Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 91775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
“So’ran the Bitter,” Rem’eb greets, his expression calm. “You look well, old friend.”
“I see there are rules for chief’s sons and rules for the rest of us,” So’ran drawls, crossing two arms over his chest. “Have you come to flaunt what you have amongst us? Was it not enough that you drugged us and fled with the stranger? Are you cursed now?”
“I have not returned to flaunt anything,” Rem’eb replies coolly. “And I am certainly not cursed.”
I want to speak up, but I know this isn’t my battle. All I can do is support silently.
“I am here because things must change,” Rem’eb continues. “We are stagnating, even as we scramble to save ourselves. But I have been above. I have been told all my life that it is forbidden, that those that live above ground are not to be trusted. That they are cursed.” He pitches his voice louder as he speaks, ensuring that those men that continue to creep forth from the huts can hear him. “I have lived amongst the people above for many hands of days now, and they are good people. They are not cursed, they do not wish us evil. They greeted me and met me with joy in their hearts. They fed those of us that left the caverns and clothed us, and gave us a home with them. They wanted nothing more than for us to flourish. To flourish, just like their people do.”
He gazes out at everyone.
“And they are flourishing. Their village is full of small children. Resonance is common amongst them. They happen more and more frequently amongst their people, and some couples are on their second or even third resonance amongst themselves. When was the last time that has happened amongst us?”
The village is silent. I can feel all eyes on our group, and I wonder what they think of Lauren and K’thar, here with their small son. I wonder if they even realize how much bravery it took for them to come with us to live with a potentially hostile people.
Rem’eb shakes his head and steps forward, addressing his people. I release his hand so he can go, and he pauses, turns back to me, and takes my hand, lifting it to his lips for a kiss. He smiles at me and then drops it again, turning back to the village and the men that watch him.
“We are stagnating,” Rem’eb tells them. “We have only a handful of small children in our village. Few of us resonate. We are doing something wrong. And we are going to change things.”
“That is what we have been trying to get you to see,” So’ran hisses at Rem’eb as he moves to his side. “Your father—”
“My father is chief, but even chiefs can be wrong,” Rem’eb continues, unruffled by So’ran’s anger. He gives the other man a friendly touch on the shoulder. “He has tried to protect us, but in doing so, perhaps he has caused us even more harm. Who worked with Kin’far the Exile to steal the people from above and smuggle them into our home?”
The men glance around, no one speaking up. Some of them look shocked.
“No one will speak up? Admit that they let the exile speak poison in their ears?” Rem’eb turns toward me and holds a hand out. I want to burst with pride, because he’s so damn sexy when he’s in charge. I love it. I step forward and put my hand in his again, and he gives me a heated, possessive look as he draws me forward. “This female was kidnapped and hidden away in the village. I was told that only I could see her. It was in the hopes that we would resonate, yet our khuis did not speak. They would not.”
He turns and faces the village once more.
“This was wrong,” Rem’eb continues. “And so I put sleeping leaf in the stew and stole her away once more. I returned her to her people, and the moment we were above, we resonated. It is as if our spirits were waiting for something. I think they were waiting for me to see the truth of how our people should live. Intermingled. Together. As families.”
And Rem’eb strides forward through the village, tugging me along behind him. He’s in full Badass Mode, being the leader he was born to be. I glance at the others as we leave them behind, but Noj’me has stepped forward, standing in front in case anyone gives them grief. Lauren shoots me a thumbs up from afar, grinning.
“Where are you going?” So’ran demands, jogging at Rem’eb’s side as we make our way deeper into the city.
“We are going to the wall,” my mate explains calmly. “And we are going to smash the doors open. And then we are going to live as we should.”