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“Could’ve offered us a ride to the city,” I grumbled.
“It’s not far, maybe a mile or so to Capitol. Where do you need to go within the city?”
I wanted to see Dmitri. I was supposed to go to the Hall to report.
They should be back. It had been long enough. I might be rationalizing, but I really wanted to see Dmitri. I yielded to the impulse.
“Representative sector, Section DU2389,” I said. The letters represented the neighborhood within the sector, while 2389 was the house number. “I’ve never come this way. Do you know how to get there?”
“Indeed.” Teeth flashed white in his smile. “Nice neighborhood.”
ChapterTwelve
ALYS
Walker and I walked down wide avenues trimmed with trees and flowering shrubs, all drenched in sunshine in a way that was almost surreal. A place weaved with magic to look like utter perfection… and a place I knew too well.
When I recognized the area, my heart ached. My son lived around here, so close to me I could be with him in moments. I wanted to see himnow, even though I was filthy from my time Outside.
I just didn’t want Walker to meet him, to know anything about this side of my life, at least anything more than my file told him. As much as I enjoyed my time with the man, we needed to part ways. At least for until I was done seeing my child.
Trying to keep my voice casual, I looked up at Walker. “I can find it from here.”
The distinctive landscaping I paused in front of was a neighbor’s. Ridiculously expensive; they liked tropical plants and used exterior heat to keep them alive, even when the temperatures dropped. Capitol paid the weather witches’ fees, and the city enjoyed endless good weather. Never too hot or cold, and it only rained after dark, unless scheduled otherwise. The bad weather got dumped Outside, and the really bad effects were felt by places that couldn’t afford to pay. For every change in the weather, somewhere else suffered.
Not that these people cared.
You didn’t live in Capitol if you weren’t wealthy. Even the lowest-ranked button pusher who shared an apartment was rich when you compared their lifestyle to that of people living Outside. The implication that Walker lived here was the worst thing I knew about him. I mean, at least that’s what I assumed, given the fact that he’d had us dropped here.
“Would you be interested in continuing?” He left the question open.
Distracted by how close I was to Dmitri, it took me a moment to understand the implied meaning of his question. Then, reality came crashing down, bringing with it all the reasons us being together couldn’t work. A strange pang rang through my heart, because my thoughts couldn’t come up with one reason that anything real between us could be possible. Now, I just needed to find a way to explain that to him… something that should be more than a little obvious.
Taking a deep breath, I decided that it would be best to just be open and brutal with him. I touched the onyx. “You know what this means.” My tone was flat, seasoned with a pinch of bitterness.
“It’s… uncommon,” he said. “Yes, I’m aware of what it signifies.”
Ignoring his answer, I spelled it out. “It means I had a death sentence commuted to serve the Halls. I shouldn’t have approached you back in Otero, but you’re tempting and I wasn’t being monitored. Here? It’d land your ass in trouble and you’d never be able to shake the monitoring and the counseling, since you’re fucking a murderess.”
I firmed my mouth and clenched my fists. I wanted this, I wanted someone I could be intimate with, but I also knew it wasn’t going to happen. Better rejecting than rejected.
“I… see.” He didn’t appear shaken, which surprised me less than it should have done. How did he manage to be so calm without drugs or alcohol?
He lifted my hand to his lips in an old-fashioned gesture. “If you’re willing, I’ll consider taking the risk. Are you willing?”
I snorted. “Sure. If you want to ruin your career and business relationships and deal with Capitol’s security, far be it from me to say no.” I did run my fingertips down his face. The leather of my gloves was thin enough for me to feel his cheek flex in a smile.
A fool, but a likable one.
“So, where can I find you?” He mirrored my gesture.
Also, a persistent one.
“I live at Representative Dumont’s house when I’m in Capitol, and I’ve been assigned quarters in DC: the swamper village near the Anacos river.”
“I’ll see you soon, then.”
I watched him walk away not sure that I would. Still, I enjoyed the view of his fine ass and the strange feeling in my stomach. It wasn’t just longing, but I wasn’t sure what else.
