Page 76 of Faron

Her steps faltered, and she lowered her hand. “How can you be my son?”

“I am. The fact I decide my own mate does not make me anything else.”

“You’re putting everything on the line for a feckless human who doesn’t want you,” Bartlek said. “You risk it all when you could have everything we offer. There is something truly defective about you.”

“The only defective thing about me is that I held onto the hope that you’d accept me for who I am.”

Siblis stepped away and turned her back.

“You dare to defy us?” Rhodan said. “You have no right.”

“I have every right to be happy. I shamed you by surviving my accident, but I don’t regret it. If I’d died in that mine, I would never have met Kendra. I would never have learned there was another way to be with someone.”

“Forget this female. She is bad for you.” Siblis turned and grabbed his hand. “You come with us. We will provide for you.”

“I do not need to be provided for. I have everything I desire here.” At least, he would once he’d sorted everything out with Kendra.

“You should be on your knees, thanking us for this opportunity,” Rhodan said.

“It’s not an opportunity for me. I don’t know what’s going on back home, but I bet this visit has to do with whatever social position you’re crawling toward. Do you need a certain number of grandchildren before you’ll be accepted?”

His mother gasped and dropped her hold on his hand. “How could you think such a thing?” The way she refused to meet Faron’s gaze told him he was close to the truth.

“You have always considered me weak. Even before my accident, you never considered me good enough.”

“Because you do not know how to follow orders,” Rhodan said. “No matter what I tried—”

“Yes, I remember your efforts to change me.”

“I have not been successful.” Rhodan’s gaze narrowed. “Your time with this family has come to an end.”

“It came to an end a long time ago,” Faron said. “I have a new home and a new family.”

Rhodan snorted. “This bunch of misfits is not your family. The space station is not a home. It is a refuge, an escape from reality.”

Faron’s hands clenched into fists. “They are, and it is. I do not care if you disown me. I will not miss you.” A part of him knew that wasn’t true, but he couldn’t keep fighting to gain their acceptance.

“What about Donik?” Siblis said. “The arrangements have been made. Even after your embarrassing display yesterday, she is willing to take you.”

“I have not embarrassed myself. I do not desire Donik. I’m sure she will make someone a good mate, but it won’t be me. You can take her and leave.”

“You always were a waste of space,” Bartlek sneered. “We are rid of you. I told our parents we were wasting our time coming here.”

“Then they should have listened to you. For once, you are correct.”

“What about my grandchildren?” Siblis said, desperation in her voice. “You will not deny me those. It is what I live for.”

“When the time is right, I will have children of my own. You will not be allowed to see them. They will grow up in a family that knows how to show their love and cherishes what is precious.”

His mother bared her teeth. “You know nothing about raising a family. If you do that, your children will be wild, weak-willed, and foolish.”

“My children will not be raised in the manner you raised me. Despite your best efforts, you never broke me. My children will be free to develop and thrive.”

“This is ridiculous. We waste our time.” Rhodan guided Siblis to the door, Bartlek behind them, carrying their bags. “You have once again shamed our family name.”

“It’s a heavy burden, but I’ll bear it,” Faron said.

Bartlek glared at him before they left the room, and the door slid shut behind them.