He shrugs. “I doubt it. A lot of the women don’t.”
“Figures,” I mutter.
Out of all the guards, Alex is the best out of a bad bunch. He’s vile to the warriors, but he’s been nice to me, showing me how to navigate through the caves and how to stay ahead of Martha and get things done before she asks, to save a lecture. There’re two other girls like me who help Martha keep house. They also‘help the warriors prepare for ceremonies’. So far, I haven’t been asked to do anything like that, much to my relief.
Jaycee and Anna are quiet, but they work hard and seem like nice women. I’ve yet to ask how they’ve ended up here as we hardly have any time to chat.
“I have some business to take care of,” he tells me, and I eye him suspiciously. “Can you go to the butchers yourself?” he asks. I nod, relieved he won’t be looking over my shoulder. “Great. I’ll meet you outside the store in five minutes.”
I wait for him to rush off before I cross over to the bakers and go inside. Abel glances up and smiles wide when he sees it’s me. “Oh my god, I’ve been so worried,” he says, rushing around the counter to greet me. We hug as he asks, “Where have you been?”
“My father sent me to the caves,” I tell him, and his mouth falls open.
“I’m so sorry,” he cries. “I should never have asked you to come to the church.”
“It’s fine,” I reassure him. “Being down there isn’t so bad.”
“Your father asked to speak to me earlier,” he adds, glancing away.
“Why?”
“He wants to know how you got a Bible,” he says. “Why did you tell him those things? He knows about the smartphone and everything.”
“I didn’t tell him about that,” I say, confused. “And the Bible thing just tumbled out. You didn’t tell him anything, did you?”
He hesitates, and I grab his arm and give him a shake. “Abel, you didn’t tell him?”
“Not yet.”
“What does that mean?” I cry.
“He’s offered me something in return.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“If Livia has a child, he said I can marry her.”
I glare at him. “Are you crazy?”
“You know how badly I want this.”
“It’s all lies,” I yell. “He’d never allow Livia Garcia to marry a villager. You know this.”
“Her father was there, and he agreed.”
“Why would they go to the trouble of allowing a warrior to see if she’s worthy and strong enough to carry a child if they were going to let her marry you? She’ll marry Reginald Morales, and you know it.”
“I think you’re just angry because you’re in the caves.”
I grip my head and growl in frustration. “Don’t you see? He’s lying to get what he wants. He’ll make an example of Jade, telling the villages she corrupted me to make himself look better. You can’t say anything, Abel, promise me.”
There’s a tap on the window, and I turn to see Alex, who holds his hands up with exasperation. I head for the door. “I have to go, but please don’t mess it all up, Abel.”
I step out, and Alex glares at me. “What are you doing?”
“Just trying to get us an extra loaf to walk home with.”
He frowns. “You’re not in the Sanchez clan anymore, so extras aren’t allowed.”
