From across the table, Cross studies him, lips pursed. “You okay, Ev? Tell me if you’re not.”
My brow furrows.What did I miss? Why do I suddenly feel in the dark?I glance at Arrow, but he shakes his head, also bewildered.
Concern flows through me as Evren shares what can only be described as a pleading look with Cross. “I’m good.” Sighing, my friend nods in acknowledgment of whatever Evren’s silent request is.He knows something.Arrow’s brother stands, only sparing the rest of us a quick glance. Then, to my astonishment, the young man hurries from the room without saying another word like his pants are on fire.
The entire exchange leaves me with a distinctly disturbed feeling in my gut. My gaze settles on Cross, who simply shrugs.
Perplexed, I rasp, “You’ll tell us what that’s all about later.”
“Twenty-Three,” my father booms. We fall silent again as the command in my father’s voice grows sharper. “Look at me. Now!” he bellows.
We can only assume that she did because his tone changes to something husky and low as he grits out, “Hopefully you spent the last twenty-four hours thinking about all the things you should do—but especially what you should not do in the future—so that we can all coexist in harmony.” I imagine her standing there, head bowed and eyes trained on the floor. “Harmony is what you make of it, Twenty-Three. It can be as easy on you as doing what we request or as difficult as us whipping, beating, or fucking you into submission. Your choice.”
“Doesn’t have to be hard,” Henry grits out, “but I guarantee you, we won’t mind if that’s how it goes.”
Kiefer’s manic chuckle sends ice sliding down my spine. “I’m actually looking forward to demonstrating how I’ll shut her pretty mouth the next time she steps out of line.” A slapping sound has me sitting up straight. My eyes dart to Malakai’s. He’s gone white as a sheet. Beside him, Cross looks down and shakes his head.
There’s some murmured talk that’s too quiet to hear, but I do catch one word—cunt,specifically—and a mumbled response from Henry, I think. But it could have been Nolan. I grit my teeth. Fuck, I wish I could be in that room with Delilah. Anger seethes and bubbles inside me, and it’s all I can do not to bust into that motherfucking so-calledsacredspace andmake them feel even an ounce of the fear I’d seen in her eyes.
Arrow’s hand on my shoulder stalls me from acting on that wild, stupid impulse. I rake my hand viciously through my hair in frustration as a scuffling noise meets our ears, followed by some grunting and a quiet oath. From the corner of my eye, I glance at him as my breath comes hard and fast. We have no way of knowing what’s actually happening in that dungeon of a room.Are they touching her? Hurting her?
“There are plenty of ways to ensure you don’t end up in this position again.” Kiefer’s low voice is laced with amusement. “Unless, of course, you are the sort that likes our corrections. We don’t mind that at all.”
We’re used to the Collective being crude with the women, but it sounds as if he genuinely enjoys the idea of punishing her again. I don’t know why that surprises me. It shouldn’t. And what truly grates on me is that corrections are supposed to be about teaching a lesson. It shouldn’t be pleasurable to anyone. Not the receiver or the giver. I bristle, my jaw clenching. From the sound of it, though, no one seems to care.
“That’s right.” My father’s chuckle is disturbing. “The only way forward for you is to prove to us that you can be an asset to our community. That you can behave in the manner described in our literature. We expect you to abide by our rules and uphold our traditions without complaint. You’ll be back to your duties again today. Make sure you step up. Twenty-Twocould use the help. The others are… otherwise occupied right now. Doing their duty to the Collective. One day, perhaps you’ll be as useful.”
My eyes dart to each of the guys. It’s difficult to tell what any of them are truly thinking, but it’d seem we’re all holding our fucking breath while we wait for whatever’s next.
“She needs to be reminded of all that she owes us,” Kiefer growls. “She isn’t where we need her yet. Hear that, Twenty-Three?” There’s dead silence before he barks, “Look at me when I address you.” A soft whimper meets our ears, and my heart stutters. Across from us, Malakai’s fingers grip the edge of the table so hard the tips turn white. Cross rubs a hand over his tight jaw.
“Very well.” My father’s voice lowers. “Follow. Without question. Without hesitation. Every rule. Every command. You are bound to us. And if you obey, we will give you everything you need.” More movement. A grunt of approval—from my father?Fuck.
One of them clears his throat roughly, picking up the thread. “Honor. You treat us with respect.” It’s Henry. “No more of this acting wild like a banshee ridiculous bullshit. It’s unbecoming of one of our women. And not how they are to behave.” His voice is clipped. Meaner sounding than usual. A board creaks as if they are moving around in there, and my imagination becomes a crazed, horrifying place.
“Nourish. You will treat your body as a temple inpreparation for the day you bear one of our children.” Nolan huffs out a soft, menacing laugh. “I see what you’re thinking right there in your insolent eyes, but soon you’ll understand how important this is.” Delilah gasps, and there’s an audible shuffle.A struggle?I have no idea. I rub a hand over my face. In my mind’s eye, they’re wrestling her to the ground and doing unspeakable things to bring her to heel.
“Kneel,” Kiefer commands, his voice rasping over the word. Delilah cries out, a quiet, terrified sob drifting out to us. “You bend to our desires. Submit yourself to us, mind, body—every part of you. Right down to your very soul. You’re ours. Life will be better for you the moment you accept this is how it will be. This is the way.” Then a moment later, he snaps, “No. Get the fuck up.”
I swear I hear her saydon’tand immediately tense, waiting for whatever follows. A shuddering exhale falls from my lips, and the four of us stare at each other for several seconds before heavy footfalls approach and the door opens with a creak. Delilah stands on the threshold, shaking.
I do my best to control the exhale that meanders from between my lips, to hide my true thoughts, and don a mask of indifference, forcing my features into a nasty smirk as I nod at my father.
“Walk,” Finneas barks, a hand on her shoulder, fingers digging into her flesh. She immediately complies. It pains me to see her so clearly beaten down, but… it’s for the best. For now.
I turn my head toward Arrow so that none of the Collective can see what’s in my eyes.
Murder.
The quiet that has descended among the four of us is stifling. It’s as if there’s simply not enough air for anyone to breathe, and not a single word is uttered as we trudge at a snail’s pace from the building and head for the river.
I’m certain our fathers will be following in a short time, but once we clear the tree line, I stop and whirl around to face them. “We need to talk about what just happened.”
“Because it’s going to change things?” Malakai rolls unimpressed eyes at me. “You act as if this is something new when, in fact, the reality is our fathers have always, always led like this.” He pauses, dampening his lips before continuing. “With a stern hand and by striking fear into anyone who dares question them or goes against their outlandish ideas.”
Cross’s brow arches, but his lips press together. Arrow simply looks away.
I drag in a swift breath. Because Malakai, for as much as he’s a pain in my ass, is not wrong in his assessment.
