Faithless (Mistress & Master of Restraint) (15 page)

Cort sp
utters out a string of swear words as Regina repeats, “Never.”

“Ah, you just crushed his spirit,” Divina teases
Regina as Cort stomps off after Ezra and his fan club of two- Whitt and Aaron. “It’s good comedic fodder for the next few days. But we don’t care about Cort’s unrequited crush… How is your sweet baby boy doing, Regina? You named him Niel, correct?”

“Se
riously?” Regina hisses and stalks away.

“You suck,” I bark out at Divina. “Worst investigative journalist ever.”

“It was worth a try,” Divina mutters with a shrug. “Hey, kid- Daniel,” she calls out to Whitt as he hovers in Ezra’s orbit near the cake table. Whitt’s intense blue stare pierces Divina, causing her feet to falter. But she’s too stupid to shut her trap. He’s no ordinary eight-year-old- he’s a Whittenhower. “Niel, he’s Regina’s son, right?”

“That’s no one’s business but ours,” he calmly says, never breaking his penetrating stare
on Divina. His eyes flash towards the cake, a split-second later he’s swatting Aaron’s hand away before the big kid can swipe it through my frosting. “Not yours, either. Rude,” he growls. Aaron sulks away, looking like he wants to cry.

I think I just fell in love with
that little shit. Whitt reminds me of Wil or Marcus. There is something ancient about him… and scary. He just reprimanded a boy that’s five years older and seventy pounds heavier. I can tell he doesn’t like Aaron for some reason. Whitt keeps scowling at Aaron and grinning at the Ezes.

Ah… jealousy.

My last party guest makes himself known. Boyd breaks away from a tree that was camouflaging him. He has a rare smile on his face as he fondly gazes at Whitt. Boyd pats the boy on the back as he passes, and then heads straight towards me. Everyone is surrounding the table, popping open soda and prodding my presents. Boyd and I are in a weird bubble of privacy.

“Happy Birthday,” he says to me- I add two more words to the grand total of twelve he’s ever spoke
n to me. Boyd is quieter than I am.

“Thank you,” I mumble, feeling shy for some reason.

“This is nice,” Boyd murmurs, reaching out and pulling me under his arm. Oddly, we fit together like puzzle pieces. “We’re just missing one other and we’d be complete. It… it feels really nice.” Boyd gazes out over my friends, eyes lighting on a few before he returns to my face.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I grumble.

“I know,” Boyd says with a smirk. “I need you to do me a favor,” he gently commands, and then he adds, “Please.”

“What?” My nose scrunches up in confusion. I quickly smooth my features
, but Boyd’s smile says he noticed. So much for covering my tells.

“Stay away from him,” Boyd
breathes against my temple, the threat lingers in my ear. “He’s not for you.”

“I can’t,” I hiss. “How dare you?” I accuse.

“I’m not talking of Cortez and Ezra,” Boyd cheerily says, smiling when the boys in question look up to see where I am. They give me a funny look and rejoin their conversation. “You know who I’m talking about. I realize you must meet with him a few times a week, as do I. But the difference between us, I don’t touch his arm during conversation and he doesn’t brush loose hair off my cheek.”

“Boyd,” I hiss, “Why are you following me?” I try to pull away, but his finger
tips bruisingly bite into my shoulder, rendering me immobile.

“
It is my job to keep an eye on all of you. I asked her to replace Wil as your contact, but with Hunter on the loose there are no other options. I thought it best that you finally meet her, but she feels you aren’t ready. Be forewarned, don’t go there,” Boyd threatens.

“Don’t go where?” My voice breaks and I hate it. I’d wondered why Boyd took an interest
in me. I should’ve known better than to think he just cared about me. He’s watching me for her, just like Wil is. I’m so confused. Wil has been nice and now Boyd is being weird.

“It is a price we pay
, being who we are. You do not screw your enforcer- ever, especially those who will be elders one day. You were made with a purpose. As a daughter, you have certain responsibilities. They are yours,” he points at Cort and Ezra. “Wil is not. Wil was created to protect and kill. That’s what the boys are for.”

“What about you?” I
resentfully hiss. “What were you created for?”

“I’m not like Wil
, or even Cortez,” Boyd readily admits. “I’m like Fate, or Ezra, or little Daniel, but none of us are as important as you.” His blue eyes clash with mine. I draw in a deep breath to contain the violence that wants to punch the smug off his face.

