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CHAPTER SIX

WYNTER

“ Y ou’re the talk of the caves,” Martha says with a smirk as I peel potatoes. “They’re saying you must be some kind of warrior queen.” She laughs.

“I didn’t do anything,” I mutter. All I’ve had is hassle from the guards since the incident with Wrath two days ago.

Martha leaves, and Jaycee leans closer. “It’s kind of amazing,” she whispers.

“I’m not sure what I did that fascinates everyone.”

“The warriors are violent beasts. They serve the Lord, but they’re not tamed.”

I laugh. “Who told you that?”

“My father, may God rest his soul.”

I offer a sympathetic smile. “They’re just strong men kept in caves.” I’m tempted to tell her the truth—that they’re all stolen children from the outside world, trained to be fighters—but then I picture Jade and Abel, and I press my lips together in a tight line. My words get people killed.

“Martha said each warrior could produce up to thirty children before they’re moved on.”

“Moved on to where?” I ask.

She shrugs. “She didn’t say. But Wrath is the strongest of all, winning all his fights. After tonight, he’ll be ready for a full ceremony.”

“Tonight?” I ask. “What’s happening?”

She scoffs. “Do you ever listen to Martha when she tells us the schedule? He’s fighting his fiftieth fight. He’ll be the ultimate warrior should he win.”

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. “Do you get to watch the fights?”

She glances around nervously. “Alex sometimes takes us.”

“How?”

“He can sneak us out to a special viewing box. Do you want to come?”

“Yes,” I say with excitement. “Of course.” My father never allowed me at any of the fights, as the first born doesn’t need to check out the talents of a fighter to have children with.

I spend the entire day in the kitchen, from prepping breakfast to lunch and then dinner.

And by the time I’m excused to go to my room, I’m exhausted.

It’s not until Jaycee knocks on my door that I remember the fight.

Anna is with her, and both look excited as I put my shoes back on and follow them to the guards’ quarters.

Alex leads us through the caves, and I wonder how he remembers all these passages and where they lead.

We’re taken into an alcove that overlooks the fighting ring.

“No one knows about this part,” he tells me, clearing a branch that hides the viewing window.

“You must stay here, and you have to be quiet.”

“Where are you going?” I ask.

“I have to be ringside with Jax. We’re on duty.”

I stare down below us at the crowd of men.

Most I recognise from being at dinner parties and such, but others I’ve never seen in my life.

I spot my father shaking hands with another man before exchanging cash.

No one in the village has access to money, never needing it as everything is provided for us.

Anything that requires cash is passed by the four families to deal with.

But the closer I look, the more cash I see exchanging hands. “Why do they have money?” I ask.

Jaycee shrugs. “We don’t know about the politics of it all. We come for the fight.”

The crowd begins to cheer as a large man is led in by chains.

I haven’t seen him before, and I turn to Anna, who smiles.

“He’s an up-and-coming warrior. There’re loads training to become as good as Wrath and the others.

When they’re as good, the forefathers will bid on them, hoping to have them fight for their namesake. ”

“My father boasted we have ten good fighters,” I tell them, “yet I’ve only ever seen Wrath. The other three are for the other families. So, where are the nine?”

“They’re training, waiting to take on one of the four and win. Only then will he be seen as good enough to fight beside Wrath,” she explains.

“If Wrath loses, your father could drop him back to the lower camp and replace him with one of the nine,” adds Jaycee.

“But that’s a risky move because Wrath is far too good,” says Anna, and Jaycee nods in agreement. I’m impressed at how much they know about it all.

Wrath is led out and joins the other fighter in the ring. Both are glaring at one another, looking ready to kill. “They look so angry,” I mutter.

“They’re riled up before the fight,” says Jaycee. “Loud music, noise on repeat . . . it messes with their minds.”

“Why?”

She laughs. “So they fight well.”

I watch the fight through the gaps between my fingers.

It’s violent and bloody, and each time Wrath hits his opponent, blood splatters across the people surrounding the ring, causing delight amongst the spectators.

Mabel, one of the Garcia daughters, actually licks the blood from her lips and smiles.

When the warrior finally hits the deck, Wrath is cuffed and taken away.

“That’s it?” I ask, watching as the men below swap more cash. “He just goes back to his room?”

