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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

WYNTER

I sip the hot water and close my eyes in appreciation. The police officer, Jayne, watches me through curious eyes. “Are you sure you don’t want anything in that?” she asks. “I have some herbal tea.”

I shake my head. “Just having a warm drink is more than enough,” I say, smiling.

She glances at her partner, Detective Carl Stern, with raised brows, and I suddenly feel stupid.

Call me cautious, but I don’t trust these people yet.

I’ve spent hours in that field, rushing from one villager to the next to reassure them that these people will help us.

Convincing them that this was the right choice, even when I’m not convinced myself.

So, now that I’m alone in this police station, with these two strangers, the gravity of the situation is hitting me full force.

I glance around the nice room. It’s warm and cosy, with two couches and some blankets. On the door is a sign saying ‘Interview Room’.

“So, Wynter,” says Jayne, tapping her pen on her notepad, “we have to record this interview.” She points at the two cameras, one in the corner of the room and a funny-looking device pointing at me from beside her.

“That’s for evidence.” I nod. “And I’ll be making some notes.

Is that okay?” I nod again. “We have officers talking to some of the other villagers too. Everyone seems worried.”

“They’ve spent a long time in that place.”

“What is that place called?” she asks.

“I didn’t really know it had a name until someone told me different.” I sip my drink. “Paragon Village.”

“And you were born there, is that correct?” she asks.

“Yes.”

“Who are your family?”

I think over her question. “I have a sister, Summer. My mother, Grace, and my father, Anthony.”

“And you lived on top of the hill in this house?” she asks, turning a picture of my family home towards me.

“Yes. Another woman, Annastasia, joined us too. She married my father.”

Jayne makes notes, nodding as she writes. “Where is your father now?” asks Carl.

I shrug. “I think he left.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he knew his time was up.”

Jayne leans closer, her eyes narrowing. “What do you mean by that?”

My heart slams faster in my chest. “I set the warriors free. I told the forefathers that we were going to leave.”

“The forefathers being Cornelius Perez, Adrian Garcia, Silas Morales, and your father?”

“Yes.”

“They were keeping you at Paragon Village against your will?” she asks.

“Yes.”

“How?”

I shift uncomfortably. “The gates were locked and there were guards.”

She nods. “Okay, tell us about your life at Paragon Village.”

I place my drink on the table and take a breath. “The real version or the one we were sold? Because recently, I’ve learned a lot, like that the warriors were stolen and made to fight and take part in ceremonies.”

“Ceremonies?” Carl asks, exchanging another curious look with his colleague.

“Yes. The second daughters from the forefathers were taken to the church and laid out for the warriors.”

They exchange a more concerned look. “What did the warriors do?”

“Get them pregnant.”

Jayne inhales sharply, scribbling notes. “And you saw this?”

I nod. “All the families did. We had to sit in the church and watch. My sister was one of them. She’s pregnant.”

“Right. And did that happen to you?” she asks gently.

I frown. “Not in a ceremony,” I admit. The first daughters are born from warriors, therefore, we’re treated as slaves for the family.

But because I wouldn’t conform, my father got sick of me and took me into the caves, where the warriors .

. .” I sigh. “But they aren’t bad people,” I rush to add.

“The warriors didn’t know any different.

They’re given drugs and made to watch things. ”

The door opens and a woman enters. She’s got kind eyes, and she immediately makes me feel at ease. “Sorry I’m late. I’m Anita, and I’ll be your social worker.” She sees my confusion and takes a seat. “I’ll be taking care of you while you find your feet.”

I’m exhausted. I spent hours going over everything with the police, and when we were finished, Anita took me to get some food while we waited for Summer to finish her interview.

We stop outside a large hotel, and Anita twists in her driver’s seat to look at us huddled together in the back. “Try not to worry. You’ll be safe here until we can find something more permanent.”

She takes us to our room, handing us each a key. “I’ll be back in the morning. The police haven’t finished interviewing you both.”

“Where will Ares and the others be?” I ask.

“All on this floor,” she says. “The hotel isn’t used by anyone at the moment, and so there are a lot of people from your village here. But you shouldn’t venture outside until I’ve shown you around the area.”

“But I can see Ares?” I ask eagerly. Since he went off in the field, I haven’t seen him at all.

She looks hesitant. “He’s been rather quiet.”

“He doesn’t like to talk,” I explain with a sad smile.

