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

Deformed teeth, unlike anything Travis had ever seen. The standard, too sharp canines were right where they were supposed to be. The top incisors right next to them looked wrong. As he stared, those incisors lengthened and narrowed into needles.


A dreadful shiver danced down his spine. Those things looked lethal all on their own. “Venomous?”


“Like a snake,” the man confirmed. “A byproduct of scientists injecting me with all kinds of nasty things to see what would happen.”


That flame of his mate grew a little brighter and Travis scrambled for something to say, anything to keep this murderer engaged until it was too late for him to kill Travis and run. “I can understand your need for revenge, but really, killing people that had nothing to do with what happened to you is just mean and pointless.”


“Mean and pointless? Maybe,” the man allowed with a thoughtful murmur. “Still, it was a great outlet for all this hate.”


Chapter 35