Page 52 of Conform
Should be able to make it for dessert. Apologies for being held up.
Phillip messaged me and told me you left
Emeline, what’s happened
All were sent before curfew while I was running. There were two from Lo.
You going to be back in time to talk?
Guess not . . . Can’t wait to hear about it tomorrow.
Every warm feeling I had found upon waking slipped out of my reach. I didn’t reply to Collin. Gregory hadn’t told me where we were going, but I assumed Collin waited at the end of this ride. Dread filled me at the thought. I sent Lo a quick message.
Last night was a mess. I’ll have to tell you later. I hope your yearly went okay.
I rested my head against the glass as my thoughts skipped from one to the next, leaving me dizzy.
“Please don’t hit the emergency button again,” Gregory quipped.
My eyes flew to him. “How did you know about that?”
“Lesson number one, little sister: They are always watching you. They are always a step ahead.” He stared out the roof, not even bothering to look at me. Had Hal gotten out of my living quarters unseen, or had the Illum found out? I could only hope that the metal cuff worked as well as Hal thought. Gregory’s off-key humming pulled me from my downward spiral.
“Why are you here?” I snapped.
“Well, I’m bringing you to your dear Mate, of course. While he has taken you on as his charity case or whatever it is the Illum is scheming, he can’t be seen in your area of town. Our baby brother is the biggest ass-kissing Illum lover there is, desperate to be promoted, so he couldn’t step away from work. And Richard is following in the footsteps of our father, who would have you eliminated rather than have anything to do with you. Wasn’t that what he said last night?”
I didn’t deign to answer that. “And our birth mother?” I asked. “Let me guess, too delicate to handle seeing how Minors live.”
“She isn’t delicate. You don’t know what she’s been through,” Gregory said quietly.
“Right, because life is so hard as an Elite woman,” I countered.
“You’re naïve and ignorant, so I will let that slide. For today.”
I crossed my arms. “How can Inotbe ignorant when no one will tell me anything?” When Gregory didn’t respond, I asked, “So why not send someone like me?”
“Like you?” Gregory asked. “Do you still think you’re like the other Minors?”
“I’ve been called a dying breed thanks to my visual defect,” I said. “But other than that, there’s nothing special about me.”
That’s not true,a small voice whispered, one that sounded like Alice. She had made me feel special, as if together we could form our own way in the world.
“You are unlike any of us now, even the Elite. It is why Father is so livid. Well, that and the fact that you still breathe,” Gregory said nonchalantly as he stretched his hand toward the roof. Was his mind still befuddled? “You’re an Illum’s Mate. Not just any Illum. The others stay locked away, ruling and judging from afar.” My heart picked up its pace as Gregory carried on. “You are the Mate of the Illum they send into the Elite to carry out their judgments and punishments. He is their Enforcer. There is no one like you, little sister, because there is no one like your Mate.”
“I don’t understand,” I admitted.
“I wouldn’t plan on that changing.”
I paused. “So . . . I’m not going to be eliminated? For my outburst yesterday?”
Gregory looked at me as though I had just sprouted another head. “No, Emeline. Quite the opposite. You are the property of the Illum, and someone has to pay for the mistreatment of you.” The hair on the back of my neck stood on end, unease settling into my bones. The property of the Illum. A vessel and property. “As the family fuckup”—Gregory spread his arms wide—“I get to do the embarrassing groundwork.” His eyes found mine, taking in my heterochromia. “Oh, sister, the horror.”
I held his gaze. “The horrors do not hide beneath,” I said, quoting his taunt from last night.
“Welcome to the family disappointment club,” Gregory said, glancing back out the roof. Rain had started to fall again.
“There’s a club?” I snorted.
