“Mind your own business.”
I only grinned wider and leaned my elbows on the table.
“You are my business. Did you spend the whole time making out, or were words actually exchanged between kisses?”
She scowled at me.
“We talked the whole time. Uan took me to the wall where I could shoot and be useful. He’s a great listener and makes me feel—”
Her tired surliness faded into true sorrow.
“Talk, Mom,” I said gently. “Don’t shut us out.”
“He makes me feel like a whole person. Like your dad did.”
“Then, I approve,” Zach said. “Of Uan and of your choice, Mom. Dad wouldn’t want you to face any of this on your own. You know that.”
She nodded, giving Zach a sad smile before turning to me.
“You have my support as well,” I said. “You were happy last night. That’s worth fighting for.”
“Good. I’m glad you feel that way. I want you to stop by Cassie’s on the way back and ask about birth control.”
“And, I’m out,” Zach said, quickly moving toward the door. “I’ll see you at the wall.”
“Chicken!” I called after him.
Mom set her hand over mine.
“Be careful today. Come back to me in one piece.”
I stood and kissed her cheek.
“This is just guard duty, Mom. I stand on the wall here all the time. It’s just a different wall. Besides, I’ll be safe on the wall in daylight.”
“That’s what we thought last week.”
I gripped her hand and nodded. Nothing was ever safe anymore. But, that didn’t mean we should just stop trying to live.
After leaving the house, I jogged to catch up to Zach. We followed the sidewalks in the pre-dawn light, heading for the north section of the wall. There were almost a dozen humans already gathered there and even more fey.
Ryan, Mya’s brother, noted our approach and waved us over to the human group.
“I’m glad to see you two here.”
“Thanks,” Zach said. “We’re happy to help out.”
“Let’s hope we still feel that way when we’re done today,” Ryan said. “I heard things aren’t going very well at Tenacity. Our reception may not be as welcome as we think.”
“After the way they acted here, I’m not expecting much,” I said.
There was a reason Mya and the fey created Tolerance instead of staying at Whiteman: the Whiteman survivors hated the fey. It was an insane prejudice, just because the fey were different, and one I couldn’t understand. The fey weren’t just nice. They were nice to the point that it would be easy to use them for self-gain. Which is what some of those people had tried doing.
Ryan grinned at me and nodded in agreement.
“If we stick together, we shouldn’t run into any problems,” he said.
“Brenna will not have any problems,” a familiar voice said behind me. “She will remain here.”
Even as my throat dropped to my stomach with dread, I pivoted to face Thallirin. This was just like two days ago when he told me to get in the house. I’d listened then, and because of it, he seemed to think he had some kind of control over me. He needed to be set straight.
He strode toward the group, each step accentuating the domineering confidence that had been a pain in my ass since the moment he first saw me. I’d already told him, in no uncertain terms, last night that I wasn’t interested. Why wasn’t that enough?
“Will I stay here?” I asked. “I don’t remember making that decision for myself.”
Thallirin’s gaze flicked to me. Not a hint of what he was thinking or feeling showed in his expression. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. He looked as deadly as ever.
“It is not safe outside the walls. You take an unnecessary risk leaving.”
“Since the earthquakes, everything is a risk. That doesn’t mean I should sit in a house and stop living.”
“You will not sit in a house. You will guard the walls and live here.”
Unable to believe what I was hearing, I glanced back at Ryan. He raised his hands, a clear sign he wasn’t going to get involved.
“Do you see any other females in this group, Brenna?” Thallirin asked, reclaiming my attention. “There are no females because no male would allow that risk.”
“I heard that you learn words the moment you hear them,” I said. “Here’s a word for you. Chauvinist asshole.”
“That was two words,” one of the fey bystanders said.
“Your anger due to the facts that we are stronger, faster, more agile, and resilient is misplaced. I do not think less of you for your weaknesses. I only seek to protect you because of them,” Thallirin said.
“He doesn’t get it,” Zach said.
“Obviously,” I said. I shook my head and turned away from Thallirin. “Whatever. I’m going.”
“No one will take you,” Thallirin said.
Ignoring him, I looked at Ryan.
“I can run a six-minute mile. I’ll meet you there.”
A growl rose behind me, and I felt a rush of cold fear. However, I knew better than to freeze because of what I felt. Turning, I glared at Thallirin.
“Animals growl, not intelligent people capable of communication.”
“I am communicating, and you are choosing not to listen. It is dangerous for females outside the wall. You will remain here.”
“Communicating means that both parties speak and listen. It doesn’t mean giving orders and expecting the other party to obey. You’re not my parent. Stop trying to tell me what to do.”
He took a menacing step toward me.
“Sorry I’m late!”
Thallirin paused at the sound of the female voice. We all looked at Angel jogging our way. Although I’d heard the news that she was about six months pregnant, she didn’t look it. But, it was hard to tell with all the layers she wore.
With a smile on her lips, she stopped beside Thallirin and looked at me.
“Hey, Brenna.”
“Hi. I’m glad you’re here. It’ll be nice to have some female company.”
I looked pointedly at Thallirin.
“I’m so relieved. When I heard you might be going to Tenacity, I didn’t think teaching a pregnant lady archery would be as adventurous.”
“What?”
She glanced at Thallirin.
“He didn’t tell you?”
“Oh, he told me plenty, but nothing about archery lessons. Let me guess. This is an excuse to keep me safely inside the walls where Thallirin can continue to stare at me like a creepy pedophile stalker?”
His face darkened, and I knew I’d struck a low blow because all fey were super sensitive about this underage thing. However, I couldn’t bring myself to care. The fey were the ones hung up on my age, not me.
“I think we better go,” Ryan said. “Maybe next time, Brenna.”
“I’m going,” I said firmly. “I’ll be home by dark, Angel. If you want to stop by my house, I’d be happy to teach you then. Although, I’m sure any of the fey would be able to teach you just as well.”
I didn’t miss the way she caught Thallirin’s arm as I turned to go. Her soft words burrowed into my head as I followed the group to the wall.