Page 33 of Wrath

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, andI’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.”