“What did you think would happen?” asks Anna. “It was a great fight, wasn’t it?” She looks excited, but I feel sick.

“I don’t think I’m cut out for all that blood,” I whisper.

“We have to wait here for Alex to come get us,” says Jaycee.

The crowd below begins to thin out, and I watch my father as he moves amongst the remaining guests, smiling and being friendly. They probably have no idea how cruel he really is.

A woman is brought into the room by Lenny, gaining the attention of the remaining few spectators.

She’s bound, her hands tied behind her back, and her dress is short, way shorter than the attire usually seen around the village.

I frown, glancing around and realising there are now only six men remaining, including the forefathers.

They each take a seat, and the woman is placed before them, making me feel uneasy. Lenny unties the rope holding her wrists, and she rubs them. “That will be all,” my father tells Lenny, who nods before leaving.

“What’s happening now?” I whisper. The other two look just as confused as me as we watch my father take out a mobile telephone.

He fiddles with it and then music sounds.

I gasp, clamping my hand over my mouth. We don’t often hear music in the village, only occasionally if the forefathers agree to it.

The woman begins to sway, entrancing all the men who watch intently. She begins to remove the dress, and I watch open-mouthed as she slips it from her body, leaving her naked. She sways towards my father, placing a hand on his shoulder and wiggling her breasts in his face. “Oh my god,” I whisper.

“I don’t think we should watch,” adds Jaycee, staring wide-eyed as the woman sits in my father’s lap. She rubs against him, taking his hands and placing them on her breasts. Adrian stands, moving in front of her while unzipping his trousers. I cover my eyes.

“We can’t watch,” I say, turning my back.

“We can’t tell anyone,” adds Jaycee. “Not even Alex.”

“We don’t want to be like the two who got hanged,” says Anna.

My father’s plan to terrify the villagers has clearly worked. “Let’s wait in the passage,” I suggest, slipping out the alcove and into the dark passage just as Alex arrives.

He grins. “Sorry I took so long. Wrath was unsettled.”

“How come?” I ask, following him back through the tunnels.

“Who knows,” he says with a shrug. “Doesn’t take much with that one. He soon settled when he saw his entertainment.” I shudder with revulsion. It seems all the men here are controlled by one thing only—sex.

When we arrive back, Martha is pacing. She looks up and relief passes over her expression. “Thank goodness,” she says. “I don’t even want to know where you’ve been,” she adds before we can think of an excuse. “Wynter, how confident are you that you can calm Wrath?”

I arch a brow. “Not very.”

“He’s hurt two guards, and the cattle prods have done nothing to calm him. I can’t get the guards out.”

“They’re still in there with him?” Alex asks, pulling out his keys in a hurry.

“The door is unlocked,” snaps Martha. “I’ve tried everything, but nothing is working.”

“We can’t send Wynter in there,” he barks angrily.

“You said yourself, she has something that instantly calms him,” she cries.

“I’ll try,” I say, and they both turn to me.

“No,” says Alex firmly. “It’s not a woman’s job to control the warriors.”

I square my shoulders, annoyed he doubts my abilities, even though I’m not confident myself.

“I’m in charge,” says Martha, “and I will take the blame if anything goes wrong.”

Alex shrugs helplessly, pulling the first door open.

I step closer, wincing at the sound of pure rage coming from Wrath’s room as the second door is pulled open.

Lenny and Jax are cowering in the corner, their cattle prods carelessly strewn from their reach.

Wrath grabs his table and throws it in their direction, roaring like a wild animal, and I flinch as it crashes against the wall.

I take a deep breath and step into the room.

My heart beats out of my chest, possibly loud enough for him to hear because he pauses all of a sudden.

His back is to me, and I watch how his shoulders rise and fall with each heavy breath.

He slowly turns, and I immediately hold up a hand.

“I’m just here to check you’re okay,” I say gently.

“You sound so angry.” I look around the room, noting the damage before looking at the two guards who watch me with surprised eyes.

“Look at this mess,” I add, shaking my head. “What’s wrong?”

“He won’t answer,” snaps Jax. “Fucking mute,” he spits angrily.

Wrath spins back in their direction, growling. “Relax,” I call out, stepping closer. “Hurting those idiots won’t help you.” Wrath turns back to me. “Let them leave.” He shakes his head. “I don’t think this is you, Wrath,” I say, offering a sympathetic smile. “I don’t think you like being angry.”

