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“We like hearing your thoughts,” Turik said. “And you may be right.”
“I’ll mention it to Ryan before he goes out to help scout for a new location,” Vorx said.
“Does he need help with that?” I asked quickly. “I’d like to volunteer if he does.”
I wasn’t keen on leaving the safety of the wall, especially to wander around the countryside without the protection of a supply truck and a lot of fey. But helping establish a new safe zone might redeem me in a few people’s eyes. And it would definitely contribute to the wellbeing of the people in the current safe zones.
“I will ask Ryan,” Vorx said.
But he didn’t move to leave. Instead, he stared at me.
Uncomfortable but trying not to show it, I waited for him to say something more. When he didn’t, I glanced at Turik, who was also watching me. He nudged the bag of cheese curls, prodding me to keep eating.
“No, thank you,” I said as politely as possible.
I glanced at the light coming in through the windows. Though we still had a few hours before dark, it wasn’t likely anyone would scout for new locations today. However, that did give us time to make arrangements for tomorrow.
“Can we talk to Ryan today?” I asked, closing the snack bag and setting it aside. “And Mya and Drav? I’d sleep better knowing I’m allowed to stay here and have a way to offer something in return.”
Turik stood and put the bag away.
“You are allowed here,” Turik said firmly. “But we will go so you can hear it from Drav and Mya.”
“Thank you.”
Wishing I had Turik’s confidence, I followed the pair to the door and quickly put on my shoes and jacket. After my part in what had happened in Tenacity, the people of Tolerance had no reason to let me remain here. Hopefully, my willingness to help establish a new safe zone would give them one.
Tolerance no longer felt like a ghost town when we left the house. Fey roamed the streets and walked between dwellings. A few humans loitered on porches, too. Groups paused on sidewalks to chat, and the murmur of conversation hummed in the air.
The people who saw us nodded in passing. The fey stared at me, and I offered pained smiles in return, knowing full well that they were probably wondering what I, the wife of the fey-hater, was doing in their town.
It didn’t take us long to reach the house Turik said belonged to Mya and Drav. He knocked on the door, and I wiped my damp palms on my jeans.
The large fey who opened the door glanced at me first, then Turik.
“Shelby thinks we do not want her here and would like to speak with you and Mya.”
My cheeks heated as I endured Drav’s unblinking focus, and I wished that Turik would have been a little less blunt about our reason for being there.
“Every female is wanted,” Drav said after an extended pause. Then he gave credence to his words by opening the door wider so we could enter.
Feeling vulnerable and exposed, I entered his home.
“Mya is in the kitchen.”
The fey hung back, leaving me to make my way to the woman who was essentially in charge of all the fey. The young brunette frosted cookies on the counter near the stove. At the sound of my approach, she looked up with a questioning smile.
“Hi. I’m Shelby.”
“Ah. Shelby.” Her smile disappeared. “June told me about you. Come have a seat.”
CHAPTERSIX
Shame burned inside of me.While June had been forgiving about my part in breaking into her home and stealing her food, I’d known others wouldn’t feel the same way. Yet, experiencing that anger still stung painfully.
“Turik offered me somewhere safe to stay. I didn’t know he meant to bring me to Tolerance,” I said, speaking in a rush as I sat at the table. “And I understand why I shouldn’t be here. But Vorx mentioned that the fey are looking to set up a new place. Is there any possibility that I could help find one and maybe earn a second chance there?”
“Why did Turik offer you somewhere to stay? I thought you left with your husband.”
