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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

WYNTER

I t’s been a week since I last saw my sister after Pearl’s ceremony.

I had to get special permission from Silas to meet her, which I asked for while snuggled beside him in bed earlier today.

I’ve learned very quickly that I get what I want when I catch him off-guard.

Silas agreed, on the condition I take one of his guards with me.

She’s sitting on a wooden bench that overlooks the small park. She smiles as I join her, and my guard goes to speak with hers, meaning at least we can catch up without them listening in.

“How are you?” I ask.

“Father spoke with your darling husband,” she says in a sarcastic tone. “God, I hate him,” she whispers.

I slip my hand in hers. “Silas never mentioned it.”

“I’m to marry Adam.”

My heart squeezes. “I’m so sorry.”

“I guess at least we might see one another more?”

“When will you marry?”

“After the birth.” She buries her face in her hands. “He’s made some requests that Father granted without speaking to me.”

“Like?”

“He doesn’t want me to breastfeed.” I frown. It’s the only way women feed their babies here because the forefathers don’t agree with formula unless there’s a specific reason. We even have wet nurses. My mouth falls open in surprise as I realise what he’s suggesting. “A wet nurse?”

She nods. “A wet nurse and a nanny. I can’t even raise my own child.”

“It’s not unusual to have a nanny,” I say gently.

“This is my child,” she snaps. “I want to feed it, and I want to raise it.”

“If it’s a boy, he might change his mind and be more accepting.”

“How is the marriage?” she asks on a sigh.

I shrug. “It’s not awful.”

The news surprises her, and she stares at me through wide eyes. “Really?”

“Ava hates me, but that’s to be expected. He’s awful to her.”

“But how does he treat you?”

My heart aches, unable to lie but not wanting to admit the truth. “He treats me well,” I say honestly. “He eats dinner with me on the porch. He plays soft music, and we dance.” I think back to the other night and tears fill my eyes. “He took me to a fight.”

She winces. “They’re not nice.”

“No, not at all. When I was in the caves, I made friends with the warriors.”

She twists to face me. “What?”

“They’re not bad, Summer,” I whisper, glancing nervously at the guards.

She pulls her hand from mine. “After what they did to me?”

“And me,” I add, and she recoils. “Father chucked me in there too, as punishment, I guess.”

“At least you made friends with them,” she spits.

“You don’t understand,” I hiss. “Did you know they’re taken from out there?

” I ask, pointing to the wall surrounding the village.

“They’re just little boys when they’re stolen and brought here.

And then they’re forced to fight, and they have teachings rammed down their throats about our beliefs, or at least theirs,” I tell her, looking back up the hill at the four looming houses.

“They force-feed them pills and make them watch things, explicit things, Summer, and then they send them into the ceremonies all riled up. They don’t know any different. ”

She knots the hem of her dress around her finger. “It all feels such a mess,” she whispers.

“I know,” I agree, “which is why we need a plan.”

She nods eagerly. “Okay, any idea what’s beyond that wall?”

I shake my head. “Not exactly, but I know people who lived out there before. If we can just make it out, we can find more help.”

“We’ll never get past the guards. They man the gate twenty-four-seven.”

“The caves lead out,” I say in a low whisper. “We just need to find a way.”

“If there’s a way out, why hasn’t anyone ever left?”

“How do we know they haven’t?” I ask. “I’ve got an idea, but I don’t know how it will work out. I’m winning Silas over.”

She shakes her head. “No. It’s not worth it. He could have you killed.”

“Not if he loves me,” I say with confidence. “Just trust me. Maybe he has a map of the caves or something. How else do they know where to go? If he lets his guard down, I can look in his office.”

“Wynter, it’s not going to be that easy.”

“Trust me,” I say, standing.

“I have a dinner with Silas tonight. Are you going to be there?” she asks. I shrug. “I really hope you are.”

Silas is waiting on the porch when I return. He stands, greeting me with a kiss on each cheek. “How was Summer?”

“Nervous,” I say. “You didn’t mention she is to marry Adam.”

He looks away, slipping his hand in mine and leading me inside. We go into his office, a place he doesn’t allow anyone. “If you haven’t noticed, there’re not a lot of options for marriage amongst the four families.”

“It wasn’t well thought out,” I point out.

