If you enjoy music while reading, try "Empires" by Ruella. It's what I listened to while I was writing!

*****

~ SASHA ~

Sasha's heart pounded so hard, the thudding in her ears overpowered the roar of the engine. "You can't know that."

"Actually, I can. We all can. Think it through, Sasha. We had to keep him away from you until you were both matured. We didn't waste that time. Zev's been training—and he's been mating. And yet… do you see any little Zev's running around?"

Sasha swallowed, her stomach beginning to churn with nausea. "He said… he said he didn't think it worked. That maybe he can't—"

"Oh, he can. Just not with anyone but his mate. See, it turns out, if you remove that connection, that Chimeran bond completely, you get a mule—you know about mules, right, Sasha?"

Mules were half-horse, half-donkey… and they were always sterile. They couldn't reproduce.

Sasha nodded. "I know."

"Good. So that's what we were dealing with."

"But the Chimera can have babies."

"Only with their mates. Only with the sole individual they are chemically and genetically hardwired to want. Most of the Chimera can't even have sex with anyone else. But the ones we freed from that gave up their fertility in exchange. In Zev, we hit the jackpot. Finally."

"If you're so focused on reproduction, why not just let them mate and have their babies? Why do you have to control it?"

"Haven't you been listening, Sasha? These are not men who are inclined to leave anything to chance. They have the money and the power, they get what they want. And what they want is Zev. And lots of him. The other species all lack what we need."

"Which is what?"

Nick shook his head. "I can't tell you that. Just… trust me. Zev's special."

"I know Zev is special. But what is it you're making him do, or you think he can do, that someone else can't? Like… like Lhars? Or—"

"I'm afraid I'm not cleared to tell you that. And frankly, I doubt you'd want to know. It doesn't make any difference to your story."

Sasha gave him a flat look. "Now you WANT me to be na?ve?"

Nick smirked and turned back to the road. "Touche."

They drove on, Sasha's stomach flipping and bubbling with nerves and dread, her mind spinning. What could they possibly plan for Zev? Or his babies. Their babies, she reminded herself.

These men wanted her to have children, and then what? There was no way, if they were successful, that they were giving those kids up, right? A bolt of fear snapped through her. She turned her head to stare out of the window, keeping her expression as blank as she could as her mind washed her in a tidal wave of images—her pregnant, Zev so loving and attentive, a baby, and then these men… her child…

Rage and abject terror fought for dominance in her chest.

They would take her baby. The baby she didn't even have yet. And yet already, somehow…

She knew she could never let that happen. And Zev would never, either.

She swallowed back everything she was feeling and forced her throat to relax. "So, what you're saying is, you're going to keep me here—a prisoner—until they know I'm not pregnant. Then what?"

"Not a prisoner, Sasha. A very important visitor."

Sasha forced herself to snort. "You have a great career in marketing ahead of you."

Nick chuckled, and it was a surprisingly appealing sound, low and throaty, and his smile… she couldn't see his whole face in the mirror. But the smile changed his entire countenance.

No wonder he could manipulate people.

"So?" she asked a moment later. "What happens when I'm not pregnant?"

"Then they send you back to get pregnant."

Sasha shook her head. "I'm not your broodmare."

"No, you're not. But you are Zev's mate. And Zev belongs to us. Which means any offspring of his is half-Chimera—and under our patent. So…"

"So! I'm human! And our baby would be half-human. We have rights!"

"Sure, you do," Nick nodded. "But… well, not to put too fine a point on it, Sasha… your rights aren't worth shit unless you've got someone in power who will listen to you. Who will care that your rights are being violated. So, tell me, who exactly do you think you're going to tell?"

Sasha could barely breathe, but she forced herself to hold the anger on her face, not her fear. "Seriously? You're taking me prisoner, then you're going to what.. farm me?"

"No, we're farming Zev. You just happen to be in love with him."

"Why?" she cried out, leaning forward against her seatbelt. "Why are you all so obsessed with him?"

Nick didn't even look at her in the mirror. "I thought you of all people would have seen that by now."

"I know why he's special to me—because of who he is. Not what he was made to be."

Nick shook his head like he couldn't believe how stupid she was. "Haven't you got it yet, Sasha? Who he is, is exactly what we made him to be. Get it through your head, he was designed from the ground up—his looks, his personality, his strength… everything about him was the bullseye and we finally hit it. He wouldn't be who he is without us." Nick hesitated, then did meet her eyes in the mirror. "He's special to you because he was made for you, Sasha."

She hesitates. "What?"

"You—his relationship with you—has been the endgame all along. And now it's finally time for the payoff. The finish line is in sight." He didn't seem very happy about it. And when he spoke again, it was on a resigned sigh. "If you try to steal this from them Sasha, they will not hesitate to grind you into the dust from which you came. If you want Zev, if you want to live, then you need to give them their win. That's why I was willing to bring you instead of him. Especially since the Chimera are listening to you. But make no mistake: Your job for the next two days is to convince them you're on board. Because if you don't… it'll be genocide."

*****

WANT A MASS RELEASE? If this book stays in the Top 10 for Golden Tickets for the month of March, I'll do a big mass release for ALL readers to start the new month. So, whether you buy privilege in April or not, you'll receive extra chapters! Thank you for ALL your support.. You've been amazing! (Added after publication so you aren't charged for the words.)