The man shook his head. “Idiot.”
“Yes.” I nodded, still grasping for brain cells.
His eyes narrowed, and I grinned, holding my hood to my head so it wouldn’t fall back.
He finished his glowing drink. “Good luck, brother.”
“You too,” I said with the two brain cells I’d managed to find.
He stepped away from me, already heading back to the bar, and my hormones calmed.
“Stay away from him.” Brody kept his voice low. “All men. But him more than anyone else here. That’s Cayden Lawson. A son of incest, who sacrifices virgins to his monster Sun God.”
I eyed Brody skeptically before noticing the wake of fear and distrustful looks following the underwear model. He ignored them and took a seat at a small table meant for one next to the bar. Every man inthe room waited for him to settle before they resumed their conversations. And it waseveryman. I didn’t see a single woman.
Hope and the chancellor had told me to ‘blend in,’ and the gravity of that statement bent my shoulders. I took a long breath in and out. My entire life, my only goal had been to be more like everyone else. Dad told me to blend in over and over. Now, even Miss Q deemed it essential in this fucked up dream.
Was that really the point of life?
“You don’t know what the tremors are,” Brody said. “You don’t have any family with you or resources. You’re alone…” He trailed off.
I sucked down the last of my drink, not liking where this was headed. “Look, how about we finish the tour? You can show me my new living situation and get back to your friends.”
He leaned forward, his face serious. “You must consider me.”
I blinked. “Consider you for what?”
“A suitor,” Brody said, reaching for my wrist as I had his.
I snatched it back before he could touch my skin. “I just met you. I don’t know what that word means here.”
“It’s a contract between women and men promising safety, kids, a future together.” Brody’s voice grew deadly serious. “It’s the start of a new family. You’re powerful, Quinn.” He clasped his fist to his gangly teenage chest. “You can have as many suitors as you want, but I promise, I’m right for you. I can feel it in my soul. I can help you.”
The pit fighter's words echoed. Women were priceless and valued for their fertility. Brody barely knew me, and he was already talking about our kids.
“No,” I said flatly. “You’re a teenager and you don’t know me.”
Brody sat back, his desperation giving way to calm confidence. “Promise to at least consider me, and I’ll fill you in on the tremors, on everything…and I won’t tell everyone you’re a woman.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Tell everyone. They’ll find out anyway.”
“Do you think that pit fighter will be around if someone bigger than me grabs you next time?” Brody asked.
My blood turned to ice. My previous delusions laughed at me. Proving Brody’s point.
“I want to be your friend.” Brody leaned toward me. “I want to help. That’s it.”
I shook my head, dislodging memories of things that didn’t happen, dreams brought on by my surgery.
“I want a chance to be one of those friends,” Brody almost pleaded. He glanced over my head, and the color drained from his face. “We need to go, now.”
I followed his gaze to see a trio of men standing from their table with their gazes glued to me. It didn’t take a scientist to know they were looking for someone new to pick on. I could spot that look from a mile away. Despite everything Brody had done, I let the kid pull me out of the Happy Rooster and back into the gray, fog-muddled world.
Chapter 3
Ezra
Someonewasinmygym.
