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about him in a way that could become love, Sir.”
    “And you know this how?”
    “Because it’s similar to what I felt for Doctor Taren Prescott, the man I was supposed to marry until he was murdered, Sir.”
    “I see,” Brigadier General Reynolds said, leaning back in his chair. He clasped his hands behind his head.
    Brett held his breath.
    “Why do you think you need my permission to see him?”
    “He is a special staff member, and it has come to my attention that you have to approve those kinds of decisions, Sir.”
    “I do, yes. I have no problem with you seeing him or fucking him,” General Reynolds answered.
    Brett waited, not allowing relief to flow through him yet. The general wasn’t finished.
    “But I can’t let you marry him.”
    “Why not, Sir? I can look after him if that’s the issue.”
    “No, it isn’t. One of the conditions I agreed to in order to keep him out of an institution was that he never married or have children. I cannot go against those conditions. If he were to marry, they would throw him back in an institution for the rest of his life.”
    “Yes, Sir,” Brett said flatly. Who had made those choices for his man? How did he tell Orion about the general’s decision? Brett swore silently. Who did that to their child? To any child? He tried to take comfort in the fact he and Orion could live together, but failed. The general or someone else would always make the decisions where Orion was concerned. It grated against Brett in a way he’d never thought possible.
    There was a soft knock on the door before it opened. Brett’s heart flipped as Orion walked in. Standing, Brett walked over to the younger man and wrapped him in his arms. As he breathed in the other man’s scent, the rest of the world fell away. Orion pushed against him gently. Brett looked down when the other man’s hand cupped his cheek. Brett kissed the palm. Orion backed away slightly shaking his head.
    “We will find a way,” Brett whispered. “I will see you tonight.”
    Orion nodded, and Brett reluctantly let him go.

 
    Chapter Three
     
     
     
    Orion stretched, looking around for the source of his discomfort. Seeing nothing, he shook his head. He was upset, that was all. Brigadier General Reynolds had told him about Brett’s request to see and marry him. He would be allowed to see Brett as long as Orion followed orders, but marriage was completely out of the question. He’d been reminded that his life outside of an institution was now solely at the general’s discretion.
    Orion had seen the glint in the older man’s eyes. Orion and Brett were about to become pawns in something neither of them could control, and it wouldn’t end well. He didn’t doubt it. The question was what were their options? Brett needed to make his choices soon, while Orion’s choices would never be asked or considered. Sighing, Orion shook his head. There were no real options. No real hope for them. The best they could manage would be a quick fuck now and then. It wasn’t what the older man deserved. Brett seemed more determined than ever to see Orion. It would be up to Orion to change his mind.
    Discomfort snaked through him, pushing thoughts of Brett aside. The past week had all branches of the government in an uproar, adding to the tension he felt. The release of the original video and the following lists had sparked a national outrage. This afternoon, video footage of a partially dug mass grave, with some skeletons still wearing street clothes and some wearing the bright-yellow jumpsuits that were worn in the institutions had been released. The reaction by the citizens of Aelland had been immediate. So had the government’s response. Curfews had been decreed across the country. The security forces on the bases had been given more leeway, however, most bases were requiring everyone to be inside the gates by twenty-one hundred and in their quarters by twenty-two hundred unless reporting for or getting off from duty.