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JETHRO WAS STRETCHED out on the bed, trying to sleep. He’d forced himself to eat the dinner that had been delivered because Rex was right. He was going to need his strength. Tomorrow, he’d be flogged. Flogged. Twenty lashes. He should’ve run at the camp. He could’ve made it to the forest, as long as he’d been willing to kill the Guards, but at the time, it hadn’t seemed worth it. He’d never imagined he’d actually be punished. Not like this. And the reason for the punishment was a joke. He wasn’t being punished for letting Trinity go. He was being punished because they believed he’d mated with her. There was an entire part of the city dedicated to interclass relations, and yet, he was going to be flogged for it. Someone knocked on the door and opened it without waiting for his reply. Why would they wait? He was a prisoner. He had no rights.
Jason stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him. He tossed a backpack at Jethro, who sat up and grabbed it mid-air.
“I thought you might need some things, especially, your medication.” Jason sat at the table.
“I’m not due for two days.” There was no way he was taking his shot now. It made him weak. He couldn’t be weak when they beat him.
“Since your mom and sister are out of town, do you have somewhere to go after...”
Odd, that Jason could deliver the punishment but not say the words. “After the flogging?”
“Yes.” Jason stared at his hands.
“I’ll go home.” Then it hit him. “Unless you’ve taken that from us too.”
“We haven’t taken anything from you.” Jason looked up, eyes narrowed. “Yet.”
“I know. I’m sorry. This is my fault.” The words were like bile but he had to control his temper. They could still do much worse to him and his family. He took a deep breath and forced himself to continue. “You were lenient in your judgement.”
“No, we weren’t. We were going to be but...you’re not going to like hearing this. We were going to let you go without any punishment. Most of us can understand a young man’s...proclivities. Conguise however pushed for punishment.”
Betrayed again. His hands fisted at his sides as his gaze landed on Jason. How many Guards waited outside the door? Could he beat Jason and flee? No. That wouldn’t work. He was in the main Council Building. He’d never make it through the city and to the forest. Once he was captured, he’d be killed for assaulting the Supreme Almighty and his mom and sister would be punished too. Hugh’s family had barely survived his trial and they were wealthier and better connected than his. He forced his fingers to relax. “The professor has strong feelings regarding interclass relations.”
Jason glanced away for a moment, seeming to consider his next words carefully. “I saw your drawings.”
His hand drifted to his backpack. He had a lot of drawings of Trinity. Some were rather sensual. All were from his imagination but they could get him into more trouble.
“I assume the one they call Trinity is the star of your artwork.”
“Yes.” There was no reason to lie, too many others had seen her.
“She’s quite attractive.”
“Only on the outside. Inside, she’s an ugly bitch.”
Jason laughed. “Most beautiful females are. You know the saying. The deadliest poisons are concealed in the most beautiful flowers.” He paused. “Some say it’s the poison that makes the flower so appealing. There’s something about the forbidden that draws men like us.”
Jethro bit the side of his mouth. He was nothing like Jason. “I guess.” It hadn’t been Trinity’s unsuitability that’d attracted him. It’d been her kindness to a crippled boy.
They sat in silence for several moments.
Jason fidgeted in his seat, cleared his throat and said, “I’m going to tell you something in confidence. I admire your abilities. You’re excellent in battle and with the Guards. You also managed to capture two Producers—“
“One. Trinity isn’t a Producer.”
Jason waved his hand in the air as if the comment was inconsequential. “One Producer and one Servant who thinks she’s a Producer.”
“Don’t forget the Guards Cal killed.” He scooted forward. If he could convince Jason of his value, perhaps the Supreme Almighty would repeal the punishment. “I captured them too.”
“Exactly.” Jason jumped from his seat. “You’re indispensable to me.” He pointed at his chest. “Me. I would’ve never pushed for this punishment. Conguise is smart and he can be useful, but he isn’t a normal man. He doesn’t have the same desires as the rest of us. Some...many of us...like variety in our bedrooms. We understand and empathize with you.”
“And yet, you handed down my punishment.” It wasn’t surprising that Jason dallied with the other classes but the hypocrisy was numbing.
