I choke down my laughter as I follow him toward the hub of activity. There are nearly two dozen people in the square today. Some are standing around, smoking tobacco cigarettes, chatting. Others are seated, eating some kind of smoked meat that smells fantastic.
Nearby, a trio of men plays a dice game that I don’t recognize, while across the pavilion, I see several card games in progress. And one chess game. Ugh. I detest chess. Uncle Jim tried to teach me how to play, but I was terrible at thinking so many moves ahead. I’d always do something impulsive and get my ass kicked every time we played.
I remember learning in school that chess is one of the oldest games in existence, over fifteen hundred years old, but honestly…I wish we just left it in the Old Era.
As we enter the square that is actually a circle, I receive plenty of suspicious glances, and Gray’s voice is gentle as he speaks close to my ear. “Don’t take it personally. You of all people should know that Mods are wary of outsiders.”
“It’s fine. I’ve never been good at fitting in with either Primes or Mods.”
That’s what happens when you’re keeping so many secrets. When you’re spinning a web of lies with too many threads to keep track of. I kept secrets from Jim. From Wolf. From Tana.
When you’re always hiding something from someone, it means you can never be truly open with anyone.
I thought that would change when Wolf revealed himself to be Cross. I thought I finally had someone I could share every single part of myself with, but even now, I’m still keeping things from Cross.
“Gray!”
I snap out of my thoughts as a woman with chestnut-colored hair ambles over, a beaming smile stretched across her face. She wears brown sandals and a plain linen dress in a muted shade of blue. On the Continent, it’s difficult to find bright colors or patterns unless you’re one of the elites.
“This is a nice surprise! You didn’t tell us you were coming,” she says, pulling Gray into a warm embrace.
“Hey, Bea.” As he steps out of the hug, he introduces us. “This is Wren Darlington. Newest addition to the Dagger.”
Her smile shifts to me as she leans in to shake my wrist. “Welcome, Wren.”
“Beatriz is Luisa’s mother,” Gray tells me.
“Have you two eaten?” she asks. “Seth just let me know that lunch is ready.”
“Oh, I don’t know if—” he starts.
“You’re joining us,” she interrupts, her tone firm. “Especially you, Gray. You need to make up for all the meals you missed when you were in the city.”
Gray glances at me. “Hungry?”
We follow Beatriz to a small, cozy cottage at the edge of the village. It has a tidy patch of grass and potted flowers lining the front path. The aroma of cooking food greets us when we walk through the door. Smells like freshly baked bread and something garlicky.
In the main room, an auburn-haired man sits in front of a wood-burning fireplace. He rises to greet us, one hand resting on a wooden cane. His movements are stiff as he walks over to give Gray a quick hug.
“About time you paid us a visit. Lu says you’re always too busy.”
I’m introduced to Luisa’s father, Seth. He’s less friendly than his wife, but I suspect that’s just his personality. Fatigue lines his features, as if he’s seen some hardships, and from the way he moves, I sense he’s dealing with chronic pain, which is confirmed when he turns his head and I see the burns.
I do my best not to stare, but it’s difficult. The pink raised flesh runs along his left cheek and down the side of his neck, disappearing under the collar of his gray shirt. I wonder how far the burns go beneath his clothes. And as someone who dealt with burns her entire life, too, I know how painful they can be.
“We’re having rabbit for lunch,” Seth says. “Bea’s snares finally paid off.”
“Finally!” Beatriz echoes as she goes to the stove to check the food. “Usually those damn white coyotes beat me to the snares before I can collect my kill.”
“Oh right. Adrienne was telling me they’re a problem on this mountain,” I say.
“We’ve had a big pack prowling around these past couple of years,” Beatriz answers. “They must’ve had a few good litters, because for a while there, they were even coming down the mountain and hunting on the outskirts of the valley. Some were bold enough to walk right into the settlement.”
“Have you ever tried to domesticate them?” I ask curiously.
“Too much effort, not enough reward,” Seth says. “White coyotes are hard to train. Too damn stubborn.”
As we settle around the table for lunch, I can feel Luisa’s father warming up to me, especially as Gray regales them with stories about our time in the Program.
