“I apologize for frightening your mate in the market,” Taranov said. “That was not my intention. I wished to introduce myself, but I wanted to be sure that she was your mate first.”
“Are you from the Council?”
“Fuck, no. I hate those bastards. I live here on Tillich Two, but I have been away for the past several months because my mate decided we should take part in the trading this year after the spawning. She thought it would be good for our children to see other systems.”
“Children?” He dropped his weapon to his side.
“I have a son and two daughters.” Taranov hesitated. “A human daughter and a hybrid daughter. My mate is human,” he added quietly.
“Human?” A wave of shock rolled over him. “You mean…”
“That you are not the only one? Correct. And from the rumors I have been hearing, we are not alone.”
“I do not understand.”
“Then why don’t you let the poor male come in and explain?” Corinne said from behind him.
He automatically started to move between her and Taranov, then stopped. He no longer truly believed that the other male was a threat.
“Very well. You may enter.”
“Thank you.”
Taranov entered the room, bowing politely to Corinne.
“I am pleased to meet you. My mate wished to accompany me, but I thought it best that I clear the air first.” He gave a meaningful glance at the weapon in Selik’s hand, and he stiffened.
“I would never hurt a female.”
“I am relieved to hear that.” Taranov gave him a direct look. “Neither would I.”
He found he believed the other male, and he finally relaxed enough to holster his weapon.
“Now what were you saying?” Corinne demanded. “About us not being alone? Oh, and have a seat.”
Taranov smiled and thanked her.
“As you know, the Cire have always been taught that only a Cire male and a Cire female can form a mating bond. I am not sure if that was ever completely true, or if it was simply rare for it to occur. But it definitely does happen, as you now know.”
He was still reeling from the knowledge that there were others.
“But if this is true, then our race is no longer threatened with extinction.”
“That is the logical conclusion, but it is not a conclusion shared by the Council. They are still blind to anything except the production of purely Cire children.”
He exchanged a quick glance with Corinne and suspected she was thinking the same thing – Mikoz was a pure blood Cire infant. No wonder they had been desperate to get their hands on him, and perhaps still were.
“On the other hand, they have no interest in hybrid children. They prefer to ignore their existence, hoping that word of the possibility does not spread. For example,” Taranov said carefully, “if your son is registered as a hybrid, they would not be concerned with his existence.”
“Registered?” he asked slowly.
“If you intend to stay on Tillich Two, you would register for permanent residence as a Cire male, two human females, and a hybrid male.”
Could it be that simple? And would it be fair to Mikoz to ignore his true heritage? He glanced over at his mate and saw the same questions in her eyes.
“Thank you for the information,” he said noncommittally, and Taranov grinned.
“I can see you wish to discuss the matter further. And perhaps you do not intend to remain on Tillich Two. However, if you do, my mate Wendy would very much like to meet your mate.”