“I had no choice. Believe me, I argued for you but Conguise was adamant. If it’d been someone else, anyone but her...” Jason shook his head. “There was nothing I could do.”
“Great. You’ve eased your conscience. You can go now.” He stretched out on the bed.
“How dare you dismiss me!” Jason stormed across the room.
Before the other Almighty could blink, Jethro was on his feet and had captured Jason’s arm. “I’ll take my beating tomorrow. Not tonight.”
Jason’s face paled and his eyes widened, as he tried to pull free. Jethro’s grip tightened as he struggled with the urge to punch Jason over and over—to beat him until there was nothing left but bone fragments—but he dropped his hold and sat down on the bed. Jason stumbled backward until he bumped into the far wall.
“I’d really like to rest.” It was getting harder and harder to control his temper. He needed to move—run, fight, swim or mate—but the only option available to him right now was fight. He looked up at Jason. There was a gleam of something in the other man’s eyes. He tensed, his body almost vibrating. Jason was planning something and at this moment, he didn’t care what it was. If the other Almighty figured out a way to repeal the punishment, Jethro could go home, stopping by a brothel first. If he encountered any problems on the way, he’d get to fight and mate. Of course, if Jason’s plan were to attack, then he’d defend himself. He wouldn’t get to mate, but he’d still get to beat something bloody.
“You and I are even more alike than I thought,” said Jason. “But you need guidance, for that fight in you. You need to turn it into ambition and drive. You need a mentor. A new mentor. Conguise has taken you as far as he can, but I see a big future for a man like you.”
“Future?” Since his sentence, he hadn’t thought past the flogging, but if he had he’d have guessed his future was over.
“Yes, and it’s entirely up to you. What do you want to do?”
“Am I free after my punishment?”
“If that’s what you want.”
Free to do what? He wouldn’t run the Producer Camps and he no longer wanted to escape into the forest. He’d only wanted that so he could be with Trinity but the thought of her deceit made his stomach twist and he almost snarled. “I want to do what I said and ruin Trinity’s life.”
“Obsession is a tricky master.”
“I’m not obsessed. She played me for the fool and I want to pay her back.”
Jason pulled the chair next to the bed. “How about I let you run a campaign. You can pick your own team of Guards. As many as you like. No Cal to keep tabs on you.”
He straightened, anticipation coursing through his blood. He could track and capture Trinity and all her friends. He could have his revenge. He’d turn them all over eventually but first, he’d make her watch as he tortured everyone she loved. He’d let her beg and plead. He might even let her offer her body to save one of them, but not Hugh. Nothing would save Hugh.
“If you catch this Trinity again,”—Jason’s voice was a smooth whisper of promise—“Conguise wants her, but I’ll give her to you.”
His heart beat slow and steady in his chest. This was too good to be true. “What would you expect me to do with her?”
“I don’t care. You can do whatever you want to her. However many times you want and in whatever position you want. She’ll belong to you. She’ll have no rights, no friends—only you and her.” Jason leaned back, resting his hands on his large stomach. “There are needs a man has that wouldn’t be right to ask an Almighty to do, but the lower classes...They’re happy to assist and they’re very good at it.” He blinked a couple of times and then his eyes met Jethro’s. “Or you can kill her. It’s not what I’d suggest for someone as attractive and spirited as her, but she’ll be yours to command.”
He cleared his throat, desire had dried his mouth. “She’d belong to me?” She’d be his forever. He tried to fight it, but no matter how angry he was he still wanted her. He no longer loved her. He hated her, but his body wanted what it’d been promised.
“Yes,” whispered Jason.
He could chain her to his bed. Take her whenever he wanted. He forced his mind away from all he’d do once she was his. He had to focus on the here and now. “How do I know I won’t be punished again for having relations with someone outside of my class?”
“You’ll have to trust me and I know that’s not going to be easy, so...” Jason took a deep breath and stood. “Come with me.” He paused at the door. “And don’t think about running. Stay with me and I’ll give you everything you want.” He winked. “I’ll even give you things you haven’t realized you want.”