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“Get over here,” Eli calls, and Milo squeezes my shoulder and runs off to join him and Sypher across the clearing as Kaleida appears through the woods in her blue jumpsuit.

She takes Milo’s place at my side, squatting to avoid the mud. “What now?” She surveys the cuffs and chain. At least my hands are free.

“I told him he looked like an old man.”

“Oh, I think we should keep you.” She pats me on the head, her freckled face lit with joy.

Eli nears us and dumps out a bag of slingshots and marbles next to his foot. He squats down to rifle through the pile, nabbing a smoky-gray marble, then chooses a slingshot made of dark wood, so worn that it shines.

“That’s what you’re shooting with? A ten-year-old’s back pocket toy?” I ask.

He stands and squints down at me, rolling his chosen marble between his fingers like a good luck charm. “Lethaltoy.”

“Wouldn’t a bow and arrow make more sense? Or sword practice?”

“Those were forbidden after the Separation,” Kaleida says. “The first Centress confiscated, destroyed and prohibited most weapons in fear of a rebellion, which is why you’ll only see guards with clubs and sometimes knives.”

“And slingshots,” Eli adds.

“You three are the only man-boys that use them,” she says, provoking a glare from Eli and making me clamp my lips shut to hold in another laugh.

I didn’t think I had it in me after…everything. I control myself, bringing back the walls and anger and doubt—my safety. But the rebellious turning up of my lips doesn’t go unnoticed by Eli.

“Why not use magic?” I ask before he can react. He’s so set on me taking it, but nobody seems to use it.

“What makes you think I have magic?” Eli shoves ammo into the pockets of the diagonal strap on his suspenders.

Kaleida waves her hand in dismissal and sits on an exposed root. “We don’t get magic until after maturation.”

“You haven’t matured?” My hand goes to my cheek as I assess Eli’s stubble, the angles of his jaw, his broad chest, the bulk in his—dammit. There is nothing immature about this man’s body. It’s fine. I can hate a beautiful man. He makes it easy. “How so? Your balls haven’t come in yet? Oh wait, my knee has already met them.”

Eli crouches and puts his face in mine, one hand gripping my ear. “That mouth of yours seems awfully interested in my balls.”

“Too bad I don’t go for old men.”

His fingers tug my ear, bringing us nose to nose. “You might be surprised, little prisoner.” He rises and wags his slingshot at Kaleida. “Do what I asked.”

Kaleida grins at him, extending her curvy legs and getting comfortable against the tree. “You know I will, now go away so we can talk more about your old man balls.”

He shoots me a warning glare and takes off toward Sypher and Milo, already shooting marbles into the trees.

I run my fingers over the stems and leaves around me. At this point, I wish I could do what he wants so I can see Kelter again. I turn to Kaleida. “What did he ask you to do?”

Chapter

Twenty

“To make you believe,” Kaleida says.

My nails stab into the mud, instant ire flaring. “In magic?”

“And the gods.”

“Why does he care what I believe?”

“He probably thinks it will speed things along. I don’t know, but Eli hasn’t cared about anything in years.”

I look away. I doubt he cares about anything now either. “How come you do what he wants?”