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“What do you know of Braxians?”
I shrugged. “The standard stuff. They’re giants, warriors, clan focused, treat women like shit and are obsessed with honor.”
He chuckled. “That’s one way to put it. Do you know what they think of hybrids like Anton?”
The way he said that caught my attention. The memory of that asshole Gerwin came back to mind. He’d tried to needle Anton all evening at Sade.
“Gerwin didn’t seem to think much of him,” I said.
“Gerwin is an asshole and a waste of oxygen,” William snapped. “But Gerwin is only one of millions who think that way about Anton.”
How could they feel contempt towards Anton with his phenomenal financial success? As far as I knew, he was the richest Braxian of any clan, period.
“Braxians consider half-breeds a taint on their bloodline. While female half-breeds are allowed to live, the males are systematically put to death.”
What?
“But how is he here then?”
“For whatever reason, his father decided to spare him, in spite of his clan. But his clan wasn’t the only threat. It is considered sport to hunt down and kill half-breeds. That Anton managed to reach puberty is a miracle. Do you know how he and I met?”
I shook my head, blown away by these revelations.
“A little over sixteen years ago, I ran a smugglers outfit with some regular customers on Braxia. I had just concluded my business when I heard a commotion in a back alley. Two Braxian teens were beating a kid to death.”
I already knew where this was going.
“They were too intent hammering him to see me coming. That’s the only reason I was able to take them down. Already at twelve or thirteen, those pureblood kids were bigger and stronger than me. Aside from the element of surprise, they also didn’t have proper combat training. After running them off, I looked at the kid and realized he was a half-breed, not a human slave as I first thought.”
“Didn’t you get in trouble for attacking Braxian kids?”
William chuckled again. “No. They kept their mouths shut. Their clans would have shunned them for losing a fight to a human.”
Poetic justice.
“Didn’t Anton tell on them?”
William shook his head. “No, because they wouldn’t have been punished. Killing Anton would have given them and their clan bragging rights. His father was shamed already for keeping him alive.”
Those Braxians were crazy. If they hated him so much, why the hell did he want to please them?
“Anton had so many fractures and internal bleeding, it was a miracle he survived. However, I couldn’t bring him back to his house. His clan would have finished him off while he was defenseless. He stayed with me for a month while recovering. During that time, he thought of opening a club. I had the connections, he had the funds. A thirteen-year-old fucking kid...”
“So you went into business with him?”
“Yeah, kind of,” William said with a reminiscing smile. “At first, I just found him human women willing to come to that hellhole. He paid me a finder’s fee. The money he brought in saved his life.”
“No, you saved his life.”
William snorted. “Only that one time. He saved his own ass every other time. But his success is the one reason his clan shows him any respect, if you can even call it that. It’s more tolerance. What you girls did back on Jeruna could have gotten him killed.”
A silent tear ran down my face. Such pointless, extreme violence. And the living hell a child went through because his blood wasn’t pure. How was that even his fault?
“Anton devoted his whole life earning acceptance from his people. Woe onto anyone who jeopardizes that… even you.”
“But why does he even care? Anton doesn’t need them. He doesn’t even live with them.Theyshould be sucking up to him!”
“I couldn’t agree more, but you can’t expect him to change everything he’s built his life around overnight. Learn about Braxia, Grace. Learn their customs and traditions to protect yourself. Five months is a long time. You’re a good kid. While you may not agree with me right now, Anton is a good man.”
