Strange Love (Galactic Love, #1)

by Ann Aguirre

Zylar stilled. “That’s why you were so cranky with Beryl? Because she reminded you of your own wrongdoing? You’re developing a conscience. You care about your own life. You took steps that you shouldn’t have been able to because you wanted me to be happy. And now, you’re worried that you’ve hurt Beryl. Helix, you’ve become a person, a sentient being with all inherent emotions.” “How revolting,” said Helix. “Feelings are messy, illogical, and rather inconvenient.” “Then…do you have the coordinates? For her homeworld.” How much deception was possible for an evolving AI? Had he fooled the workers in Technical into thinking he had lost data when he hadn’t? “Yes. But I needed to close the door on the possibility that she could return home. If she had kept that in mind as a failsafe, she would not have been as committed to the Choosing…or you. Statistical projections of success diminished in the simulations when she knew Barath wasn’t her only hope.” Rage boiled up inside him, so fierce that if he could have assaulted Helix physically, he would have done it. “This…no. I understand why you did it, but it’s morally wrong. Love is not about controlling someone and taking away their choices. I don’t want her to stay with me because she’s making the best of a bad situation.”