"They told me that my purpose was to be a… kind of like a King, I guess. A father to a nation, was the way they put it. It sounded really grand when I was fifteen, and even eighteen. Now… now I just want to laugh. But back then… it made me feel like I was important."
"Okay."
Tryson took a deep breath. "They told me it was my job to build the Chimera race. They made me a stud."
There was a hesitation, then Diane snorted, grinning. "I mean, I know. But that's hardly—"
"No, Sash, I mean… they use me as a breeder."
She stared for a long second then, just as he'd feared, she sat back, pulling away from him as much as she could in the small confines of the Jeep.
She'd clasped her hands in her lap and was rubbing her thumbs together as she stared out the window of the car.
"They took you
