Chapter 18
Men Who Left and Didn’t Return
Maverick
Present Day - Grypheem
The room smelled of ink, bookshelves lining the walls and forming a crossed-shaped layout that allowed access from multiple sides.
A single mahogany table in the center that Maverick sat at, tapping his foot as he flipped through the book before him.
Maverick had been in this castle for just over twelve hours, and he had already found their library. Already begun to question everything about this country. There were so many pieces and parts that made literally no fucking sense.
If they were devoted to the cherished, why allow people to be created in labs?
Why not push sharing the Cherished instead of hiding them away?
Why did they originally send so many to Violencia?
Why were Cherished revered and also seemingly imprisoned in the same breath?
“This country is filled with poison.”
Maverick flinched. The words hadn’t startled him, it was the fact that Oleks was speaking at all. He cut his eyes to the man that lingered on the other side of a large oak bookshelf, just out of sight, but he had sensed his presence.
Oleks moved as if he weren’t walking, but gliding. The progression was liquid and silent, until he stood on the other side of the table looking down at the book in Maverick’s hands.
“They’re sent to Violencia. It’s part of their coming-of-age here,” Oleks continued. “But what those books might not tell you: they don’t always leave Violencia.”
Maverick had determined as much. “They’re what ruined Violencia. I can see the patterns.” Maverick flipped another page and his blood chilled. “How did they go unnoticed?”
I recognize this man.
Oleks inclined his head. “The elected Head Official of Violencia. The one with more power than he should have. Of course he would be part of the Luscinia royalty. Bribery and money goes a long way.”
Maverick found the section with more photos. The title was:
Men Who Left and Didn’t Return
He flipped through the pages rapidly, his eyes whipping all around.
Officials. Guards. Other places in the Government. Leaders of the Facilities.
The man who killed his brother.
He slammed the book shut, looking up at Oleks.
“We never stood a chance. A country of men who grew up without women, coming to ours. Fucking it up and trying to make it their own. Forcing their way into leadership, hiding their own stain on our country. An endless cycle of systemic abuse. And anyone who questioned it, anyone who defied it were locked up and killed.”
The Factions never stood a chance. They didn’t even know who they were fighting.
“They didn’t try, they successfully made it their own,” Oleks corrected, his eyes whipped around before leaning forward. “There’s more to it.” He spun around, grabbing a book off a shelf and slipping it into the coat he wore, offering a finger to his lips.
Maverick was barely able to catch the title.
Herbal teas.
He raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment further. Rustling came from behind him and Maverick jumped up, spinning around immediately on guard. He knew Ivan was lurking, and he had deemed to obtain a small blade that he palmed now, but then he caught sight of the newcomer.
He could not control the way his heart beat up his throat. The way his entire world shifted and brightened.
“There you are!” Raven quirked, her full lips glancing around the space, her head poking out from around a bookshelf, her button nose scrunched in amusement.
“I guess it’s no surprise to find you here.
But I didn’t think you would be together,” Levi shifted behind her, moving into view, his arms were folded across his chest as he stayed alert, his eyes skipping left and right.
Oleks floated forward first, wrapping himself around Raven, leaning into her and rubbing his cheek against hers.
For some reason, it didn’t bother Maverick. He had a begrudging respect for Oleks. He felt a synergy with him.
It was Griffin he despised.
Julian he distrusted.
Levi he wanted nothing to do with.
Enzo he…still hadn’t really spoken to.
Shame lived within him now, and it had nowhere to go, except into learning. He would discover anything he could, all the truths that these countries kept hidden. It would be his contribution.
“Hey Maverick, we were just about to get some food. Want to come with?”
Maverick met Levi’s gaze. Is it safe? They were wanted after all.
But he didn’t think Raven knew that.
“The castle is practically empty as they prep for the celebration tonight. There’s a dining hall tucked away with food I was told we should peruse, and we can all catch up. I know there’s a lot approaching, but we should take this rest while we can.” Levi squeezed Raven’s shoulder.
Raven turned to leave. “You coming?” she called back to him.
Maverick needed a moment to compose himself, to get his desires and wants and needs under control. To accept that Raven wasn’t his at all. That she was going to be married to two other men. And while there might be space for Oleks and Levi by her side, he doubted there would be for him.
“Yeah, one second,” Maverick said.
Oleks came to a halt behind Raven, he fully spun, his eerie gaze taking in the rest of the library, the overstuffed shelves, the single table in the middle, the discolored walls, the lingering shadows.
“No. Come now.” He grabbed hold of Maverick’s wrist, not offering a choice, and began to drag him down the hall and out the door.
Just as they were through it, something begged Maverick to look back, and when he did, he saw the table was empty.
The book he had been flipping through… It was gone.