“Does it work faster than eating?” I ask. “I don’t know how to eat.”
“Let’s get you dressed, and we can go up. They have a meal prepared for us. I have been living on ration bars for six weeks, so I need real food as well.”
“Were you watching me as long as I was with Master Vinny?” I ask. “I don’t know what to call him now.”
“Soon, you can call him dead,” he says. “And yes. I first saw you on your walk to his home. I was in the home across the road the entire time.”
“Oh…” I say.
Zev stands, pulling me up, and the towel drops to the ground. He takes a long, deep breath and rests his hands on my shoulders. He strokes his thumbs across my collarbones. I watch his face as he scans my body, visibly fighting an internal war. He sighs and slowly moves his hands down to cup my breasts. He gently pinches my nipples before lightly squeezing them in his palms. Even with his large hands, they are hardly contained in his grasp. I feel relaxed with his hands on me, even as they slide down my body to my hips.
He presses his thumbs into the bends of my hips, and I gasp softly and lean into him. He doesn’t let up until a small moan slips out. He instantly snaps out of his daze. “I’m sorry,” he whispers.
“It’s alright,” I say. “I still want to stab you, but I’m not afraid.”
“I can accept that,” he smiles. “You really should get dressed before I lose my self-control.”
“Good idea,” I say.
Zev steps back and helps me into a thin white shirt and pants before leading me out of the room. We take the stairs up, and it’s bright again. My eyes adjust better this time, and I locate Ren among the group of people looking at me.
“Ah, he has self-control after all,” Ren jokes.
“Kinda,” I smile.
“I like you,” he laughs. “Zev?”
“Right,” Zev says. “Everyone, this is Astra. She is our newest extraction, and it appears she is also my life partner.”
“So, save her from getting power-fucked before she’s ready?” a woman asks, laughing.
“She doesn’t know what consensual sex is, Marta,” Zev says before turning to me. “Marta is my sister.”
“I understand some people want to have sex,” I say. “I haven’t really understood that until now.”
“Please, don’t say that,” he sighs.
“You are confusing, Zev,” I frown. “That’s probably why I still want to stab you.”
“I’ll fog his brain; you attack,” Marta says to me with a grin.
“I’m sorry… what?” I ask.
“Has no one explained abilities?” she asks.
“Beyond his minimal self-control?” I ask. “No.”
“Seriously, guys?” Marta scolds her brothers. “That should have been the first fucking thing you explained. Her abilities are going to start coming forward. Without an understanding, she could hurt someone.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” I ask.
“Genetically mutated humans have special abilities,” she says. “I can create brain fog, which essentially is like memory manipulation. We are all telepathic. Ren can manipulate electronics. Lyra can manipulate sound; that is how she was able to talk to you without getting caught. Zev has mind manipulation. He can read minds, manipulate thoughts, and alter emotions. For example, the guy who came down the stairs in the tower could have had his mind manipulated so that he would kill himself or go after the others who were trying to find you and kill them.”
“Oh, he can also control your brain functions that control your body,” Ren says. “Like… In your case, he could pin you down and make you come with his mind alone.”
“I… don’t know what to say to that,” I respond. “I’m not saying you’re insane, but… can you… prove it somehow?” I ask, looking at Zev.
“You need to clarify what you are asking before I assume,” he smirks.
