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“So babies are possible between our two species?” I asked, pushing back the panic by telling myself I had an IUD. I’d be fine.
“Yep. There are a few others who are pregnant too. But that’s not the best part. I’m not the only one immune.”
“Are you saying that the key to immunity is getting pregnant?” I asked, feeling a little sick. The idea of being forced to have kids made a cold sweat break out between my shoulder blades. I wanted to run. Hide.
Molev took a step toward me, and my head snapped in his direction. Whatever he saw on my face had him hesitating.
“Uh, no,” Mya said. “Another woman was bitten and took a test. She’s not pregnant, but she’s obviously immune too. Our theory was that sleeping with the fey was the key. But I think we proved it.” She stood. “Come on. There’s something you need to see.”
Drav helped her into her jacket, and Molev did the same for me. Only he stopped me from following them out the door and pressed his forehead to mine.
“Nothing has changed,” he said. “I will not force a role on you that you do not want. But I won’t give you up, Andie. You’re mine. Forever. No matter what happens. Do you understand?”
“I think we have bigger issues to deal with at the moment, don’t you? Sleeping with a fey for immunity is definitely going to motivate the women who’ve just arrived. But what about the rest of the people in the world? We still need a cure.”
He grunted and let me pass.
Mya was waiting for me outside and gestured for me to walk with her. We started down the road at a leisurely pace with Molev and Drav trailing behind us. Other people were walking around. A few faces were familiar mixed in with some unfamiliar ones. And a lot of fey. They stood off to the side, watching everything.
“Drav let my mom know about the people you brought when you first got here,” Mya said, noting my attention. “She and Garrett are working together to get everyone settled somewhere here for now. There’s more room over at Unity, our new settlement, but we need to give Ryan, my brother, some notice so he can get the houses and supplies ready. Until then, everyone will be safe, warm, and fed.”
“That’s what Molev promised them,” I said. One of the women stopped walking and waved a fey over from the side. I heard her introduce herself and ask if he had time to give her a tour of Tolerance.
“Oh, I like her,” Mya said softly.
“Why is that?”
“No hesitation toward the fey. That’s rare.”
“Maybe it was with the people here, but it won’t be with the people who arrived with us,” I said. “Almost every one has met and spoken to Molev. They understand what he’s trying to do and how important it is for us to find a way to live together peacefully. That’s why they’re here.”
She paused and glanced over her shoulder at Molev.
“And just like that, you’re forgiven for abandoning us when we needed you most, Molev.” She said it playfully, but I could see that weariness creep in again.
“Has it been bad?” I asked.
“It hasn’t been easy,” she said, moving again. “We found livestock, which really helped boost morale. But people are still afraid and desperate.”
“Not a good combination,” I said.
“No. It’s not. But we’re managing. We’re working together to find ways to support each other. We started doing classes a few weeks ago to share knowledge and skills. Bakers. Crafters. Cooks. We even have a knitting group.”
“Oh, you’re really going to like who and what we brought with us then.”
“Why’s that?” she asked.
“Since selecting the volunteers, they’ve been working hard to learn a skill. Anything that they wanted. Some learned what they set out to learn; some didn’t. But we brought books to help us fill in the gaps. Farming. Engineering. Electrical. Plumbing. Chemistry.”
“Wow. That’s impressive.”
We turned down another street.
“We tried to think of everything we’d need before we left. Molev said not to worry about supplies, that his people could find those, so my team and I focused on skills.” I glanced at her. “I know the fey are particularly interested in females, but we have a few trustworthy, good men with us too.”
“Don’t worry. The fey won’t discriminate against who they take in. As long as the person can accept the fey for who and what they are and don’t cause problems, they’re welcome here.”
I mentally cringed.
