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AS THEY TRAVELED, THE city changed before Trinity’s eyes. It became something more, something beautiful in its own concrete way. The run-down, abandoned buildings disappeared, replaced by small, quaint shops painted in a variety of autumn colors. Trees grew in neat rows on the sidewalks in front of apartment complexes that were free of graffiti. It looked pleasant and that made her nervous. There were no shadows here, nowhere for someone like her to hide.
The carriage turned down a street and the city disappeared. This wasn’t the forest or the large open area of the Producer Camps but it wasn’t the cramped confines of the city either. Houses lined the sides of the road, but they each had a little square of yard to their front and back. Bruno stopped at the last house on the street, jumped down from the carriage, opened a large door, climbed back onto the carriage and drove inside. They were inside the carriage and inside the house. Bruno hopped down again and closed the door to the outside. They were trapped.
“It’s a garage.” Hugh took her hand, entwining his fingers with hers. “Almightys keep their carriages inside them. This one is connected to the house and that’s good because it means we don’t have to go outside.”
“I’d rather be outside.” She trusted him but he’d trusted the wrong Almightys before.
“Bruno, get Sassy and take her to the guest bedroom.” Townsend opened the door and stepped out of the carriage.
“It’ll be fine,” said Hugh, still holding her hand. “None of his neighbors will see us. No one knows we’re here.”
“You say that like it’s a good thing.”
He stepped out of the carriage, her hand still clasped in his. Bruno squeezed past Hugh, picked up Sassy like she weighed as little as a leaf and disappeared through another door.
“Wait...” This was moving too fast. “Where are they taking her?”
“Come on.” Hugh gave a slight tug on her arm.
She dropped from the carriage. She had no choice. They’d taken Sassy and she wouldn’t leave her friend. “If this goes bad it’s your fault,” she said under her breath.
Townsend snorted softly, covering a laugh as he went inside the house. Obviously, she hadn’t been quiet enough.
“It’ll be fine.” There was a slight hesitation in Hugh’s words.
She leaned close to his ear, his hair tickling her nose. “I’m not staying here.”
“Trust me.” He squeezed her hand.
She was going to regret this, but she let him lead her into the house. As soon as she stepped through the doorway, it was like entering another world. The room was long and narrow. The walls were painted a lovely shade of green. The floors were made of something like rock only smooth and with a pattern. The smell of soap was everywhere. Townsend opened another door and they entered a larger room. The scent of homemade bread and roasting meat greeted them. She stopped. She’d learned to recognize the different odors of meat—rabbit, bird, Cold Creeper—and this was Producer.
“I’m sorry. I should have expected.” Hugh squeezed her hand again. “We won’t stay.”
A middle-aged, female House Servant stood in the kitchen. She was small, like her kind, with long brown hair. She wore a housecoat over her pajamas. She looked up, her eyes widening when she saw them.
According to her father, House Servants, especially females, never walked around an Almighty’s home in a state of undress and a housecoat and pajamas was undress. Townsend walked into the kitchen and kissed the Servant on the lips. The Servant’s eyes widened more as she turned her head away from Townsend’s attentions.
“We’re not leaving her here,” she whispered.
Hugh’s grip tightened on hers. If he were trying to tell her to calm down, she’d dig her claws into his hand. She glanced up to argue with him but his narrowed eyes and clenched jaw made her words die in her throat. He was more upset than she was about the situation.
“Hugh and...I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name.” Townsend stared at her a moment and then realization dawned across his features. “Trinity.” The word was a whisper as a slow smile broke across his face. “Holy Araldo. I should’ve guessed, but it was too dark in the club and carriage to see you clearly.” Barely able to contain his excitement, he moved closer, looking her up and down. “I swear, I didn’t see Producer in you. Not at all, but I can see it now. Amazing. With your height and”—he cleared his throat as his eyes took in her breasts—“build you can pass for a Guard or a Servant or, of course, a Producer.”
“Oh, sorry.” The House Servant shot Trinity a nervous look as she turned off the fire and put the pan of meat in the stove.
Trinity nodded her thanks to the other female. Most didn’t consider how the sight of meat made her feel.
“I think you need to explain this...situation.” Hugh’s voice was clipped and his eyes were hard as he looked from the Servant to the other Almighty.
Townsend frowned in confusion and then laughed. “Oh, you think...” He walked over and took the Servant’s hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing it tenderly. “Hugh Truent, Trinity, this is Libby. I’d like to call her my wife but we aren’t allowed to get married. She calls me her mate but that doesn’t sit right with me.” His eyes met Hugh’s. “I’m sure you understand.”
Hugh nodded. Trinity exchanged a puzzled look with Libby. From her understanding mate was the same as marriage.
“So, let me introduce you to Libby, the love of my life.” Townsend pulled her close his hand drifting to her hip as she blushed.
Two children stumbled down the hallway, wearing pajamas and rubbing their eyes.
“I’m sorry.” Townsend lowered his voice. “Didn’t mean to wake the kids.”
“Is it really her?” The little girl, who looked to be about five, stared up at Trinity, her blue eyes wide.
The little boy who was about eight also stared at them.
Townsend snatched the female child up as he ruffled the hair on the boy’s head. “This is our daughter, Leelee and son, Doma. As you can see, they’ve heard stories about you.”
“Are you really like us?” Leelee clung to her father, suddenly shy.
