than four husbands, but four is the standard number.”

“More?”

“Some keep six or seven. I have even met one male who was the eighth. It depends on how fertile the female is and how many males she’s willing to accept. Each of us must produce a child to ensure the future of our race.”

He was a virgin, or had been before they’d met. She refrained from asking him if he had any kids since that seemed highly improbable. “Okay. I guess I can see how that could happen if there are so few women and a lot of men. Don’t the husbands get jealous and still fight?”

“They don’t live together. The females split their time between the males in their family units. The women move between the homes the males keep, taking their children with them. Jealousy isn’t a factor that arises much.”

“That’s hard to believe.” Venice tried to relate by imagining having to share Deviant with another woman or a group of them. She didn’t like the thought one bit.

“It’s difficult to explain.”

That was an understatement. “So in other words, there are so many men that it’s tough to find a woman who doesn’t already have a ton of husbands?”

“We located more cyborg females recently, so the numbers aren’t as uneven as they used to be. My mother had to take experimental drugs to produce me. I told you that she had two children with my father. Dalk was born first, and showed exceptional intelligence at a young age. My mother stripped my father of the right to raise him by giving him to another male as his son.”

“That sounds really messed up! She was allowed to do that?”

He inclined his head. “It was. She has a strong bond to her first husband. Their child was born with flaws. Perfection is desired with cyborg parents, a source of pride, so she allowed him to claim Dalk as his own so he’d have a healthy son. My father was stripped of the right to raise and be a part of Dalk’s life. He protested, but she ignored his wishes. So my father took my mother before the council, and they ordered her to have another child that he could retain established rights to. He had also promised to have a child for his friend Krell, who wasn’t able to meet his requirement to produce a child for our society.”

Venice opened her mouth, found no words since she was so confused, and ended up just sealing her lips. His world sounded pretty complicated.

“Krell is heavily scarred and no female wanted to join in a family unit with him. He and my father are close friends, and have been since they fled Earth together. I’m legally registered to Krell, to fulfill his obligation to our race. But as I stated, my mother had a difficult time getting pregnant. Or perhaps she was angry enough over the council’s ruling that she attempted not to have another child. The experimental drug the council ordered her to take to conceive had unexpected results.” He released her and fisted his hand. “My skin tone is much darker than that of any other cyborg.”

“So?” Venice glanced at his hand, then back to his face. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”

His gaze and expression softened. “I am glad you believe so, but flaws in our society are an embarrassment to parents and to our race. Most children born with defects are able to overcome them with surgeries. That’s not possible with me. They attempted to treat my skin when I was younger with pigmentation therapy but it only darkened it more.”

Anger stirred fast inside her. “That’s bullshit. There’s nothing wrong with your skin!”

“My eyes are another flaw.”

She peered into them, shocked. “They’re gorgeous.”

“They hold a luminosity factor that wasn’t expected.”

“They’re very bright but they’re breathtaking.”

“Thank you.” He took her hand again, lacing his fingers through hers. “Some cyborg females are uncomfortable looking at me. They don’t want my flaws passed down to their children, and it’s probable those traits are hereditary. They banned the drug to make certain no others were born like me.”

She let that sink in. “So that’s why you’re not married? Women on your planet are dumb and superficial?”

He chuckled. “Yes.”

“Their loss in my gain.” She leaned in closer and reached up with her free hand to press her palm against his chest. “You’re the best-looking man I’ve ever seen.”

The pained look that flashed across his face, and the way he studied her as if he wasn’t