expert help.
“I will see you at dinner,” Uan called as I jogged away from the wall.
I debated between going to Mya or going to Eden. Mya was sick, and I hated to ask for her help when she wasn’t feeling well. But, I didn’t want Eden thinking my request for help to set the fey straight had anything to do with what had happened in the bunker. Because it didn’t. Well, not the way she would probably think.
Turning the corner, I saw more than the usual number of fey lingering on Mya’s street. They watched me approach her door and knock. A moment later, Drav answered.
“Hi, Drav. Can I talk to Mya?”
He grunted and moved aside. He was a good guy. Easy to like. Which was a good thing since he was in charge during Molev’s continued absence.
Stepping through the door, I saw Mya and Drav weren’t alone. Matt Davis, the man in charge of Tenacity, sat in the living room along with Eden and Ghua.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” I said, already retreating. “I’ll just come back—”
The door closed behind me.
“Stay,” Mya said. “These aren’t closed meetings unless you ask to see my baby. Then, I’m kicking you out.”
I grinned and shook my head.
Since announcing her pregnancy, Mya’s fame among the fey had gone from protective-sister-they’d-always-wanted to baby-bearing-rockstar.
She gestured to a chair and focused on Matt.
“The fey are helping,” Mya said. “Without their escort, Tenacity would have no supplies.”
“You’re right. And I’m not asking for more fey help. You and I agreed that after the walls were up, humans would be responsible for standing guard. That’s why I’m here. I’m looking for human volunteers who would be willing to take on a few guard shifts at Tenacity so I can send more people out for supplies.”
I unzipped my jacket and took a seat as I listened.
“If everyone were able-bodied, I’d have the numbers I need for guarding and supply runs. But I have kids. Elderly. Injured. And, I’m not asking for volunteers permanently. Cassie’s trip to find her son proved there are still survivors out there. With the planes still on base and some fey help,” he added with a cringe, “we can start looking for more people. Bolster our numbers.”
Mya remained quiet for a moment, glancing at Drav then Eden. Eden shrugged, but I could see she wasn’t overly interested in helping Matt.
“Any trouble since settling in?” Mya asked him.
“None. I established a seventy/thirty system for supplies. Anyone who goes out keeps seventy percent of what they bring back, and thirty percent goes toward the community storage, which feeds those who can’t go out. But, I have more who can’t work than those who can.”
Eden snorted.
“Don’t forget those people lived here with us. I think you mean won’t work, not can’t.”
Matt said nothing. He didn’t need to. The weary droop of his shoulder said enough.
“Fear is as debilitating as many physical ailments,” I said. “Can’t. Won’t. If you put either of those types of people outside the wall, the result will be the same. People will die. It makes sense that you don’t want to risk those who are actually willing by forcing those who aren’t.”
Mya nodded.
“It doesn’t change Matt’s problem, though. Or my answer. If we keep enabling them—”
“I know,” Matt said. “It will only get worse. Yet, I can’t stand by and just watch people starve because they’re too afraid to do their part.”
I understood why Mya was refusing to allow the fey to help. They’d give up anything to possibly impress a female survivor. Even their lives. I saw their longing on a daily basis. They lingered for even a scrap of feminine attention. It wasn’t fair that so many of the humans at Tenacity were willing to use that to get the fey’s help. Especially when the majority of the Whiteman survivors had made their negative feelings regarding the fey very plain.
However, the humans living here were a different story. We liked the fey. We were able-bodied. And we didn’t need Mya to protect us from being used by the other camp.
“There are a lot of good people here, in Tolerance, who’d be willing to take a few shifts if you let them know what’s going on,” I said, thinking of my family and Mya’s brother.
“Fine,” Mya said. “We’ll put the word out that you’re looking for human volunteers to guard Tenacity while your people go on supply runs, Matt.” She looked at Drav. “Everyone who’s willing should meet at the north wall at