Haunting Blackie Read online

  “It’s over, Jazel. We only have one question left. Is what Parlis stated true? Did you abandon the canine units due to your trepidation that it would result in undesirable offspring?” Zorus arched an eyebrow, waiting.

  “Yes,” she admitted. “It was deemed a relevant issue. It was better to have stronger descendants with pure cyborg DNA than risk genetic anomalies.”

  “Some of our children are flawed!” Blackie yelled. “That’s why so many of them need medical attention after birth.”

  Eve crossed the room to stand in front him. He appeared ready to go after the female cyborg. Parlis slowly attempted to stand but his broken arm hung uselessly at his side.

  “We were incorrect.” Jazel lowered her gaze and her tone. “We didn’t realize the extent of our own damage due to our dependency on some of our implants. It wasn’t a foreseeable outcome at that time. I do regret my compliance. We failed to take emotions into account. I am saddened that so many canine units were murdered and accept partial responsibility.”

  Cyborgs suddenly rushed through the doors and took charge of the injured Parlis and surrounded Jazel. “Come with us,” one of them stated. “You’re under arrest.”

  “This isn’t over,” Parlis swore. “We did the correct thing. It was to protect our race. Someone had to make the hard decisions. That’s all we’re guilty of.”

  “It is over.” Zorus sighed. “You made a grave error and you will be punished for your actions. Goodbye, my old friend. I would wish you long life but we both know your days are numbered.”

  Eve watched them being removed from the room. “They’ll die?”

  Blackie pulled her into the circle of his arms. “Yes. I will volunteer to end their lives if I’m allowed.”

  “They are the reason only two of your line survived, Eve.” Zorus moved closer. “The council is aware of how adding that many women to our population could have benefited our race as a whole. They and I are not in agreement with Parlis that your canine genetics would have been detrimental to our gene pool. We mourn their loss.”

  Conflicting sentiments choked Blackie. It was over and Eve would be safe. But he’d lost a friend in Parlis, a hero, though his reputation had been built on lies. Only time would heal the wounds inflicted upon his soul, knowing his blind faith in the male had been misplaced and cost him decades with a woman who should have been at his side instead of struggling to survive on her own.

  Eve was his priority now. “Do you wish to speak to the council or go to our home?”

  “Home.”

  He turned his head, staring at Zorus. “She is owed a few things.”

  “Name them. The council is still linked with me.” He pointed to the top of a pillar. “They can see us.”

  “We want a new home outside the council building. I’m certain you understand this request.”

  Zorus paused, probably discussing it silently with the other members. He nodded. “I remembered that request. Arrangements have been made.”

  He stared at Zorus. “We’d also like to join in a family unit of only two. She is not to be considered a cyborg woman. Canine units mate for life with one male. To join her to other males would be psychologically traumatic. It’s how they were created.”

  Zorus frowned.

  “It isn’t up for debate. They were designed to be completely loyal to one mate. She holds no interest in other men.”

  Zorus lowered his head to study Eve.

  “I’ll kill anyone besides Blackie if they are dumb enough to climb into my bed. It isn’t happening.” Her voice deepened and her canines elongated to show off her teeth.

  A sense of pride filled Blackie when he watched the council member stumble back a step, surprised and wary of his mate. “We’re mated, Zorus. The canine units need absolute monogamy.”

  Zorus remained quiet for too long.

  “We owe her and her surviving littermate,” Blackie argued.

  The council member held his gaze and gave a sharp nod. “Agreed. They are just curious about her and wish to ask questions.”

  “What do they want to know?” Eve jutted her chin out, a sign of stubbornness Blackie found endearing.

  “Would you follow me? They’d like to see you in person.”

  “We’re fine here,” Blackie protested. “She doesn’t need to feel overwhelmed. Ask their questions.”

  “Is she anatomically human?”

  “For the most part,” Eve answered. “If you’re talking sexual parts, yes. Strip me naked, which you’d better not consider really doing because I’d fight that since I’m not into show-and-tell, and I look completely human. I don’t have a tail or anything. I have the cool sliding teeth and fingernails.” She lifted a hand and peered up at the camera. “See?” She extended her fingernails, turning them so it was clear how long they were. “I can also deepen my voice. My larynx isn’t limited to human sounds. I’m also stronger than most Earthers and I don’t age the way they do. My line was created just weeks after cyborgs were. I’m the first in my line.”

  “I asked Jazel if you could have children to establish they were already aware of that fact. Do your units have single births or multiples?”

  Eve hesitated and turned her head to stare up at Blackie. “Um, I thought we’d discuss this part in private but the two of my line who had children when we were still on Earth had more than one. Barbra had three at once and Debbie had two.”

  Blackie was stunned. He hadn’t considered that canines tended to have litters instead of just one child.

  “You okay, Handsome?” She bit her lower lip, peering up at him with concern.

  “Yes.” He’d adjust to the information.

  “The council will agree to a family unit of only two if you agree not to limit the amount of children you have.”

  “What does that mean?” Blackie didn’t enjoy the implications.

  Zorus didn’t look pleased but he represented the council. “Your woman and her sister are unique.”

  Eve growled. “You want to turn me into a breeder, in other words. Just expect my sister and me to…what? Drop a litter every year?”

  “Could both of you do that?” Zorus appeared interested. “Your race was created female. Were they able to create male offspring?”

  “We could probably have children that fast but we won’t.” Eve flashed her fangs. “I’m sure it is possible but I’m not going to allow you to turn me in to some kind of baby machine and neither is Danica. Only two of our line had children before they were executed. They delivered at full term just after twelve weeks of gestation since we heal so fast and our engineered genetics seemed to accelerate the pregnancies. I remember what happened to them when it was discovered they were pregnant. Both were taken away by security and locked up so they could test the shit out of them. Thanks, but no thanks.”

  “Were the offspring all female?” Zorus wasn’t ready to let it go.

  “Yes.” She frowned. “But there were only two pregnancies in our line so don’t just assume for a fact that we can only have girls. The fathers of those babies might have had something to do with their sex if it wasn’t by genetic design.”

  Blackie reeled from that information, imagining Eve able to bear him numerous children in a short span of time. It also alarmed him a bit if she was only able to birth females. He took an aggressive step forward and glowered at the camera.

  “Enough,” he demanded. “She and her littermate paid the ultimate price for what they did for cyborgs. You are not going to ask or expect them to replenish our population with females. The number of children we have and the timing will be decided between her and me. That is not negotiable.”

  Zorus glanced at the camera and seemed to be listening.

  “What are they saying?” Eve peered up at Blackie.

  “I don’t know. I’m not linked into their conversation.” He wished he were.

  “I wanted to tell you about the pregnancies privately but it never came up. Are you freaked out?”

  He turned h