“Wait.” Tyson holds up his hand. “I’m getting confused too. Make it simple and explain it to us.”
I inhale. “My mother got pregnant with Evan—Bill’s son—their senior year of high school. He went into initiations the following year at Barrington. They ended up marrying their senior year after he was officially a Lord. That’s when she was given her assignment, and she failed.”
“So what happened to her?” Saint asks.
“She became a breeder.”
“What’s a breeder?” Finn asks.
I look at Haidyn. “Do you want to explain it, or would you rather I do it?”
He narrows his eyes on me, and I give him a smile, turning my attention to the rest of the Lords in the room. “My mother was a founder. And when a founder fails her assignment, she is given to the Lords as a breeder.”
“You’re a founder.” Saint’s words are more of a surprise than a question.
I look at Kashton and confirm. “Yes.” And I don’t miss the way his jaw sharpens. He wants to know things about me? Here’s a little something.
“What’s your assignment?” Saint demands.
“I don’t have one.”
“Bullshit.” He stands.
Kashton jumps to his feet, grabbing Saint’s arm. “Sit the fuck down,” Kashton warns him.
Saint huffs, rips his arm from Kashton’s hold, and falls back onto the couch. “Charlotte had an assignment, and it was Haidyn.” He barks at Kashton. “Sorry if I don’t believe her.”
Ryat leans forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “Bill told us that nothing is set in stone and the Lords can change the course of a founder. That’s why some of our wives didn’t have to complete an assignment for their initiation.” He nods to me. “So why do the Lords not want to give you one?”
“Because I’m useless to them.” My simple answer makes everyone frown. “We all must serve,” I go on, knowing I’ll have to explain myself. I’m in a room full of grown-ass men who kill without question but can’t understand what a woman has to say. “Their logic behind making you go without sex for three years is because they don’t want you knocking up random women who aren’t approved by their standards. That’s why, for the most part, your parents designated your chosen and your marriages are arranged. It’s to guarantee those at the top remain at the top. Forged empires.” They all look at me without an ounce of understanding. I want to roll my eyes, but instead I add, “I can’t have children.”
“Did Gavin or Devin tell you that? I’d get a second opinion.” Alex looks over at Kashton. “I have faith in you, Kash. Try harder.” He laughs at his own words.
“I was sterilized at the age of eighteen.”
Alex’s laugher dies and his face goes pale. “I’m sor?—”
“There is no ‘try harder’ or ‘second opinion.’ I can’t contribute to the society. Therefore, I’m useless and will not be given an assignment to prove I’m worthy of a Lord.” Especially a Spade brother. They are too important to be given a useless Lady.
“What does Evan do for the Lords?” Saint asks, moving on. He knows that what his brother and I are doing is just temporary.
This is where things are going to get tricky. If I tell them what he does, I’ll have to explain it to them, but I already knew I’d have to tell them everything. “He’s a trainer.”
“Like a gym rat?” Alex chuckles. “Maybe Haidyn can show him a few things.”
Everyone laughs, and I shake my head. “No, he trains men and women for Dollhouse.”
The room falls silent at the mention of Dollhouse.
“He worked for Isabella?” Haidyn growls.
I nod. “He did.”
“Not to sound insensitive, but what kind of training could a sex slave need?” Colton wonders.
“They pride themselves on having the best, and in order to achieve that…he takes them in—around-the-clock training is required.”
“So he fucks them?”
