“Excuse me. I need to freshen up.” She walked past me toward the exit.
Her horse shifted its ears, picking up on all the tension. I lowered my hand, watching Rutherford’s sister until her light dress disappeared from view.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
FRID
First thing in the morning, while Victor was still asleep, I was summoned to see Mahin. Ten minutes later I was washed, dressed, and followed Amira down the halls. The compound had several unique scents: freshly baked bread, honey, and the essential oils that I was starting to hate.
My head was spinning after a short night of sleep, plagued by multiple heavy dreams that followed one after another. Everything around me seemed surreal and gloomy as if I woke up on the other side of the walls, in the wastelands.
Amira led me through a part of the settlement I had not seen before. The walls were closely situated, and the leaves and petals of the vertically cultivated plants brushed against my compound issued dress. A slight buzzing sound bounced off the walls when I entered the spacious opening. Mahin stood with her back toward me. The sunlight from up above painted high contrast, dramatic lines on her tanned skin. In the strips of the golden glimmer, tiny specks of dust floated slowly in the air. In thedistance was a square shaped, wooden structure. Beside me, several bees landed on the velvety shoots of sky blue sage.
“Do you know that bees can distinguish faces? The Queen controls the hive just by her scent alone and when the queen dies, her children cling to her body, trying to be closer to her precious smell, unable to let her go. If there are any larvae left, the bees select them to become candidates for the new queen, and then they fight to the death. Magnificent creatures, so loyal and fearless. They fight to protect their home, ready to sacrifice themselves in the process.” She slowly turned toward me. “Do you have the information I asked for?”
“I need more time.”
“We don’t have it.” Her eyebrows furrowed.
“I need to get closer. I’ll go back tonight.”
Mahin stepped along the flower beds as if deep in thought. Her dark hair was pulled back in a tight braid. I could see her beautiful profile from where I stood. She was a very attractive woman, strong, and demanding, with a calm assertiveness about her. But I could tell that, deep down, her serenity was guarded by the conviction of superiority, not goodness.
“Not tonight. This night belongs to the goddess. Tonight, we worship our mother till the first morning star,” she added.
“Tomorrow, then.”
“Tomorrow,” Mahin said in a soft, velvety tone.
I met her gaze. Her eyes were full of secrets, and I was not sure I wanted to know what she was thinking.
I stood in the center of the decorated cave. Every wall was embellished with the already familiar lanterns that illuminated the dark crevices with a subtle, cool glow. In the middle of the floor was an elongated body of slowly moving water that came from under the wall and stretched all the way through the cave. The entire opening was filled with sisters who wore light, flowy dresses tightened above their chests, and the males wore loose, long sleeve shirts. Everywhere I looked, there were garlands of flowers. Lavender and lilies that filled the air with the sweet scents of blooms and pollen.
I turned to catch Victor’s gaze. He looked so different in the new clothes, and his hair was even more unruly than usual.
“Are you still mad at me?” he asked.
“Why would you think that?” I pressed my teeth together.
“Frid . . .”
“Why would I be?”
“Frid?”
I turned away, not able to even look at him.
“I can explain.”
“Why would I care? I’m just endangering my life to get us out of here. And you’re living your best life, apparently.”
“You just . . . let me?—”
“Maybe next time it could be me... drinking and having sex, whileyoudeal with the Scars and crawlers?”
“I wasn’t?—”
“I don’t care. If anything, I’m glad we can put an end to that nonsense Alina and Ty were saying. Maybe I should stay with the sisters when this is over.”
