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CHAPTER ELEVEN

WYNTER

I stare up at the village hall at all forefathers. The families stand behind them, including my mother and Summer, along with my father’s new lover. I can see the tension pouring from Summer, but she has that familiar smile in place like Father would expect.

My father moves to the lectern. “We’ve all been awaiting some good news,” he says proudly, “and I have it in abundance.” The crowd claps, and I glance around at the sea of smiling faces.

“My beautiful daughter, Summer, is pregnant by the warrior, Maximus.

The crowd erupts in cheers, but I shake my head in annoyance.

“He can’t even be sure of that,” I mutter to Martha, who gently pats my hand.

“Not only that, but I have plans to expand our founding families’ bloodline.

” The crowd settles. “Each head of the family will take more than one wife.” There’s silence stretching out as people process what he’s saying.

“I have recently married Annastasia. She is expecting twins in a few months.” A few people clap, but it’s not as strong as before.

It sets my father on edge, and he glances back at the other forefathers.

Adrian steps up to the lectern, smiling wide.

“Those of you who have unmarried daughters may present them as possible matches for the forefathers,” he says. “We will hold a gathering, and all families with daughters will be requested to attend.”

A mother to the left of me stares in horror as her husband gives his daughter an excited nod. She looks no older than fourteen. “We can’t let this happen,” I mutter.

“Stay quiet,” Martha warns. “We will talk about it when it’s safer.”

We’re dismissed minutes later, and as the crowd parts, the mother falls into step beside me.

“I agree,” she whispers. “We can’t let this happen.

” I give a stiff nod. “I run the pharmacy,” she adds.

“I’d love you to drop by. My husband isn’t around tomorrow.

” I nod again, and she walks off in the direction of her husband.

“We might just be able to cause a rebellion,” I tell Martha excitedly.

“Wynter, wait.” I turn to see Summer running towards me. She glances back to check my father hasn’t noticed, but he’s too busy shaking hands with other men. “I just wanted to check up on you,” she says.

“Congratulations,” I tell her, smiling warmly.

“It doesn’t feel like a celebration,” she mutters sadly.

“How are things at home? How’s Mother?”

The smile no longer reaches her eyes, and she slips her hand in mine. “I miss you,” she tells me. “I’m sorry for the things I said. I didn’t mean them.”

“I know. I miss you too.”

“Maybe we can meet somewhere?” she suggests.

Martha takes my arm. “Let’s not make trouble for ourselves,” she says.

I slip my hand from Summer’s. “I’m sorry,” I whisper as I’m led away.

“If your father sees you, he’ll follow through on his threat,” Martha warns.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen her since I left, and she reached out to me.”

“It doesn’t matter. You’re our only hope of getting out of here,” she says. “Don’t mess it up.”

We get back to the caves and gather around Martha’s kitchen table. Jaycee and Anna stare at me, waiting for me to speak, and eventually, I sigh heavily. “I don’t know what the plan is yet,” I admit.

“Nothing at all?” asks Martha.

“Not exactly. I know I need the warriors on side and I’m working on that.

A villager approached me tonight to meet with her tomorrow.

She doesn’t want her daughter to marry one of the four.

Understandable seeing as she’s just a kid.

But what I really need is to piece together the warriors.

I want to know how they got here and if they knew they were coming. ”

“So, you need to spend time with Wrath,” Martha states, and I nod.

“They all need to trust me.”

“Alex is on duty, and he’s pretty relaxed,” says Anna.

“Only because he’s in love with you,” teases Jaycee.

My eyes widen, “Use that,” I tell her. “Go on a date and I’ll watch the warriors.”

“He’ll never leave his post,” says Anna.

“Unless you make him,” says Martha, smirking.

She takes a small brown bottle from the shelf.

“Slip this in his drink and he’ll spend the night over the toilet.

” She begins to make Alex a cup of hot milk.

“Tell him it’s a treat from me to cheer him up.

It’s the least I can do after the loss of his friend. ”

Alex looks up from the desk and smiles. I place the hot milk on the table and pull up a chair. He eyes it suspiciously. “What’s this?”

“Martha sent it, to say sorry you lost Lenny.”

He smirks, taking a sip and closing his eyes. “That’s delicious.”

“I’m sorry too,” I add.

“Don’t be. Lenny was a hard man to please. I’m not exactly sorry he’s gone,” he admits, shrugging. “And things are a little less stressful down here without him.”

“He liked to upset the warriors,” I agree.

“What’s going on with you and Wrath?” he asks.

I rest my elbows on the desk. “I feel bad for him,” I say. “Lenny was hard on him.”

