it had been. “Then stay back.”

“Fine.I don’t want you to die. Tell her about breeding pacts, Cal. She doesn’t seem to believe that I’m obligated to do my duty.”

The redheaded cyborg frowned. “She’s threatening death over a breeding pact? Why?”

Flint sighed. “Humans like monogamy.”

The man blinked. “I see.” He turned his gaze back to Mira. “It is our duty to breed because our numbers are so low that if we don’t we will die out as a race. It is the responsibility of every cyborg to at least breed one child apiece but breeding more children is highly encouraged. Every female and every male must have one to replace their life in our existence. Some of us are unable to breed physically so we have breeding pacts set up. It’s not a choice that we join them, it is law. If you join in a family unit with Flint, you must have at least one child together. If you were a cyborg couple then you would be expected to have two children, one for Flint and one for yourself. If you are unable to give him a child then another cyborg female would be ordered to conceive and carry a child for Flint. Isn’t that comforting to you?

You will still get to raise a child made by Flint in your family unit.” The man smiled. “It’s a good system.”

Horror hit Mira. “You mean some poor woman would be forced to sleep with him and then just hand over her baby to us? Just like that? She’d have to give it away?”

Cal frowned. “That news didn’t comfort her. I thought it would.”

Flint shot the man a glare. “Shut up and stay out of this. You’re not helping. Mira, come down and we’ll talk about this.”

The redhead looked confused. “You’re not a cyborg . You are not in a breeding pact. No one will take your child away from you or force you to carry another male’s cyborg child that you have to give away.

No sane cyborg would want to breed a child with someone as small as you. Flint is just being irrational.”

“Who the hell is this jerk?” Mira glared at the man as she addressed Flint.

Flint clenched his teeth. “The jerk is a friend of mine but he’s also who you would call my boss. Can you refrain from calling him names while he’s within earshot? I at least wait until he leaves the room when I want to insult him when he pisses me off.” Flint glared at the man. “Leave. I’m off duty.”

The man sighed. “I actually wanted to talk to you before the Star left. A situation has come up.”

“Yes, one has. Do you see right now isn’t a good time to talk? I’m a little involved in my own situation.

Get out, Cal.” Flint glanced at Mira. “Please, come down from there. At least sit on the balcony floor. I swear to you on my honor that I will not come after you by stepping foot on the balcony. Just get off the railing before you accidentally fall.”

“If I fall it won’t be an accident.”

Fury hit Flint’s features. “What would you have me do, Mira? Disregard the pact? I could be arrested for it. There are laws to follow and they were made for my race’s survival. I’m not happy with them myself. You know this. I took you from the shuttle because I don’t want a family unit with two other males sharing my woman. I told you that I have no wish to touch other females and that wasn’t a lie. I wouldn’t be happy if I got a call to breed with a female in a pact’s family unit. I especially wouldn’t want to do it knowing that you were hurting because of it. The last thing I want to do is make you unhappy and hurt you. I like it a hell of a lot when you’re happy and want me touching you. I have told you that you mean more to me than anything else and I didn’t lie about that either. If I was harsh with my attitude about this it is because I am frustrated. You were happy and now you are sitting on my railing threatening to end your life. Don’t you think I wish it wasn’t this way? I wish I didn’t belong to a breeding pact but I can’t get out of it.”

Cal cleared his throat. “Actually, I can get you out of it.”

Both Mira and Flint