“On the contrary, it was my idea to allow the forefathers to have more than one wife to stop this from happening again.” He takes my hand and smiles. “Did you enjoy time with your sister?” I nod. “We’re having dinner with her this evening. I would like you to be there too.”

“Whatever you think is best,” I reply.

I descend the stairs after spending an hour getting ready. I’ve never had to worry about having my hair or makeup just right, and even choosing an outfit is complicated these days.

Silas waits for me at the foot of the stairs with his right arm hooked out for me to take.

Ava appears from the kitchen and takes his left arm.

He waits a beat before saying, “Tonight is important. I do not want any problems or tension. You will get along and put on a show. Anyone who cannot follow my orders will face severe punishment.”

“Of course,” I reply.

Ava nods, and he waits, glaring straight ahead until she answers properly with a defeated, “Yes.”

Satisfied, he glides through the hall towards the living room. The guard opens two large doors, and we enter like royalty. For a second, I understand why Silas and the other three fathers are addicted to the power.

My step falters when my father turns to face us with my mother on one arm and Annastasia on the other, his fake smile wide.

My mother’s smile is tight. She’s had her hair curled to perfection, and her lipstick’s brighter than the red dress Ava chose to wear.

I went for a subtle navy blue, and I notice Silas is wearing a matching tie.

It’s almost like we’re in sync without meaning to be.

He shakes hands with my father, who moves to kiss Ava on the cheek. My mother follows suit and then Summer appears from behind her and does the same. Annastasia lingers longer on Silas than necessary.

My father turns away, and I feel Silas stiffen as my mother then Annastasia follow like sheep. He clears his throat, and Father turns slightly, arching a brow. “You forgot to greet my wife,” Silas says firmly, a challenge in his tone.

Father laughs. “When I agreed to this farce of a marriage, I made it clear she was no longer a part of my family.”

Silas matches his amused expression. “Exactly. She is my wife. You didn’t greet her.”

My father’s smirk fades, and he sighs before stepping closer. “Wynter,” he mutters, leaning in and briefly pressing his cheek to mine. Before any of the others can do the same, I turn to Silas and smile. “I need the bathroom.” He kisses my cheek and gives a nod.

I spend at least five minutes trying to steady my racing heart.

I didn’t expect my father to attend, which, now I think about it, is stupid.

Why wouldn’t he? But either way, I hadn’t prepared myself, and I feel both nervous and sick at the same time.

How can I have dinner with a man who treated me no better than a dog and make conversation with the woman who gave birth to me like she’s no more than an acquaintance.

When I rejoin them, they’re seated for dinner, and I take my place to the left of Silas. I’m relieved Summer is beside me, and she gives my hand a quick squeeze under the table. Adam and Reginald have also joined the family, with Adam seated at the opposite table end to Silas.

“Welcome to our home,” Silas says as Aurelia tops everyone’s glass with something fizzy.

“Champagne,” Father says, holding his glass in the air as if to examine it. “Classy.”

Silas sniggers. “Only the best for such a celebration, don’t you agree?”

He nods, smirking as he holds it more to the centre of the table. “To our families merging.”

“To families,” repeats Silas, doing the same with his glass.

Everyone else seems to follow so I do the same, clinking glasses before we all take a sip.

I wince as the bubbles hit the back of my throat and almost push out through my nose.

I giggle, and Silas smiles, handing me a napkin.

“Although we already merged after I married Wynter, no?”

It’s met with silence, and I stare down at my empty plate. I feel my father’s anger rolling from him as he sits straighter and fixes Silas with a glare. “She is the daughter of a warrior. She isn’t ranked high enough to be part of any family, let alone a celebration of merging the two.”

“Maybe it’s time we changed that.” I lift my head to stare at Silas in surprise. “Maybe lots of things need to change.”

My father smirks, placing his glass down. “Like?”

“If we continue to marry amongst our four families, our bloodlines will become muddy.”

“Your point?”

I glance around to see everyone with their heads slightly bowed, except Adam and Reginald, who are watching their father through surprised eyes. “You know the risks of mixing bloodlines.”

“What risk?” I blurt out, instantly regretting it when my father chuckles in that cold way he has that makes me feel stupid.

“Do you see what is happening here, Silas? Talking business in front of the women isn’t wise.”

“Because what we think isn’t important?” I ask, frowning. “Even though this mixing of bloodlines might affect the same women who carry your children?”

“Are you allowing her to speak to me like that?” Father asks Silas.