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“You should talk more,” I whisper, remaining beside him. “You have a soothing voice.”

“Sometimes it’s like the words just won’t come,” he admits. “And other times, I just don’t want to speak, so I don’t.”

“Even when you were small?”

He shifts himself to get more comfortable. “What did you mean before? You said you were coming up with a plan.”

I sigh heavily. “Everyone is suddenly counting on me,” I whisper. “What if I let them down?”

“Why are they counting on you?”

“To get them out of here.”

“I dream about it,” he says with a small smile.

His eyes glisten, and my heart squeezes.

“Not getting out of here,” he adds, “but the world before.” I briefly close my eyes as his fingers play with the ends of my hair.

“I used to think it was just a dream. I mean, it is, but she was real, wasn’t she? The woman I dream about.”

“What do you dream, Wrath?”

“Ares,” he mutters, twisting my hair round his finger. “My name before was Ares. She calls me Ares.”

“Who?”

“I think she was my mother.”

I almost choke on the sob that leaves my throat, and I cup his cheek. “Yes, she’s real.”

“Earlier, after you told me there was more of the world out there, I dreamt of her again. I think it was the last time I saw her.”

“Before they brought you here?” He nods. “Tell me about it.”

“She was collecting me from somewhere and she had to run errands. I waited outside, and a man came. He took me by the arm and led me away, and when I started to fight back, he shoved a cloth in my mouth and dragged me into the back of a van.”

“I was told that the boys who came here were given over because they were unruly or unloved. I don’t think that’s true.”

“There was something they said when we arrived, about us being too old. They were meant to take under-fives.”

Another sob leaves my throat. “I have to find a way to get us all out of here.”

“How?”

I shrug. Even if I managed to get us all out, where the hell would we go? “Thinking about it overwhelms me.”

“Then just for tonight, don’t think about it,” he says, leaning closer. I inhale, anticipating his lips as they press against my own in a bruising kiss. I feel his erection press against my thigh and shift closer.

Then, just as I feel him relax against me, he breaks the kiss and shifts away so we’re no longer touching. “Sleep, Wynter.”

Wrath

She closes her eyes but not before I see the disappointment in them.

But I’m a monster, and I’m terrified of hurting her the way I hurt the girls in the ceremonies.

I don’t know if I can be gentle when my body wants her so badly.

The need isn’t like anything I’ve ever felt before.

Usually, the pills take over and I turn into some sex-crazed animal, but I want her even without the tablets.

I want to feel her naked skin against mine, and I want to kiss her in all the places she keeps covered beneath that black dress.

“What do they do?” she whispers, her eyes still closed.

“Who?”

“When they get you here as a child, what happens?”

“I don’t think I want to put those images in your head.”

She finally opens her eyes. “I need to know what they did to you, Ares.”

I take a shuddering breath. “When they’ve beaten every last tear from you, they start to put you in the ring.”

She pushes to sit up a little. “To fight?”

I nod, hating the terror in her eyes. “We had to fight one another, even the kids we’d befriended.”

“It must have been awful.”

“It wasn’t all bad. Some days, we went to school.” She frowns, and I laugh. “They taught us about the four families, and how some of us would be chosen ones. It sounded so good, it’s what we all began to want.” I look around the room. “Turns out, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”

“What happens after here?” she asks. “You can’t fight forever.”

“Men die in the ring, Wynter. Then you’re replaced just as quickly. There are fighters waiting to step up.”

She runs her hands over her tired face. “And the ceremonies?”

I get up from the bed, hating how my chains rattle.

“I don’t want to talk about them,” I utter.

They taught us it was human nature. Breeding with the families’ offerings was a privilege, but it’s never felt that way.

Not for me. “Why can’t you leave?” I ask.

“You can go out the caves alone. Why don’t you leave? ”

“The gates are locked. There are guards outside, and I have no idea where to go. Apparently, we’re in the middle of nowhere.”

“But nowhere is somewhere,” I say, picking up the bread and taking a bite.

“How do I walk out of here with everyone?” she asks, her voice desperate and pleading. “I don’t know what they’ll do if we’re discovered. They’ve already killed two of my friends because of the way I behaved. They had you attack my sister,” she adds, and I still at her words, turning to face her.

“What?”

“They put her in a cave with all four warriors. She was attacked so my father could ensure she got pregnant.”

I allow her words to sink in. “Your father?”

She stands, her eyes searching mine. “Anthony Sanchez.” My blood boils, and I clench my fists. “He’s disowned me,” she rushes to add, like that somehow makes it all better.

“Why?” I ask through gritted teeth.

“Because I don’t conform to his beliefs.” She walks over to where I am and slips her tiny hand in mine. “He’s created a world that suits him, and everyone else is just . . . compliant. I hate him, and I hate this fake world he’s forcing us all to live in.”

“I didn’t know you were one of them,” I mutter, and I feel her tense.

Her brow furrows. “I’m not. I’ve just told you I don’t believe.”

I release her hand. “Believe or not, it makes no difference. You’re only down here because he’s disowned you. Before that, you lived up there with them.”

“I didn’t have a choice.”

“No, Wynter, I didn’t have a choice. You’ve only decided to help now you’re amongst us.” I place the bread in her hands. “You should leave.”

Her face is full of confusion, but I turn away. “Ares?—”

“My name is Wrath.” I sit on the bed, twisting and lying back to stare up at the ceiling.

“What just happened?” she asks, but I continue to stare.

I’m done talking now. “You’re going to ignore me?

” She waits a beat. “Please, at least let’s talk about it.

” When I still don’t reply, she gives a defeated sigh and backs out the room.

“Yah know, when everyone was telling me what a monster you were, I gave you a chance. I wanted to make my own decision. I’m sorry you feel you can’t give me the same courtesy. ” Then she closes the door, locking it.