statues as belonging to you, as the council agreed to. You might even want to upgrade her status in your life.”

“You believe I should form a family unit with her?”

The lift stopped and the doors opened. “I would.”

Deviant smiled. “I had considered it already.”

They walked outside and stopped on the sidewalk. “You should have a child with her, if it’s possible.” Mavo smiled back. “You are the best thing I ever produced, Deviant.”

“My genetic defect has a high probability of being passed on to my offspring.”

His father grabbed his hand and raised it, studying his skin. He looked up and met Deviant’s gaze. “This isn’t a defect, in my opinion. It makes you special and unique. Be proud—as I am proud of you.” He released him. “I need to go pack your mother’s things before Cluster arrives. I’m sure she sent him that order before we were out of her office. We’ll talk later. I’d like to get to know Venice better. I view her as family now.”

“You aren’t disappointed with me for choosing her above a cyborg?”

“No. You won’t have to share her with anyone else or suffer loneliness. I never believed cyborgs were superior in all ways over Earthers. We’re just genetically enhanced to be more physically durable. Their best qualities are their emotions and their ability to express them. I always found that attractive. Appreciate the differences and enjoy them to the fullest. You never would have received such emotions from a cyborg.”

“I understand.”

“I knew you would. You’re my son. Go home. Venice is waiting for you.”

Chapter Twelve

Deviant entered his building, his thoughts distracted by everything that happened. All he wanted was to see Venice. The lift carried him up to the right floor and he entered his home. She walked out of the hallway from the bedroom and smiled. His mood brightened at the sight of her in nothing more than one of his t-shirts. She approached, obviously happy to greet him.

“Hi! How did it go? Is everything okay? Are they going to allow me to stay with you?”

“Yes.”

“Thank goodness!”

He tensed for just a second when she lunged right at him, wrapping her arms around his waist. The hug was unexpected but nice. He put his arms around her too and held her in his embrace. Her chin lifted and her smile faded.

“There’s a but, isn’t there? What is it?”

He didn’t understand her question. Something on his face must have conveyed that.

“What’s wrong?”

He masked his expression. “Nothing.”

She studied him. “I don’t think that’s true. Is the council mad at you? Are they going to punish you somehow?”

Venice could either read him too well or she had good intuition. “The meeting went exceptionally well. I’m in no trouble and no one will ever take you from me. But I visited my mother right afterward. That’s never pleasant,” he admitted.

She released his waist and backed away. He let her go with regret but she latched onto his hand and tugged. “Come sit down. Talking sometimes helps.”

He followed her to the couch and sat. He was in for another pleasant surprise when she straddled his lap, sitting on his thighs. Her fingers stroked his upper arms before she rested them on his shoulders. Her look became pensive as she held his gaze.

“You look sad. What’s wrong? Please talk to me.”

He wanted to. That was one of the many things he appreciated about Venice. She easily shared her emotions and encouraged him to do the same. “I informed her that I didn’t want to meet her friends. She didn’t take my decision well.”

“Is she throwing a party or something?”

“She wanted me to test my compatibility with them,” he reminded her.

“Oh.”

He regretted sharing that information when her gaze lowered to his chest and he swore he saw a flash of pain cross her features. “Venice?”

She looked up. “That family-unit thing?”

“Yes.”

She looked away from him again and tried to shift off his lap.

He gripped her hips and jerked her back into her original position. She gasped but didn’t struggle. He waited until he had her full attention. “I’m no longer interested in Cyborg females.”

She seemed to search his gaze for something.

“I have a female. You.”

Tears filled her eyes but she blinked them back.

He hated that he’d somehow managed to upset her. “Do you want your freedom, Venice?” He wasn’t sure what he’d do if she said yes. She technically belonged to him, here on Garden, but he didn’t want to force her to remain in his home if she wished to leave.

“No.”

That