Something heavy thumped down on the counter in the kitchen, startling me. When I looked over, Azio’s gaze locked with mine, and I quickly looked down at what he’d moved. The white paper package confused me for only a moment.
“Is that meat?”
“Yes. Steak, I think. I will give you four more in exchange for all of the clothes.”
I wanted to say yes so badly, but I couldn’t cheat him like that.
“Honestly, Azio, one steak is more than these clothes are worth.”
“To you, maybe. To me, they mean everything.”
I risked a peek and quickly averted my gaze at the intensity in his eyes. It made my heart race in fear and in pity.
“You’ll need more than clothes to make a baby,” I said.
He grunted.
“Why do females fear us?” Groth asked. “We hide our teeth. We look away.” He exhaled heavily. “Will you teach us how to be better?”
“Better?”
“Better males to attract females.”
He won my attention and quickly looked away, which made me feel all kinds of guilty even as I was relieved.
“The problem isn’t with the fey. We just need more time to get used to you. We’ve all had our lives turned upside down since those earthquakes. The infected. The hellhounds. Winter. Food shortages. It’s been one bad thing after another. It’s hard to focus on relationships with all of that going on.” As I said it, I thought of Wayne. There was so much pressure on him. On us both. Was it any wonder we were both snapping at each other?
“Will you tell us more about what’s changed?”
“The clothes and conversation in exchange for the steaks?”
“Yes.”
My stomach twisted at the idea of spending hours alone with two of them, but that white-wrapped package wrapped sang its siren song loud enough it drowned out enough of my fear that I was actually considering it. It wasn’t like I had anything better to do, and there was a couch nearby if I ended up fainting again.
“It’s a deal,” I said, taking off my jacket.
I talked about life before the quakes and the hardships we’d faced since then. Azio got up after a while and brought me a glass of water. I smiled my thanks and continued explaining. When he directed me to sit at the table, I did and watched him start to make something as I kept talking.
He and Groth both asked questions. During the entire conversation, they were polite and listened attentively. We paused to eat the stew Azio had prepared for us then they sat at the table while I did the dishes.
“So only two of the men in your house leave for supplies?” Azio asked. “And only once every three days?”
“Yeah. It makes meals like this one even more special. Thank you for feeding me.”
“Thank you for talking to us.”
“Of course. If it’s all right with you, I should go home now.”
Like when I’d arrived, he carried me as soon as we left the house so I wouldn’t freak out. Then he ran all the way to Tenacity before slowing and asking me the same question as the previous day.
“Will you trade with me again tomorrow?”
I thought of all the clothes still in the basement and the steaks weighing down the backpack he’d provided me. It would be foolish to pass up a chance to trade for more food. Yet, I hesitated. I was growing more comfortable around Azio and Groth, and that terrified me because of the promise I’d made to myself. Once I was comfortable, I’d pull my own weight and go on supply runs.
Azio exhaled heavily and set his head on top of mine. Oh, how I liked that simple, comforting move.
“I’m sorry I scare you.”