Page 24

I hear screams of pleasure as I pass Silas’s office and head for the kitchen, where Aurelia smirks. “It happens often,” she tells me, “but not usually with Mother.”

“Oh,” I whisper, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

“I like the dress. It suits you.”

“Thanks.”

There’s a knock on the kitchen door, and we exchange a surprised look. She opens it, and I gasp at the sight of Martha, rushing to her and wrapping her in a hug. “I’m so glad to see you,” I cry.

“We don’t have time. Come,” she whispers, taking my hand.

I glance back. “I can’t. If he finds out?—”

“I’ll cover,” says Aurelia. “Don’t be long.”

The second we’re alone, Martha turns to me. “I’ve been so worried about you,” she whispers.

I smile. “I’ve been worried about all of you. Is Wrath okay?”

“Not really. They pulled all the warriors out two nights ago, took them off, and he’s been acting crazy since they returned. He’s smashed his room and won’t eat or drink.” I begin to walk towards the caves. I have to be with him. “Where are you going?” she asks, rushing to catch up.

“To see Wrath.”

“That’s not a good idea,” she says, grabbing my arm to halt me. “Jaycee managed to get through to him, so he’s calmer.”

I narrow my eyes. “How did she get through to him?” I’m surprised by the feeling building inside me. The urge to keep Jaycee from him is overwhelming.

“He talked to her, opened up a little.”

I stiffen at her words. “He talked?”

“Only to her.” She gently pats my hand. “It’s a good thing, Wynter. Since you’re now here, how else will we communicate?”

The one thing I had with Wrath that no one else did was the fact he trusted me enough to talk to. “Look,” she adds, “he said your name. I think he wants to see you, so Jaycee begged me to come here to get you.”

I nod, heading for the caves again. This time, she rushes to get in front of me, stopping me for a second time. “What, Martha?” I snap, instantly regretting it. I never raise my voice—it reminds me of my father too much. “Sorry,” I mutter.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea. If you get caught, I’d hate to think what they’ll do to you.” She glances past me at the large house. “Are they treating you well?”

I frown. “How did you know I was here?”

She looks to the ground. “Your father told me, said you wouldn’t be returning because you’d married a Morales.”

I scoff. “I was forced to sign my name in a book, does that count as a marriage?”

She looks me up and down, and I shift uncomfortably. “You sure look married.”

“I’m fighting for my life here,” I hiss. “Keeping on his good side is my top priority so he doesn’t beat me, or worse, set his sons on me.”

Her eyes soften. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be sarcastic.”

I take her hands in mine. “I still plan to get us out of here,” I tell her, “but you have to be patient while I figure this situation out.”

She nods, taking a deep breath. “Maybe I can give Wrath a message?”

“Tell him I’ll come and visit him soon. I just need to let things settle here before I can sneak off.”

When I go back inside, Silas is just entering the kitchen. He eyes me suspiciously, and I smile. “I needed some air.”

“Next time, tell me so I can come with you. There’s a dress upstairs on the bed. You’ll wear it for the ceremony.”

I stare at myself in the long mirror. I don’t recognise the person staring back.

Silas had Aurelia apply makeup to my face, something I’ve never worn before.

I was so fascinated with all the things she applied, I lost track of what she was doing, but as I look at my reflection now, I’m stunned into silence.

Aurelia fidgets beside me. “Do you hate it?” she asks nervously.

I slowly shake my head, glancing her way before moving closer to the mirror. “I look so . . . so . . . different.”

“Good different?”

“Yes. Unbelievably different. I’m glowing.”

She smiles, relief flooding her face. “Thank the Lord, I was panicking there for a second.”

I turn to her, taking her hands. “You have a talent.”

She laughs, blushing. “I practise in secret at night.”

“Yet you’re not wearing makeup whenever I see you.”

She scoffs. “My father would kill me . . . literally. Anyway,” she grabs her bag of tricks, “I have to sort Mother’s next.”

The bedroom door opens, and Ava enters. She looks me up and down with hatred before taking a seat at the vanity table. Aurelia joins her, clipping her hair away from her face.

I step into the long, black dress and pull the thin straps over my shoulders. It clings to my body like a second skin, and as I’m trying to zip the back, Silas enters. He audibly gasps when he sets his eyes on me, and I find myself smiling under his praise.

He approaches, immediately taking the zip and pulling it up.

Then he turns me to face him and removes the clip that Aurelia used to pin my hair up.

It tumbles down, and he gently guides it over my shoulders.

“I like it down,” he whispers, kissing my cheek.

“You look amazing. Join me for a drink.” He takes my hand and leads me from the room.

We step out into the garden, where there’s a small table set up for two with glasses and a bottle of something.

“Your first ceremony as my wife,” he says proudly, taking the bottle.

“It’s a reason to celebrate.” He pops the top off, laughing when it flies through the air and some of the contents spill out over his hand.

He half fills each glass, handing one to me, then he gently taps his glass to mine.

“To us.” I follow his lead, taking a sip and coughing when the bubbles hit my throat. He grins. “So, how has it been so far?”

“Huh?”

“Being my wife?”

I stare out across the green fields. “It’s been different.”

“How so?”

“Not anything like I expected. All I’ve ever known is how to take care of others, and suddenly, I don’t have to do that anymore.”

“I know Ava’s been . . . cold towards the idea,” he mutters, “but she’ll soon settle.”

“How is it for you?” I ask, frowning as my words tumble out unexpectedly.

Silas looks just as surprised. “You’re asking me?” he almost whispers, and I nod. “I’m pleasantly surprised, Wynter. Being around you brings back memories of how I once felt about Ava.” His smile fades. “I didn’t expect that.”

“What did you expect?”

He grins. “Trouble. Your father was very clear that you were not easy.”

“And yet I haven’t caused you any trouble at all,” I say innocently. We both laugh.

“What if Ava doesn’t accept me?” I shouldn’t care, but deep down, I do. I don’t want her to hate me or resent me, and she most certainly will if he keeps being nice to me like this.

“She has no choice.”

“Would she be allowed to marry another man?” I ask. His eyes come to mine, and his brow furrows slightly. “Is that a possibility? If men can marry more than once, can women?”

He smirks, finishing his drink. “We should make our way to church.”

Wrath

I squeeze my eyes closed as my heart slams faster in my chest. My feet pound hard on the running machine, and sweat drips from me, soaking my shirt.

I slow the machine when I hear the door open.

Jaycee comes in. “I need to be quick,” she whispers.

“Anna is distracting Alex for me. Martha saw Wynter. She said she will come to see you soon. She just needs to slip away unnoticed.”

I frown, stepping from the machine and grabbing my towel. The chain on my ankle clanks, and I growl in frustration. “Where is she?”

“At home with her family.”

“No,” I say, because I don’t believe it for a second.

“That’s all I know, Wrath, I swear. You can ask her yourself when she comes. Until then, you need to eat something. I think you’re fighting tonight.”

“Why?”

“You’ve not been yourself, and the guard went to Sanchez. If you lose tonight, the winning warrior will take your place.”

“Good.” I sit on the bench.

“No, not good,” she snaps, dropping to her knees before me and looking into my eyes. “What do you think they’ll do to you if you’re no good to them? You’re not going to end up somewhere nice for a retirement. You have to fight and win. Otherwise, you’ll never see Wynter again.”