63 #3
Silas clears his throat. “You could just make the offerings be able to freely participate. Not just the scholarship girls. It may give the Void extra girls to work with. Who the Elites spend their money on is their business. The girls like the attention and the money that comes with it. Hell,
they love the social status it offers them.”
Silas shrugs. I stroke my chin, contemplating.
None of them understand why I hate the Void.
They suspect Mortensen is involved, but that is the extent of it. My hatred for him runs deep.
Truthfully, I never gave a fuck about the shit that happened behind these four walls.
What I hated was what my father made me become.
The shit he forced upon me at a young age.
He robbed me of being a normal kid. Now my head is flooded with dark desires and tainted world views.
What's done is done, I guess. Val cocks his head.
“Wouldn't that just give them the idea that they could breed with whomever?”
“Nah.” I shake my head. “Most of the Elites follow the strict laws put in place. That shit has been around for generations. That's why so many Elites were pissed about Mortensen breaking them,” I explain.
Grey clicks his tongue. “So, are you not technically breaking them now with Clara?” he juggles his hands up and down.
I suck my teeth. He's not exactly wrong, but not quite right either. “Nah. It's a loophole. I cannot breed her. She'll never bear children. Marrying her is questionable at best,” I backpedal.
Zain clasps my shoulder. “Just don't let your impulses control your decisions.”
I hate when he implores me to see reason.
Him and Grey are one in the same. Quiet, calculating and observant.
They both possess the skill set to see things clearly.
“So you'll like . . . never have kids, then?”
Val fishes. He jams his hands in his jeans and leans back farther in the chair.
I rub my eyes with the heel of my hand. Of fucking course he opens his fat mouth, I'm not really cool with him diving into my private shit, or anyone for that matter, but especially Val.
I grind my teeth together, trying desperately to not bust him in the teeth again.
The fuckwad has no filter sometimes, but he does make sense.
I stole her ability to be a mother. All because I wanted to protect her, but also because I'm a selfish fuck.
I never wanted to be a father. Hell, even if I could, I would have sterilized myself to make doubly sure.
Zain slaps Val upside the head. “Fucking moron.” He mumbles under his breath. “What!” Val shrugs, looking innocent. He is anything but.
I blow out a breath. “So it's settled. We continue the Void as is. Whether or not Clara stands beside me is irrelevant. She is in this with me to the end.”
Everyone nods. Silas crosses his arms over his chest. “We're with you until the end.” Val stretches, seemingly bored.
“Well, this has been an eventful fucking day. I need to sleep. I don't know about you all, but I'm calling it a night.”
He springs up from his seat. “Tomorrow we will finish this conversation. Sleep on it or whatever, Kier.”
Val waves his arm. I roll my eyes. I suppose it has been a long fucking day. Maybe everyone needs time to just cool it before any more decisions are made. Everyone files out except Zain who lags behind. I've been waiting for an opportune moment to talk to him alone. No Vesper. No Clara.
“Z.” I catch his attention before he reaches the doorway.
He stops and turns to me. His brows raise in question.
“We have shit to discuss.” I cross my arms and sink into the chair Val just vacated.
“I'm sorry how much of a dick I've been to Vesp,” I start.
I am not the apology type and he knows it.
He chuffs. “Are you? Or is it because you now know she's your family?” He taunts.
I deserve that. I've been an asshole. Not that I give much of a shit about how I'm perceived, but I shake my head nonetheless.
“Nah, not because she's family. We've been through some shit man. She's an extension of you. I get that now that I have Clara. You know I'd always take care of her regardless, right?”
He nods. “Yeah. I know. I'd do the same for your girl.” He confirms. I nod. ‘Yeah man.”
“She doesn't blame you, you know. Me, either. If you didn't off him, I would have cut him up and laid his body parts around the school just for the shock factor.”
A wolfish grin falls over his face at his admission.
He gets off on the cruel amusement of it all.
Same old insane Zain. I throw my head back and an amused chuckle leaves my throat.
“A word of advice, even though you hate that shit. Don't be afraid to be open to her. Obviously keeping her in the dark for some shit is best. Or at least offer her the illusion she's included. Women need that freedom.”
My face twitches. I lean back in my seat. “Aww, going soft on me now?” I tease.
He rolls his shoulders. “Deflect. Figured you would. Do whatever you want,” he says, shrugging. He throws a hand over his shoulder as he rounds the doorway.
We may have a long way to heal together—if you can call it that. I'll never be “healed” or whatever. That shit doesn't exist. I can't be certain we will ever not be fucked up in some way, but I know it's a journey that we will make together over time.