Page 117 of Mate
“I’m here because my grandparents joined Constantine’s father, and I grew up among the Favored. But . . . I understand that our beliefs can appear unorthodox.” I don’t point out that the clinical phrase would benuttier than banana bread. “Every society has its own idiosyncrasies. My parents told me Humans do odd, incomprehensible things all the time. They hoard resources others require to survive. They sometimes murder members of their own groups. They destroy the very place in which they live.” Her head tilts. “You were among them. Does that still hold true?”
“Oh, yeah. Big time.”
“See? And I’ve heard that other species are no better. Weres kill their babies for fun, imprison their women, and are violent and cruel to those who are weaker.” She must not notice my confused expression, because she continues. “I don’t know enough about Vampyres, but I’m sure they have their issues. My point is, the longer you remain with us, the deeper your understanding of our beliefs will be.”
Remain. “How many of y— of us are there left?” I feel a tinge of guilt at her delighted smile, but it’s too good a chance to find out more.
“About fifty or so.”
“Do you all live here?”
“No. This hideout is very close to the northernmost border of the Northwest, and to the Canada pack, too. We almost never use it. But we have better ones. Mostly, we live scattered, hideout to hideout. We meet often, but we cannot live clustered in a compound like we once did.”
“Why?”
“Because of the Harrowing. If the Northwest knew, they would come after us. Separate us from our families. Did you know that my grandfather has been in a Human prison for decades? I have never hugged him.” Her eyes shimmer with tears. “But we are getting stronger. We’ll grow our numbers again. Irene says that you’ll bring us visibility.”
My throat feels like sandpaper. “Is that her plan? Keep me here like a symbol of the Favored?”
“There is no plan,” Nele reassures me, her pretty face guileless.
“Come on, Nele. Did you not hear her downstairs? If nothing else, she’s using me to draw Koen here and hurt him.”
“Oh, no. You don’t know her.” Quickly, she comes to kneel beside my chair, taking my hand between hers. My gut churns.
“What does she plan to do to him?”
“Nothing! We’re not like that. We just want to live in peace, Eva. We abhor violence.”
“Youabhor— Nele, I was taken against my will. I was assaulted and drugged and— ”
“That’s different!” Her grip tightens. “We had to bring you here so that you could decide whether you want to be with us.”
“Idon’t,” I say sharply.
“But you don’t have all the information.”
“There is nothing that— ”
“You can’t be sure. You’ve only heard Koen’s side of the story. There are others. And when Irene reveals them, you might change your mind. See that he and his seconds are inhumane.”
We are not Human.Funny that if Koen were here, he’d probably agree with her. I shiver and pull my hand away from Nele’s to hug my knees. That’s exactly what I need— Koen, here. With me.
“I didn’t mean to upset you. I just wanted you to know that you are one of us. Will always be.” Her smile is apologetic. Young. “Irene sent me up to help you prepare for your Heat.”
“Prepare?”
“She said it’s coming soon.”
My stomach drops. My mind races with horrifying possibilities. “Prepare how?”
“The ceremonial markings.” She picks up a small jar full of a thick black liquid. When she holds it closer, I realize that it might be closer to a dark blue. Or green. “Don’t worry, the dye will stain lighter.”
“Stain . . . what?”
“Your skin. Are you not familiar with the tradition?”
“I’ve been a Were for about twenty minutes.”
