. He's made his choice."
"No," I say, turning to face him directly. "I made a choice based on fear. You presented me with an ultimatum that you had no right to give. You tried to force me to choose between my mate and my future."
Henderson's voice drips with disdain. "Your mate? You met him three days ago!"
"Three days," I agree. "And I'll spend the rest of my life with him."
I feel Jionni's hand brush against mine, a silent question. I take it, lacing our fingers together. His palm is warm and slightly calloused from guitar strings. It feels like an anchor in a storm.
"You can have the job," I tell Henderson, my voice clear and firm. "I'm keeping him."
The room falls silent. I can hear my own heartbeat, feel Jionni's pulse racing where our wrists press together. Dr. Lawson looks between us, her expression unreadable.
"Mr. Song-Gi," she finally says, "are you saying that you and Mr. Alarie have formed a mate bond?"
"Yes," I say without hesitation. "We have."
"And you're willing to give up your position as an RA in order to maintain this bond?"
I swallow hard. "If I have to. But Jionni is right about the policy. Section 7.3 provides for accommodations in exactly this situation. I could be transferred to another building. I'd still be able to do my job, and there would be no conflict of interest."
Dr. Lawson glances at the other board members, a silent communication passing between them. She turns to Henderson. "Mr. Henderson, is there any reason why Mr. Song-Gi couldn't be reassigned to Westbrook Hall? They're short an RA this semester, as I recall."
Henderson looks like he wants to spit. "This is... this is completely inappropriate. They're manipulating the system. They're—"
Dr. Lawson's voice sharpens. "Mr. Henderson. I asked you a specific question. Is there any reason why Mr. Song-Gi couldn't be reassigned?"
Henderson's mouth works silently for a moment. "No," he finally spits out. "But this sets a dangerous precedent. If we allowthis, every student with a crush will claim a mate bond to get special treatment."
One of the other board members sounds amused, "As Mr. Alarie pointed out, mate bonds aren't something you can fake. They're biological."
"And they're protected by federal law," Jionni adds, his voice quiet but firm. "Denying accommodations for a legitimate mate bond could open the university to legal action."
I stare at him, momentarily stunned. When did Jionni become an expert on housing law? He catches my look and the corner of his mouth quirks up in a small, private smile. Later, it seems to say.
Dr. Lawson clears her throat. "The board will confer briefly."
The five members lean in, speaking in low voices. Henderson sits rigid in his chair, his knuckles white where they grip the edge of the table. Jionni's thumb traces small circles on the back of my hand. It's soothing, grounding—and sends tiny electric shocks up my arm that make it hard to focus on anything else.
"I'm sorry," I whisper, too low for anyone else to hear. "For not believing in us."
"You're here now," he whispers back. "That's all that matters."
After what feels like an eternity, the board members straighten. Dr. Lawson looks directly at us.