“Do you know how to fight like a Handler and Tracker?” asked Doma.
Her hand squeezed Hugh’s. She wasn’t the only one. She’d heard rumors, of course, but she’d never met another mix, at least not one who admitted it. Leelee was definitely House Servant. Her features were tiny and her eyes a vibrant blue like her mother’s. Doma could pass for an Almighty with his white skin and brown hair. His cheeks were a little swollen. “You file his teeth.” The pain and embarrassment of being held down while her parents filed her claws and teeth flooded her memory and her claws popped out from her fingertips.
“Ouch.” Hugh pulled his hand free from her grasp, frowning at her.
“Yes. He’s in school now. We can’t be too careful.” Townsend’s eyes were resigned as he ruffled his son’s hair again.
She walked over and crouched in front of the boy. “My parents did it to me too.”
“It hurts,” said Doma.
“Yes, it does.” She glared at Townsend and Libby. “You should tell your parents that you don’t want them to do it.”
“But I want to go to school.” The boy looked at his dad and then back to her.
“We gave him the choice. He could stay here and be home-schooled like his sister or he could attend school. However, if he went he’d have to have his teeth and claws filed down.” Townsend glanced at Libby. “We can’t take the chance of anyone discovering exactly what he is.”
She stood. It still wasn’t right, but it was Doma’s choice. She hadn’t been allowed to choose, but she couldn’t have stayed in her house all day either.
Leelee wriggled in her father’s arms and he put her down. She ran over by Trinity. “I want to go to school too, but Mom and Dad said I can’t.” Her lip jutted out in a pout. “I look too much like Mommy.”
She bent again. “One day, you’ll be happy about that. I used to have to hide my teeth and claws too, but now, I don’t.” She leaned closer. “And you know what?”
Leelee shook her head, her eyes eager for the secret.
“They’re the things that keep me safe in the forest and on the streets.”
“With the Tracker and Handler?” asked Doma, his eyes wide with excitement.
“Yes, with Mirra and Gaar.” She straightened.
“Will you teach me how to fight?” asked Doma.
“Me too. I want to fight too,” said Leelee.
“You can’t fight. You’re a girl,” said Doma.
“Trinity’s a girl and she can beat you up,” said Leelee.
“Enough kids. Leave our guest alone,” said Townsend. “Come and set the table for breakfast.”
“It’s a little early for them,” said Libby.
“Mom, please let us stay up,” said Doma.
“Let them stay up, honey. Their idol is here.” Townsend glanced at Trinity and smiled. “We’ll all rest after breakfast.” He kissed Libby on the cheek and she blushed.
Trinity had witnessed tender moments like this with her parents for years, but lately they left her longing for something like that in her own life. She glanced at Hugh and he was watching her, an unreadable expression on his face.
“There’s a bathroom down the hall if you want to wash up,” said Libby.
Trinity stepped back from Hugh, her face heating as if they’d done something besides stare at each other. Townsend winked at her and she blushed harder.
“Thank you.” Hugh held out his black-stained hands. “I’d love to.” He started for the hallway, when she grabbed his shirt.
“We need to talk.” She pulled him back into the room that led to the garage, closing the door behind him. “I’m not staying here.”
“Why? Townsend and Libby—”
“I...I don’t feel safe.” She was used to sleeping in the trees or under the open sky. Places like this were traps. In the forest she could flee and in her tent she could claw through the fabric to freedom, but these walls were solid.
“It’ll be fine.” He took her hands again. “Townsend isn’t going to turn us over to the authorities. He has too much at stake. Do you know what they’d do to his kids if they found out what they were?”
“It’s not that.”
“Then what is it?” His thumbs caressed her knuckles.
“You wouldn’t understand.” She glanced down, embarrassed to admit that she was afraid. “You’re used to places like this.”
He tipped her chin up. “I promise that you’ll be safe here and we really don’t have another choice.”
“I could sleep in his yard.” If something went wrong and they were all inside, they had no chance.
“It’s going to be light in a few hours. A neighbor might see you.”
“Oh.” She hadn’t considered that.
“I’m sure the room will have a window.”
“Really?” That wouldn’t be so bad. She could open or break a window.
“Yeah.” He turned. “Come on. I swear I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She nodded, finding comfort in his words. This was his world, not hers and she’d have to trust him. He led her back through the door. Everyone was waiting at the table.
“All settled?” asked Townsend.
“Yeah,” said Hugh. “But we should wash up before we eat.”
“And check on Sassy,” said Trinity. “Where is she?”
“First door on the left.” Townsend pointed down a hallway. “There’s another guest room two doors down, if the two of you would like some privacy.” There was a hint of male camaraderie in his tone as his eyes met Hugh’s.
“No. We can sleep with Sassy. We aren’t...that is there’s nothing between us,” stammered Hugh.
“Sure.” Townsend’s stared at their clasp hands. “If you say so.”
“I swear. There’s nothing but friendship between us.” Hugh followed the reporter’s gaze and dropped her hand like it was on fire. “Really. She’s my friend’s daughter. I don’t...we don’t—”
He should shut up. He was making it worse. She grabbed his arm, letting her claws sink in a bit. When his head jerked in her direction she whispered, “Shut up.”
He nodded. “There really is nothing...”
She tugged him down the hallway. Yes, they were only friends but he didn’t have to keep saying it.