Catastrophic Attraction - Eve Langlais Page 0,48
down, the boots that might hide one blade each, the long sleeves. “You’ll need a large-barrel gun, too, in case we need to punch a hole in something.”
“Anything else while you’re making demands?”
“Information. Who was your wife?” She pushed again, and the fire sputtered.
He went from relaxed to drumming his fingers on the arm of the chair. “Why do you keep asking?”
“Because I understand going after you. Your death means no threat to the Enclave in power. But there’s one thing that doesn’t make sense. Kidnapping Charlie.”
“Simple. They want to use her against me.”
“Do they? Here’s the thing, taking your daughter makes too many assumptions, the first being that you’re the type to give a damn.”
“Which I do.”
“But many don’t. Children are replaceable.”
“Maybe in the Emerald Kingdom, but here they are cherished,” he said harshly.
“Here, yes. But can you say the same in the city?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted softly. “What’s the second assumption?”
“They’re assuming you won’t snap and declare war.”
“I’d never do anything to put Charlie in more danger.”
“Do they know that?”
“I assume this is leading somewhere.”
“What if taking Charlie has nothing to do with you?”
“What would be the advantage?”
Did he deliberately play stupid? She asked, “Who are your parents?”
“Simple marsh folk.”
“I highly doubt they were simple.”
He smiled. “Now who believes the Enclave propaganda that says only they can make perfect citizens?”
Her nose wrinkled. “Are you trying to tell me neither of them had the Deviant gene?”
A light shake of his head.
“What of your brother? I thought I heard someone say today he’d come to visit.”
“Darius? He might have the gene, hard to tell. We didn’t grow up together.”
“Charlie called your brother a pirate. What is that?”
“I forget your education is sorely lacking. A pirate is essentially an ocean-faring version of a marauder.”
“In other words, he steals.”
“Not always. Sometimes he raids forgotten places for the treasure left behind. And when times are tough, he’s been known to bring back a catch to tide us through rough spots.”
“You respect your brother,” she stated.
“I do, just like you respect yours, even if you don’t always agree.”
“Tell that to the man currently moping somewhere in this castle,” she mumbled.
“Your brother is happiest when he feels useful. For a while, that involved caring for you.”
“When we stumbled upon Haven, it was a blessing. He had more than just me to worry about. But ever since we moved to the Outpost, I’ve been avoiding him.”
“Because you love him but having him around too much gives you the urge to shave his head.”
“Not exactly.”
He smirked. “I might have been projecting my own desires there.”
“With everything you’ve carved for yourself, do you ever worry about your brother trying to take it?”
He laughed. “Darius, rule over a kingdom? He’d run away before they finished handing him the crown. He’s quite happy on his iron ship with his crew.”
“I hope it’s bigger than the boats we have in Haven.” Her nose wrinkled.
“Much larger. You’ll see when we reach Port City. Perhaps even book passage and explore the islands. We could find lost treasure.”
She wondered if he realized what he said, implying she’d be around that long. “Maybe once this job with the princess is done, I’ll take a wander and explore. It’s interesting to me that travel is less restricted on this side of the continent.”
“It’s the port. You can’t have free people visit and not leave an influence. Luckily, the Enclave and their soldiers are mostly worried about the city. For all they care, the hamlets can fuck themselves.”
“You care.”
“I do.”
“Why?”
He didn’t give an immediate reply, nothing flippant. Rather he took the time to mull it over. “Because I remember what it’s like when there’s no one to protect the innocent. When soldiers think they can march into a village and sow violence. Take what they want. Hurt people. And I saw what happened when one man stood up to them and said no.”
“Let me guess, they were moved by his words and never bothered those people again.”
He glanced at her. “Actually, the Centurions slaughtered the man who said no, and as he begged for mercy, none would come to his aide. Not even his wife. Instead she hid away with their son and listened as he screamed.”
The story sounded much too personal. She frowned. “You were that child. The Enclave killed your father.”
“They did, for daring to tell them they couldn’t abuse a woman in our village. A girl really. He died for nothing.”
“Because they still raped her.” She understood how this harsh world worked. Apparently