Ten dropped his hand without being put off by Arrin’s refusal to shake it. “My name is Ten.”

Arrin raised his eyebrows. “Your parents named you ten?” What sort of uncaring parents gave their kid a number instead of a name? Even he, a soulless clone, had been able to pick a name.

“Yup. My ma and da had nine boys by the time I was born and couldn’t think up any more boy names, so they called me Ten.”

“It doesn’t bother you that your parents didn’t make the effort to think of a name for you?”

“Not at all, sir, and you know why?”

“I can’t imagine.”

“Because every time they called me Ten they said it with as much love as when they called any of my brothers by their...

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