“I don’t understand any of this. Wil never explained!” I shout,
and every head turns in my direction. Ezra turns to walk towards me, but one finger from Boyd has Ez’s feet freezing before he even moves.

“How did you do that?” I hiss.
“Why is he listening to you, too?”

“
I told him our relationship. He knows not to interfere, as I would never interfere with his family,” Boyd tosses off my concern. “It wasn’t Wil’s place to explain. It is mine. All you need to know right now is that those boys belong to you and you to them. Do not disrespect yourself by taking another. This isn’t your body to give away.”

“
Then who’s is it?” I turn in Boyd’s arms, fist my hand at my hip, and scowl. I give him as much attitude as I can muster. “How dare you talk to me this way? You don’t know me! I may be a kid, but you should still respect me.”

“
Your body,” Boyd pulls me until I’m back where I started, underneath his arm. Boyd smirks at my brashness as if he’s proud, whereas Wil would’ve just beaten the shit out of me for disrespect.

“
Your body, it’s theirs, it’s mine. And I say that you will behave,” Boyd bites out between clenched teeth. “Quit teasing the kid. Women are not his focus, and you are clouding his judgment. I already had to punish him for mistaking you as Fate and again when he kissed you.”

“How do you know that?”
My skin flashes bright red before I can say all the words. I’ve kissed Cort a dozen times in the past few weeks, but that first kiss always makes me blush.

“I have my sources,” Boyd
smiles at a private joke.

“You’
re whoring me out,” I cry in alarm. “You have no right to do that. I’m only sixteen, and this is
MY
body!”

“Don’t ever call it that,” Boyd snarls
. “You are not a whore, and I’d never take money from the sale of your body. And NO, this is my body,” he firmly shakes me, angrily growling under his breath. “And don’t lie to yourself. They are your friends, and you feel the connection. You would’ve ended up with them even if I hadn’t pushed them at you and you at them.”

“
These people that you obey, one’s a girl right? How can another female make me do this? Why doesn’t she understand?” I whine.

Boyd cuddles me to his side, rubbing his hand up and down my arm, trying to comfort me. The touch has a possessive feel, and all he succeeds in doing is making me sadder… and angrier… at all of them. I sniffle away tears of frustration.

“Who says she doesn’t? Do you think she enjoys this? Do you honestly think she hasn’t paid her dues? This is just how it is. Do you think I enjoy setting up a betrothal between my seven-year-old baby sister to nine-year-old boy? Do you think I like asking you to screw Cortez and Ezra? I wouldn’t have brought this up, I would have allowed nature to take its course, but you have been teetering on the edge of the abyss. You need to stop touching Wil. I see how you both look at each other- it’s like it’s either fuck or kill.”

“
Don’t talk so disrespectfully about me,” I warn, foot poised above his, ready to smash it to hell. “I’ll do what I want,” I obstinately hiss, no intention of listening to Boyd.

“Don
’t make me hurt you, Faith,” Boyd threatens, fingers bruising my shoulder. “It would greatly hurt me, more so than you. You have a choice to make. Be a good girl and do as you’re told or you’ll force me to do something
you
will regret.”

“What?”

“If Wil takes what’s mine to give, I’ll take what’s Wil’s to give, long before it’s time. I gave you to them,” Boyd points at the boys as he rapidly whispers in my ear. “Not Wil,” Boyd hisses. “She’s already mine. I’m just waiting until she’s older,” a deep hunger infuses his voice. It’s scary-creepy hearing it come out of Boyd.

“
Gretchen? No,” I whimper in defeat. Boyd uses the one thing that will keep me in line- the kids- keeping the kids safe.

“Yes, she is my Greta, as I am her Boyd. It was set before her mother was even pregnant. If a boy ha
d been born, he would’ve trained beside Wil and me. A girl was born, and she was mine. I will never take another. Faith, you must have integrity, loyalty, and a need to protect what’s yours for this life. You have nothing to fear. I will always protect you,” he vows, fingers loosening on my shoulder and massaging the pain away. “You always protect your females.”

“Why? Why do you give a shit? And if you did, you wouldn’t want me passed around be
tween two guys! I never would’ve guessed that you and Wil knew each other, but hearing you talk about girls like we’re just created to spread our legs and pop out kids… you sound just alike!”

