Page 137 of Cold-Blooded Creatures

“That’s not how I imagined it was like,” she murmured. “I’m sorry you both lost your families. I wish I could’ve done something.”

“I’m glad you were not here.” She likely would not have survived the attack Ilasall had launched on us twelve years ago. Or would have ended up in the back of a military truck like Zion’s sister.

“Someone else might’ve snatched you for themselves instead of us,” Zion said, and pounced at her. Squealing, Kali scrambled off the bed as he climbed over my legs to chase her.

“I’m not playing with you until you give me my clothes back.” She half-ran to the closet, and its door almost jumped off itshinges from how furiously she ripped it open and dug in, tossing pants, t-shirts, jackets, and everything in between into a heap on the floor.

“What did you do?” I asked him.

Legs dangling off the edge, he sprawled out on the bed. “I told her she lived here now. So, naturally, my closet is where her clothes should hang.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. At least he had not thrown them away.

“Will you help me carry everything back?” Frowning, she surveyed the pile of fabrics reaching up to her knees.

Rising, Zion proposed, “I’ll help you in coming back to my bed,” and rushed toward her.

She bolted out of the room with the few items she had managed to pick up before he rounded her.

I pulled on yesterday’s jeans and strode to the window. As I had suspected, the bustle of the day had washed over the streets. Residents were strolling at ease, undisturbed by the pressure of leading their own people into the future war. Into their unavoidable deaths.

“Do you think they have received our message?” Two months had passed since we had sent the soldier’s body parts to the Heads of Military, Ilasall, and Welfare, and they had not issued a single retaliatory action. The utter silence was disquieting.

“Yes. But I think I know why they haven’t responded.” Zion paused, stuffing Kali’s clothes back into his closet, then straightened. “We have a rat.”

44

GEDEON

“It’s all I managed to grab.” Kali threw her arms up in exasperation and then ran them down the tight leather top cropped right at her waist and her black cotton leggings. “He won’t give me back the rest.”

I had to adjust myself when she had marched into our dining room dressed like that, all curves and swells, contours and dips of her figure highlighted.

This, I was going to let Zion slide with.

“You know what my choice would’ve been.” He spun her around. “Nothing at all.”

Sadira hoisted her feet on the sleek ebony table that took up most of the space in the room. “Did anyone bring any food? I’d?—”

Zion drawled, “We have fo?—”

“She meantactualfood,” I interrupted him.

“Like Kali’s not a dessert,” he grumbled, taking a seat to my right, with Kali on my left. Immersed in the bubble of their hushed discussion, Eli, Ezra, and Eislyn occupied the other end of the table.

“Ahm, hi, everyone,” Malaya greeted as she and Ryder took their seats across from us.

Kali had mentioned Malaya wanted to go to a different compound and leave the child to be raised here, but had not made the decision whether to Damia’s or Conall’s yet. I had no doubts both would accept her without me so much as asking. It was not hard to understand the need to be as far away from the product of violence as you possibly could.

“Ryder said you wanted to ask me about, uh, I think you call it theauctionI went through,” Malaya said, hugging her round belly hidden by a fraying cream sweater.

I rested my weight on my elbows. “What do you call them?”

The cities had developed the auctions as a motivational measure to increase the number of pregnancies and births by providing an option to choose the most appealing partner. In other words, to increase your wish to use them.

It did make sense.

Despicable, abhorrent sense.