“Right now, he wants to be left alone.”

I frown. “He said that?”

“Look, you really need to rest, Wynter. Your tests came back just now,” she says gently. “Did you know you’re pregnant?”

I gasp, and Summer grips my arm. “What?” I whisper.

“So, you need to rest and take it easy. You’re eight weeks.” I have no idea how long a woman is pregnant for, and when I stare blankly, she smiles. “Women carry a healthy pregnancy for nine months full term. That’s about forty weeks.”

“Oh.”

“I’m six months,” Summer announces proudly. “I had a scan.”

Anita smiles. “Rest, girls. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

The second she leaves, I head for the door. Summer grabs me back. “What are you doing? You heard what she said.”

“I have to see him, Summer. He needs me.” I kiss her on the cheek. “Sleep, and I’ll be back soon.”

I go to the next room and tap on the door. It opens and Zeus’s annoyed expression immediately softens at the sight of me. “Is Ares with you?”

He shakes his head and points to the room across from mine. “Try there.” I turn to knock, and Zeus adds, “You did good today, Wynter. Thank you.”

I’m still smiling when Ares opens the door. His eyes focus on Zeus, and he scowls before taking my arm and pulling me into his room, slamming the door closed. I giggle. “You can’t keep me to yourself, Ares. Zeus is my friend.”

He pulls me to him, holding me tight against his chest, and my smile fades as the heaviness of everything takes over. Tears swell in my eyes, and I blink them away. “Are you okay?” I whisper.

“Are you?” He pulls back slightly to look at me.

I shake my head. “Not really. Everything feels so big now.”

He nods in understanding. “I hate being away from you,” he admits.

I smile again, kicking off my shoes. “Lie with me?” I ask, leading him to the bed.

I settle against the soft pillows, and he climbs in beside me, groaning in pleasure.

The mattress he’s used to was nothing more than a mat, so I imagine this feels like heaven.

I snuggle into his side, and he wraps his arms around me.

“The only time I feel at peace is with you,” he mutters, pressing a kiss to my head.

“At least they’re taking us seriously, because honestly, with each new thing I tell them, I realise how mad it all sounds.”

“Yeah. I spent hours being questioned about the ceremonies.”

I stiffen slightly. “How come?”

“I guess they need to work out if I did all that of my own free will.”

“I told them you had no choice.”

“Without the forefathers to answer for their crimes, they only have our word.”

“And the words of all the villagers.”

He rubs a hand down my back, his fingers caressing me gently. “Let’s pray they’re honest.”

“Do you regret it?” I ask, glancing up at him. “Ending them?”

He smirks, shaking his head. “Not even a little.”

“There’s something else I need to tell you,” I say, sitting up and facing him, because when I deliver this news, I need to see his reaction. Having a child is something I never thought I’d do. It wasn’t in the cards. But now it’s happened, I can’t help feeling a little hopeful. “I’m pregnant.”

A range of emotions passes over his face, anger settling as he sits too. “To that monster?” he snaps. “I thought you said?—”

I smile, placing a hand on his. “No, Ares. The baby is yours.”

His expression softens. “My baby?”

I nod. “I guess you might have others out there,” I mutter, knowing there are children from the forefathers’ daughters who may have a child from Ares.

“It’s good news, right?” he asks, trying to judge my reaction.

I nod, smiling, and he sighs in relief. “I didn’t expect it, but I think I’m happy.”

He pulls me to him again, lying back. “I love you, Wynter. We’ll make this work.”

“There’s so much to consider,” I say. “And you need to find your mother.”

“I have some news about that.”

I brace myself, waiting for bad news, but he kisses me on the head. “The police have a report, filed twenty-eight years ago, about a missing boy called Ares Torez. They’re going to make contact with my mother, providing she’s still got the same contact details.

I gasp. “Oh my god, that’s amazing, Ares. You must be so happy?”

He nods. “I am. I have a name, a full identity, and when they told me, it felt right. It was like I knew the name, but I’d just forgotten.”

I can’t hide my happiness as tears fall from my eyes and drip onto his shirt. “I’m so happy for you. I can’t imagine what you’ve both been through.”

Ares

I straighten my shirt for the hundredth time, and Wynter laughs, tapping my hand away and slipping hers into it. I smirk, admiring her beauty as her beaming smile lights her face. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt this nervous and happy all at once.