“It won’t be difficult for you, I’m sure,” Boyd rolls his blue eyes at me.
“You’re not the only one, Faith. Fate has already stepped into her destiny. Those kids out there, they don’t even know what’s coming for them, and it’s best you don’t take their innocence away. But for kids like me, I’ve always known. I was three when I met my future wife. Greta was placed in my arms as an infant. I was told to keep her safe and that my body was hers alone. I’ve waited my whole life for her. You don’t realize how easy you and Fate had it. Cort and Ezra don’t realize the gift of childhood they were given. Little Daniel, he may make it to thirty or more before this impacts him. But you, you were thrust in at fifteen, so what? Wil and I, we trained side-by-side since we could walk.”

“Why do you do it? Why not just walk away?”

“This is my life, Faith. I have responsibilities. I was created to take care of my family. We weren’t born; we were made with a purpose. It wasn’t a coincidence that your big sister was doted on and you weren’t. We needed you strong and Fate to be obedient. It’s time you took your responsibilities seriously. You’re lucky that all they ask of you is to mate with those handsome boys. You don’t want to know what
she
had to do,” Boyd ominously says, voice cracking in pain. “Don’t go there with Wil,” he repeats.

“You didn’t hurt him
, did you?” I mutter in a panic.

“Did you s
ee a mark on him? I’ve known Wil since he was born. We’re only a few months apart in age. He is more of a brother to me than my real one. Don’t make me hurt him,” Boyd warily warns.

“Boyd?”

“Yes, Faith,” he breathes against my temple.

“Why me? Why are you going after me?”
My voice breaks in fear- fear of what I know he’s going to tell me, but I don’t want to accept.

“Give me a hug,” Boyd
cheerily says, eyes darting to the side. Regina looks feral, to the point that Fate is holding her back. That gesture alone tells me that my sister knows what’s going on. Ezra is doing the same to Cort. Divina is soaking it up for later gossip. I blush and turn to hug Boyd to hide my embarrassment.

How much had they heard?
          

“None of it,” Boyd answers the question I thought I hadn’t spoken. “It was your body language that was telling.” He fully hugs me, hands massaging my back. “I’
m glad I finally got to see you on one of your birthdays. Happy Sweet Sixteen, Faith.” Boyd gently nuzzles my cheek with his nose- softly, lovingly touching me after threatening me- so like Wil. He draws back and intensely looks at me.

“You ask
ed why,” he quietly murmurs. “I want you to look at me, Faith, really look at me- study me.” I do as he says, and I get a smile for it. Boyd’s face is soft, his eyes blue, and his curls are brown. He’s small- delicate- but an immense strength and intelligence gaze back at me- two years separate us, but it’s like looking into the mirror and seeing myself.

“After I leave, I want you to walk over to your sister, and inspect her. Then I want you to go talk to little Daniel, and while you do, drink him in. When you get home, look in the fucking mirror,” he hisses
exactly what I just thought. “Are we clear? Because those people must be fucking blind!”

Boyd pulls away, leaving me stunned. “Have a great night, all,” he pleasantly calls to the rest of my guests. “Don’t let the birthday girl eat too much cake. She’ll get a belly ache.”

Boyd walks way, his back retreating into the dark of the woods- leaving, but no doubt, not going far. He blends into his surroundings, but I can still
feel
him with me.

Sometimes you regret what you wish for. I’d wondered what it would feel like to have a
big brother like Wil. Well, I just got what I’d wished for and then some. A big brother that’s more intense than Wil.

I walk over to my guest
s on shaky legs. I look at Fate, feeling betrayal of the deepest form. Some things… some things you just cannot forgive. I look at Whitt and I hurt. I gaze at that sweet, innocent boy, and I’ve never hurt so much in my entire life. I want to scoop him up and run away. Regina’s arm around his shoulder is the only thing that calms me. Regina will keep my baby brother safe.

My sister reaches out to me as I walk towards her
. Fate has tears in her eyes. I could never take her overemotional bullshit. Here she is, our eldest, the one that’s leading the Simpson line, and that bitch is weaker than our eight-year-old little brother. The middle kids are taking care of her- just as I always have.

A thought pops into my mind, o
ne that I will get an answer for tonight. Fate, she isn’t even Lara’s daughter- she’s Gwen’s kid, too. We’re all Gwen’s kids. I’d never hated anyone as much as Lara, but I do now. My sister and my birth mother are tied dead-even right now. Lara’s right, she isn’t as bad as Gwen. What kind of mother whores out her children after she sold them back to their fathers?

I bump my shoulder into Fate on my way by, pushing her out of my orbit. “This birthday girl wants cake,” I cheerily says, ignoring the
guilty tears in my sister’s eyes.