“There’s one more thing,” Sky whispers. “I’m not sixteen. I told the cops that, but I’m pretty sure I’m younger. Maybe fourteen or fifteen?”
“Oh, sweetheart.” I clutch her tighter.
Dot gives a snarl. “What are you looking at, cunts?”
The Guild girls are still watching.
“Fuck off,” Layla snaps. “Get the fuck out of here.” As they leave, she shakes her head. “Stupid bitches. The Guild are looking to fight. Tell Tally to get his ass in gear.”
Oh, shit.
I almost forgot to give Layla the message. “That reminds me. Tally is desperate to see that new Digger, Hector, for some reason. Can you organize that?”
She frowns, looking puzzled. “The Mexican kid, sure. Why does he want to see him?”
“Peruvian, not Mexican, and no idea.”
“OK, sure. Tell him I’m on it.” Layla turns her attention back to the shaking girl on the floor, her touch surprisingly gentle as she pulls her up. “Come on, Sky. Let’s get you dried off and dressed. Time’s nearly up.”
After getting sorted, Dot and I say our goodbyes to the group and head back toward the residential corridor we both live in. The air feels even colder now that our skin is damp.
“Bevan needs to get his fucking thumb out of his ass,” she grumbles, putting a heavy hand on my shoulder. “Promise him a blowy or something, Barbie. Anything to get that fucker back on his feet.”
I feel my cheeks heat up, and Dot chuckles. “Aw, bless. Don’t see many blushing virgins around here.”
“Fuck off.”
She’s so crass.
But as I walk back to my cell, I admit to myself that the flush on my face wasn’t just embarrassment. No, it was the uncomfortable thought that doing an intimate act like that, with Taliesin, isn’t…unappealing.
I flip the bird to her retreating back, but the damage is done.
The mental image of Tally and me—of me doingthatto him—is stuck behind my eyelids.
Motherfucking Dot.
26. TALIESIN
When François leaves for evening chow, he tells Aurora she has to accompany him.
I watch them leave, slightly confused.
Something was going on with Rory this afternoon. She hadn’t been able to meet my eye once. Almost like she was embarrassed. Was it something I’d done?
I sit in the silence and brood until Layla steps into the cell.
She has Hector, Imran, and Clay in tow. The beefy Peruvian sees me locked in the cage, then glances away looking uncomfortable. Imran smiles, then coughs. Clay just stands there, his jaw set, like seeing me beaten and behind bars is physically painful.
“Señor Bevan," Hector mumbles. “You wanted to see me?”
“I do. You can go, Lay, thanks. Clay, stay put. You too if you want, Imran.” The poor kid slides down to sit on the floor like his legs can no longer hold his scrawny body.
I wave Hector closer. “Sorry to keep you from chow time.”
“It’s nothing,” he shrugs, crouching down so his face is level with mine. Clay leans against the doorframe, keeping his eyes on the corridor, though I can tell he’s hanging on every word. Hector is silent, waiting for me to speak. I decide to just dive straight in.
“Tell me about the shifting. Tell me what it feels like to have a beast inside you.”
