Chapter 387 Answers
~ SASHA ~
Sasha stormed into the Village a few hours later, reminding herself that Nick didn't know, and she couldn't give him any ammunition to work with. He couldn't know and couldn't be allowed to know. She had to get real answers from him—and that meant not showing any weakness.
Zev had stayed at her back all morning as she made her way through the City to learn everything, but in truth, there wasn't much more to learn than what Kyelle had already told her. The Chimera were grieving. But the female was one of those who'd never lived in Thana. The grieving was for her life lost. The only one who'd really known her as a person was the other Made female who'd come with her, and who was now curled into a ball in the furs in the hall at the City.
Kyelle was considering transporting her to the healers, but afraid of what it might do to put her in an unfamiliar environment.
The whole thing was just a shitshow. And despite the successful meeting with the Creatures, Sasha felt like they were going backward instead of forwards.
When she'd insisted on talking to Nick, Zev had initially tried to talk her out of it, which she hadn't understood. But in her head he'd just insisted that he didn't want her hurting any more.
That man will never let you leave feeling good, Sasha. Haven't you been through enough?
But she'd shaken her head and Zev had submitted.
I can't talk to him, though, Zev had said in her head with an apologetic look. I'll kill him if he's in reach.
Instead, he'd insisted on going to the village with her, but bringing Yhet to watch over her when she met with Nick.
Sasha wondered if she should be more concerned about that than she was. But she was determined. She was going to get some answers. And she had to pray that she gave nothing away. That she didn't slip.
The closer they got to the village, the easier it was not to cry, and the colder she felt inside. It was useful, she supposed. She was a lot less likely to lose her temper and say the wrong thing when she was feeling that way. But it scared her a little how hollow she felt. As if she just didn't have any more emotion to spare. As if her heart had been burned out.
She prayed it would all come back when she was done with this asshole.
Zev pulled her in for a quick kiss as they entered the Village and said he was going to find Lhars, who had his turn at Patrol there that day. She nodded and spoke into his head.
Don't worry about me. I'll be fine.
A shadow passed behind his eyes, but he looked at Yhet who nodded. He wouldn't let Nick hurt Sasha, they both knew that.
She found Nick at the trough, sitting at lunch with his two guards, holding a conversation with a hare and a goat who both watched him warily, but didn't seem frightened.
He had that stupid device in his hands and was making notes.
"I'm sorry to break up a party," she said as they arrived at the side of the table, "but I need to talk to you, Nick."
His name came out of her mouth a little too forcefully. But either he didn't notice or he decided not to care.
He got up from the table and stood in front of her. "What's up, boss?" he said good-naturedly.
Sasha realized she'd been spending too much time with Zev when the urge to growl washed over her. "I need to speak with you… in private," she said, raising an eyebrow.
Nick gestured for her to lead the way, so she turned on her heel and walked him back, deeper into the forest, asking Yhet to let her know when they were far enough from everyone that the others wouldn't be able to hear anything that was said between them.
It took longer than she anticipated. They'd reached a small clearing she'd never seen before by the time Yhet turned and scanned the trees, then nodded. "No one can hear you here." Then he looked at Nick. "Even if you scream."
Sasha had to bite her lip to swallow a laugh. Yhet was clearly very unhappy about Nick being there. She wondered if Ernie was about to show up.
She wondered if that was why Zev had sent him—so if Nick got killed it was on Yhet's shoulders, not his?
Gosh, she shouldn't even joke about that.
Nick eyed Yhet warily but stood his ground. "What's going on?" His face was a little haggard. There were dark circles under his eyes. But his skin was flushed and healthy, and his eyes were bright. Sasha wasn't sure whether to be glad that Thana seemed to be good for him or curse it. She needed him here and needed to not have a stranger in this place so that she could better control what was getting back to the humans. But this man turned her stomach.
The thought flashed, that he'd known about the baby and hadn't told her, and for a moment she couldn't speak with the sheer anger that made her entire body tense.
Nick raised an eyebrow. "What's going on, Sasha? I haven't done anything you told me not to—you can ask the guards. I've been very well behaved."
Sasha shook her head. "No, that's not…" she ran her fingers through her hair, then met his eyes.
"I want to talk. Get some questions answered. Quid pro quo, like we did before. I ask, you answer, you ask, I'll answer."
Nick's brows rose higher in surprise. "Sounds good to me," he said, pulling the device from his pocket.
She couldn't see anything in him that indicated he was afraid or trying to fake his response. She hoped she was right. She needed him to not realize she wanted to throw him under a landslide.
"Okay then," she said finally. "You better take a seat, we might be here for a while."
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