“Lenny was hard on everyone, most of all Wrath.”

“Why?”

He shrugs again. “I guess he didn’t like him being the best.”

“The best?”

“In the ring. Wrath is strong, and he’s clever. He just hides behind his silence so nobody can work him out. Lenny was suspicious of him.”

“I heard you like Anna,” I say with a grin.

He laughs. “And what’s that got to do with you?”

“Nothing. Although I could see how she feels about you. With the forefathers announcing extra marriages, you should make your move now. They might choose her.”

His smile fades. “Do you think they would?”

“Do you want to risk waiting around to find out?” He shakes his head then grips his stomach. Half the milk is now gone, and I’m pleased it’s working so quickly. “Are you okay?” I ask with fake concern.

“A bit of cramp,” he mutters, frowning. He winces again, this time half standing. “Could you find Jax?”

“I can wait here if you need to go,” I say innocently.

“Not a good idea,” he mutters, and this time, his stomach growls.

“I’ll be fine. They’re all quiet. I’ll get you if anything happens.”

He doesn’t have time to argue, instead, rushing off to the bathroom. I grin, relaxing in my seat.

Half an hour passes before I gently knock on the bathroom door. “Are you okay?” I ask.

“Don’t come in here,” he calls back.

“Okay, well, do you need me to get anyone?”

“No. Leave me.”

“You need your bed,” I say. “If you’re sick, that is.”

“Maybe,” he mutters.

“Look, go to your room and I’ll stay here until the morning.”

“No, go and get Jax.”

“With Lenny gone, Jax will need to be here tomorrow. Until they get an extra guard down here, you need me.”

He sighs. “Fine. But if anything happens, you have to come and get me.”

“Of course,” I lie. “Feel better soon.”

I wait another hour before going into the first room. “Evening, Abe,” I say with a grin. His eyes narrow in on me. “I thought you’d like some extra food,” I offer, holding up some freshly baked bread from Martha. “We couldn’t get butter, but she did find some jam,” I add, moving closer to his bed.

“Why are you doing this?”

“I think we should all get treated better,” I explain with a shrug. “Don’t you?”

“That’s never going to happen,” he says with an empty laugh. “You’re just another daydreamer thinking she can change our world.”

“There’s been others?” I ask.

“None that came back more than once,” he mutters, taking a bite of the bread.

“How did you get here?” I ask, taking a seat at his small table.

He chews the bread, all the while watching me. Eventually, he says, “I was taken.”

“Like the others?”

He stares down at the bread. “I came here with Max.”

“Maximus?”

“He was just Max back then,” he says with a small smile. “There were others too, but I haven’t seen them in a long time. Look, you’re asking for trouble poking around like this.”

I sense his reluctance and offer an easy smile as I push to my feet. “I’m all about trouble, Abe. Don’t worry about me.”

Zeus takes his bread eagerly, biting a large chunk off and closing his eyes. When he opens them and sees me watching, he frowns. “What are you doing here?”

“The guard was sick, so I offered to do the night watch.”

“And you’re bringing food. Why?”

“I’m just being friendly.”

“Why?”

“You’re all so suspicious. Can’t a girl be nice?”

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned the hard way, it’s that no one is nice for the sake of being nice.”

“If you all came here so young, how did you learn so much?”

“Who said I came here young?” he asks.

“All the others came here around the age of five, so I just assumed . . .”

“All the others shouldn’t be talking to you,” he snaps. “I remember you.” He narrows his eyes.

I shift uncomfortably before asking, “From?”

“Watching at the ceremonies. You were with the Sanchez family.”

I stiffen slightly at his words. “I’m no longer part of them,” I tell him.

“I don’t trust you,” he says firmly. “Leave.”

Maximus is sleeping, so I take the final chunks of bread in to Wrath. His back is to me, and by the soft sounds coming from his corner, I realise he’s asleep too. I put the bread down and move closer. “Wrath,” I whisper, “wake up.”

He groans in response, and I gently place my hand on his shoulder.

His hand dashes out quickly, taking me by surprise.

I cry out as he yanks me towards him, and I land on the bed in a heap.

He lurches over me, his blue eyes narrowed, making him look more possessed than usual.

He inhales deeply and suddenly relaxes, letting go of me immediately and dropping down beside me.

“You shouldn’t creep up on me,” he mutters. “Sorry about that.”

I’m shaking as I nod, trying desperately to fight back the tears gathering in my eyes. He props himself up beside me, and his expression softens. He gently rubs his thumb under each eye, smearing my tears over my cheek. He licks his thumb and smiles. “Tears of an angel,” he murmurs.