“Tell me what happened,” Bridget said, or rather commanded.

Sitting on the other side of her desk, Robert felt like he was in a disciplinary hearing. The consequences of that wouldn’t be as severe as they had been in the Doomer camp, but the anxiety was the same.

“She complained about seeing colorful bubbles dancing in front of her eyes, then we ate dinner, and she went to sit on the couch. At some point, she fainted.”

Bridget shook her head. “I heard all of that from Julian already. What I need to know is how likely it is that she is transitioning. Did you have unprotected sex?”

He nodded.

“Didn’t Julian tell you to wait until you were sure about Sharon?”

“I’m sure. She is the one for me.”

“Once you were sure, you were supposed to tell her and give her a choice. The condom wasn’t supposed to come off until then.”

“I’m sorry. I just didn’t want her to be locked up in here until she transitioned. Sharon loves her job, and she can’t do it from an office. She is the one who goes out and collects intel for Eva.” Robert was doing his best to be truthful without revealing his transgression.

Bridget narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m not happy about this. I need to collect blood samples before and after.”

“I’m sorry.” He wasn’t. He’d done what was right by Sharon, and that was his number one priority.

"No, you’re not. But what’s done is done. I’m going to stay down here and watch her. This is Julian’s first transition, and he is not ready for that. This is a good learning opportunity for him.”

“Thank you.” As much as Robert liked Julian, he didn’t trust the young, inexperienced doctor with Sharon’s life.

Bridget's eyes softened. “Would you like to stay here with her?”

“Yes, please. Very much so. But I have to ask Kian if it’s okay for me to take time off from work.”

“I’m sure it is.”

They all kept forgetting that he wasn’t one of them. It was nice to feel accepted, but it wasn’t his reality. “I need to ask.”

“Of course. Would you like to use my phone?”

He shook his head. “I’ll go over to his office. Sharon will be okay for a few minutes without me, right?”

“Don’t worry about a thing. I’m here, and I’m watching the monitors. See?” She turned her laptop around so he could see the screen. “All of Sharon’s vitals are on display here. I even take it with me to the bathroom.”

He pushed to his feet. “Thank you. I won’t be long.”

Unless Kian refused his request.

There was no reason for the regent to do so, but in Robert’s experience leaders didn’t always do what made sense. Sometimes it was more about power play than about actual work that needed to be done.

Kian might get angry for the same reason Bridget had and retaliate by not letting Robert watch over Sharon through her transition. It would be a cruel punishment, but not undeserved.

After all, Robert had deliberately broken the rules.

“Come in,” Kian said as Robert was about to knock on his door.

He walked in and stood in front of Kian’s desk. “I have a favor to ask. I need a day off.”

Kian arched a brow. “Because?”

“Sharon is transitioning.”

A wide grin, full of white gleaming teeth, split Kian’s face. “Congratulations.” He rose to his feet and pulled Robert into what Anandur called a bro hug.

Standing stiffly as a telephone pole, Robert didn’t know how to react. Was he supposed to slap Kian’s back in return? But what if he did it too hard? Not hard enough? What was the protocol for those manly embraces?

Kian let go with a chuckle. “I guess Doomers don’t go around embracing each other.”

“No, sir.”

“You’ll get used to that. I'm not a big fan either, but some of life’s events are important enough to merit them. And yes, of course you can take a day off, even two or three if needed. Your place is by your woman.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Drop the sir, Robert. You’re not in the military camp anymore.”

Damn, why did he have to say the same thing Sebastian had? Robert wanted no reminder of his former commander. Especially not coming out of Kian’s mouth. He respected the guy too much.

“I’ll do my best.”

Kian patted his shoulder. “Old habits are hard to break, and they have a tendency to reemerge in times of stress. They provide reassurance and stability in an unstable world. Once the crisis is over, I know you’ll loosen up.”

This was very unlike Sebastian, and the reason Robert held Kian in such high regard. This man loved his people. He was a strong leader and a demanding one, but he was also fair.

“Thank you. I appreciate your patience with me.”

Kian arched a brow. “Patience has nothing to do with it. If you’re more comfortable calling me sir than using my name, I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t care either way. I just want you to feel safe here.”

“I do.”

“You still walk on eggshells around me.”

“Out of respect.”

Kian arched a brow again.

“And a little fear. After all, my future is in your hands.”