Alex watches from the doorway. “What made him kick off?” he asks his colleagues.

“We took the women away,” mutters Lenny.

“Why?” I ask.

“I don’t have to run shit by you, princess,” Lenny snaps, and Wrath immediately turns back, his shoulders squaring like he’s getting ready to attack.

I don’t hesitate, moving closer and placing my hand on his arm.

He glances to where I touch him, that same lost look on his face.

I move in front of him and smile as his eyes find mine.

“They’re not worth it,” I whisper. “Let them go. I can stay if you need to talk.” He’s reluctant, I can see it in his eyes, but eventually, he nods, and I sigh in relief. “Thank you.”

As the guards scramble to leave, Wrath keeps eye contact, and it’s so intense that the background noise fades away until I feel like it’s just the two of us.

His mouth opens, and I hold my breath, waiting for something, anything .

. . because I’m desperate to hear his voice.

But then Martha calls my name. I break eye contact and the moment is gone.

He clamps his mouth closed and stares at the floor.

“You need to get out here now,” she says. I feel him withdrawing, and I hate it.

“Actually,” I say, and Wrath looks up in surprise, “I’ll help tidy this mess.”

“Wynter,” she mutters, disapproval lacing her words, “it’s not how things are done.”

“You asked me to help,” I say, picking up a chair. “And he isn’t going to hurt me.”

She looks hesitant but eventually pushes the door closed. I smile at Wrath, who continues to watch me with curious eyes. “Are you going to help or just stare?” I tease.

We tidy up in silence, and once it’s cleaner, I place my hands on my hips and try to think of another reason to stay longer.

I really hoped he’d speak. Martha said he’s a selective mute, refusing to speak a year after he arrived here.

Before that, he spoke perfectly well. “I hate it here too,” I whisper, glancing at the door to check no one is there.

“But it must be harder for you when you’re forced to do things you don’t want to do.

” He watches me with interest. “Like fight,” I add.

When he doesn’t speak, I ask, “Do you like fighting?” He nods once, and I can’t hide the disappointment showing on my face.

“What did you expect?” comes Lenny’s voice from behind me.

“He’s trained to fight. It’s his purpose.

He knows nothing else.” Wrath’s demeanour changes and he grabs me, taking me by surprise as he pulls me behind him.

Lenny laughs. “I don’t want to hurt her,” he says.

“Look, Mute, I get the appeal. She’s hot.

Of course, you wanna fuck her. Bet her cunt is neat and tight.

” I shudder at his words, sickness settling in my stomach.

“But she ain’t here for you.” Wrath growls, and Lenny laughs harder.

“Luckily, we got the approval to bring out something stronger,” he sneers, and I glance around Wrath to see Lenny pointing a yellow stun gun at Wrath.

“I’m okay, Lenny,” I reassure him. “Wrath won’t hurt me.”

“You haven’t seen the way he ravages the women we send in here,” he replies.

I can’t deny I hate the thought of the women coming in here, and I can’t work out if that’s because I feel for them or him.

I don’t think he wants this life any more than I do.

“I’ll come out,” I offer, stepping around Wrath, who growls louder and pulls me against his hard body.

I inhale sharply as his arms wrap around me.

They’re not tight enough to hurt. In fact, if anything, I feel safer than I ever have my entire life.

But then I feel it . . . the bulge in his shorts is pressed to my backside, and I panic.

Wrath

Holding her so close is dangerous, but I’m not ready for her to leave. She’s the reason I smashed this place up. I needed her, not them. Not the pale, sad-looking women who come here out of duty.

And then she tugs free from my hold and spins to face me.

Her face is burning red, and her fists are balled at her sides.

I think she’s angry . Her eyes fall to my shorts, and she gasps.

And then something strikes my chest, and I fall to the floor, shaking uncontrollably.

It’s the same sort of feeling I get from the sticks they use, but it’s so much more intense, and the buzzing doesn’t stop until I’m drooling and breathless.

When it finally does stop, she’s already gone. I didn’t get a chance to speak.

I close my eyes, seeing my mother’s familiar smile. This time, she’s holding out her hand for me. I take it, happiness filling my heart as she leads me away from this place.