She blinks hard. “I know that.”
The corner of my mouth twitches. “Well, I want to make sure you understand that we know it, too.” Ican’t resist leaning forward and pressing my lips to her forehead. “And there’s one other thing,” I mumble against her skin as it wrinkles with confusion. “Arrow told us.” I pull back, searching the sky blue of her eyes.
Lashes still laced with moisture flutter. “What do you mean?”
“You were the one who attacked Finneas in the woods.”
“Yes, but—” Her eyes grow wild with fear.
I bite down on my lip, wishing now that I’d gone about this differently. “We’re going to help you— The four of us.” The rest of my thoughts jam inside my throat for a second until I’m able to swallow. “We would do anything to keep you safe. I promise.”
She blinks, her lip trembling as she stares into my eyes. I’m unprepared for the tugging sensation in my heart that hits out of nowhere when she whispers, “I believe you, Cross.”
THIRTY-ONE
MALAKAI
The minutewe’re finally making good headway on the bridge, and the Collective says a few of us can be spared to get the spring planting done, the plan goes to shit. We’ve been on storm cleanup for what feels like forever today.
I take another minute to do a visual check of the basic integrity of the structure. This particular fence is meant to keep the animals from demolishing our crops. It consists of eight-foot wood posts set a few feet apart with a mesh wire running along the base, combined with lengths of barbed wire strung at higher heights. We can’t afford for small pests to burrow underneath or deer to jump the fence, so being certain it’s ready to do its job before we plant again is necessary, especially since this spring has been so fucking rainy and miserable. Surviving on canned food alone isn’t fun to think about.
Plodding along through the damp, muddy grass, Iglance a short distance away where Gannon and Rafe are trying to dislodge some tree limbs before tightening up the barbed wire. I scrub a hand over my face as I continue to survey the mess remaining to be dealt with and let out a disturbed breath.
At least when I’m assigned work like this, I can be mostly on my own. I prefer it, so I have time to think. And I’ve had a lot on my mind lately. Too much, really.
Continuing to hunt for spots where repairs are needed, I finally look past the wire and allow my gaze to settle on Delilah for a couple seconds. They’ve got her hanging laundry on the clothesline behind the main building.
As of earlier this afternoon, Cross says she’s physically fine, just had some cramping due to the removal of the IUD. Emotionally, though? He’s not as certain.
I absently chew on my lip as I watch her. What I notice most is the way she’s always on her guard. There are plenty of us outside this afternoon, and with every shout or loud noise, she flinches. Her furtive gaze scans the area. Anxiety is her damn middle name right now.
I can’t even blame her, and if I’m honest, it freaks me right the fuck out that the Collective hasn’t made any sort of move to punish her. I don’t know what to make of their apparent lack of interest since Cross and Nolan discovered the IUD, but it can’t mean anything good. It’s not as if they’ve forgotten… or forgiven. And how long do we have until they decide to lash out ather in repayment for what they consider the worst sort of betrayal?
Her position in this compound is precarious at best. How long can someone exist under this kind of pressure before they bend? Before they break?
“Malakai.” My father’s voice yanks me from my thoughts, and my head snaps up.
I eye Kiefer as he approaches, exhaling unsteadily while trying to hide my internal reaction. Even after years of living here, I don’t know if I’ll ever get accustomed to the feeling of unease that skitters down my spine in his presence or his blunt, brash ways. From the beginning, it was as if something inside me justknewto be cautious in my interactions with him.Today, his eyes are sharp, jaw rigid, and who knows what that could mean, but I’m positive I don’t want to find out. Not much I can do about it, no matter what he wants.
“Yes, Father?” I murmur, pulling my gaze from him, and tugging on some of the mesh with a gloved hand to make sure it’s secured to the post. My teeth grind as he stops at my side.
“I’ve been meaning to check in with you.” He presses his lips together, narrowing his eyes on me as he looks me over. “Lemme have a look at the back of your head.”
Oh. “Yes sir.” Grimacing, I pivot and automatically lift my hands to part my hair so he doesn’t bitch about the length of it again. At his probing, I close my eyes, waiting for his assessment.
He grunts a bit, then claps a hand on my shoulder. “Looks better.” His jaw works as I turn. “I have suspicions.”
Surprise jolts through me. “What do you mean?”
He drags in a breath, nodding as he stares into my eyes. “I believe it was Cross who hit you.”
Stunned, my lips part. I search his face, and his mouth draws into a nasty smirk. “It only makes sense,” he growls under his breath. Shrugging, he turns away from me for a moment, lacing fingers on top of his head. While he paces, my eyes widen, and I make an attempt at processing his comments, but—Fuck.I doubt it’s wise to open my mouth to ask questions. Instead, I stare at his back, willing him to turn around and explain how he reached that conclusion.
Misery washes over me as erratic images from that night flash through my head. The dark of the woods from behind my deer mask. The anxiety I’d felt for Delilah out there running from us. Adrenaline spiking dangerously in my blood. My heart in chaos as I panicked in my search for her.
And then… there’d been nothing.
Black.
