In a future where the United States is slowly rebuilding itself, Omega Travis Danten is a big city cop sent to a seemingly desolate city on the edge of the Waste. This desert is full of undesirables, and it’s only a matter of time before they wreak havoc. But, Omegas are always assigned Alphas, and his new partner’s job is to protect him.<br><br>But SdAI Alpha Virgil is not at all amused with the partner who chose him. Travis is willful and naive to the dangers a homicide detective faces here, and it makes Virgil’s job that much harder. And Travis, of course, is human and develops feelings, feelings that go beyond the rules about Omega/Alpha partnerships.<br><br>Travis and Virgil have to find common ground, find a killer, and find space for each other in their own hearts, even if one is artificial.

Artificial Heart

With a sigh, Travis shifted back and faced his mate. His new mate, whom he refused to be parted from. What would happen to an alpha AI if he wasn’t allowed to do police work? It’s not like they could have someone with Virgil’s capabilities on the streets. “What’s going to happen to you when the captain finds out we’re bound?”


“Deactivation,” Virgil promptly replied, no inflection in his voice or marble face. A flat, bland machine for a flicker of time, then Virgil softened back into human. “I would not permit the programmers to interfere with my mind or bond.”


“They can do that?” To destroy a mate bond was anathema and the very idea chased dread through his veins, ice floes left in the emotion’s wake. “No.”


Virgil bowed his black head, pressed it against Travis’ chest much too hard. “Yes. We SdAI are given the choice to be reprogrammed and reassigned, or shut down.”


Chapter 28