I twitched, because I did know him. He'd graduated from sermon only a few years ago, but we'd spent years in the same classroom. He'd never really stood out to me either as cruel or handsome. In truth, I knew almost nothing about him except that he existed.
But the girl had heaped our plates with plants and fungus. It was the largest meal I'd had in memory, and my body craved it. Focusing on shoveling the food into my mouth without looking gluttonous, I almost missed the people making their way over to congratulate the newlyweds.
The sound of Gideon's voice made me look over. He was talking to the man who'd hit his bride, which seemed fitting somehow, but the girl? Her nose was dripping blood. She'd been forced to use the sleeve of her dress to staunch it, and it didn't seem to be working.
"What?" Tobias asked when I stared for too long.
I flicked my eyes at the girl, and he turned to see. The breath he pulled in was hard, but what could he do? The more we pushed, the more we'd get noticed, and yet I didn't want Puah to suffer alone. Her night was already going to be bad enough!
Then Tobias stood, pulling the handkerchief from his coat pocket. "Girl, you're destroying my appetite." And he passed it to her.
Terrified eyes darted to her husband first, but her hand reached out timidly. The man she'd married grunted, snatchingthe handkerchief from Tobias just to thrust it at his new wife. The girl took it, saying nothing, but her eyes shifted to me next.
"Be meek," I mouthed. "Women's facilities."
She dipped her head once.
That was all the answer I got, but she'd understood. I knew she must have, if only because she'd been beside me in line. And yet, seeing her made me worry more. Not only about my own fate - even though that was included - but about what would happen to everyone, how we could stop it, and all of this.
A few people did stop by to congratulate us. Ms. Lawton was one. Mrs. Worthington was another, with her husband at her side. He told Tobias he was impressed, and glanced at me in a way that seemed to be meaningful.
The last was a lean man with hair the color of pale gold. He clasped Tobias's shoulder and leaned in, offering us a weak congratulations, then told Tobias they'd talk about training in a few days. I recognized Sylis easier than I'd expected.
"The team is being rearranged," he said. "Harald will be a squad leader for a different group. This means we'll need to start work soon if we want to make our next hunt a success."
"The one that's been cancelled?" Tobias asked.
"No," Sylis said. "The one where I intend to have all my men make it back with enough to fill the larders. Iintendto get that promotion, Tobias, and your wedding is not an excuse to slack off."
The guy on his other side chuckled. "Give him a few days at least, Sylis. The man saved your life last time."
"Which is why he gets those few days for his honeymoon," Sylis said, glaring over at me. "Mrs. Warren. A pleasure, I'm sure."
"Yes, sir," I muttered softly.
Sylis hummed as if impressed. "At least one of those girls didn't lose her mind - or soul." He patted Tobias's shoulder again, then leaned between the pair of us to whisper, "Sorry."
I had no clue what was going on, but the boy I remembered had been too shy to speak that way. Tobias didn't look offended, so I could only guess they'd made a scene intentionally, but did they have to bring up Meri and Ayla?
Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, our meal was done. Many of the girls begged to stay a little longer, but when the first man left, Tobias looked at me and lifted a brow.
"Shall we?"
"I'm afraid I don't know where we're going, Mr. Warren," I reminded him.
So he stood, put the rod back into his belt, then offered me his arm. "I hope it meets your expectations, wife. Let me show you our new home."
I accepted his arm and let him lead me out. As we passed, people smiled at us. The men looked amused, as if this was the best joke. The women? Their lips curled, but their eyes were flat and almost glazed. I knew that look. It was the expected one, but with no heart behind it.
When we were finally alone in the halls, Tobias guided me deeper and deeper into the compound. "I didn't want to be the first to leave," he explained. "It would make it easier for the other men, and those girls..."
"Thank you," I mumbled.
He reached over, pressing his free hand over where mine rested on his arm. "Tomorrow, I'll have your things brought over. If there's something that shouldn't be seen, I can do it myself?"
"No, it's fine."
He made a little sound, but said nothing else until we were before a door. When he reached out to turn the knob, I realizedthis was where I was going to be living, but Tobias didn't simply rush in. He pushed the door open, then gestured for me to look.
