Page 16 of Deep Within Me

Liz didn’t dare speak or move. She still believed that staying here would be next to impossible with so much animosity. However, going outside this stronghold meant she’d probably never see Zeke again. As awful as that was, Carreon was also a consideration. If he found her and her father, imprisonment and possibly torture awaited them. Once he knew they could reanimate, there would be no end to what he’d demand—no abomination he wouldn’t indulge in to make certain he got his way.

One of the young women cleared her throat loudly, as though she wanted to offer an opinion but wasn’t certain she should. Given her dewy skin and fresh features, she was barely out of her teens. At last, she said, “This might be a good thing.”

“In what way?” a stout female snapped.

The girl pulled in her shoulders but didn’t back down. “They could help us with the children when they get sick.”

“I don’t want them touching my kids,” the stout one countered.

“I do, if they can help them,” another commented. She appeared to be in her early thirties. “You can, can’t you?” she asked, her gaze moving from Liz to her father.

“As pediatricians,” Zeke answered. “What Dr. Munez did for his patients before Carreon imprisoned him. What Liz has done since she took over her father’s practice. They can help with the medicine they know—regular treatments. It’s too dangerous for them to use their healing gift on a child.”

Everyone started talking again, asking questions or complaining about a gift that wasn’t all it should have been. Something Liz had told Zeke early on when she’d warned him that her healing ability wasn’t infallible or the answer to every medical situation.

Zeke interrupted, “We’re voting now. Raise your hand if you want us to leave.”

Liz tensed, fearful of the outcome no matter what it was. If she could have fled without Zeke following, she would have forced herself to do so. Even when she believed he was her enemy, she’d never wanted to bring him such turmoil or pain.

The air was thick with coming sorrow. A moment passed then another as the group exchanged glances. Finally, the stout woman raised her hand, followed by only two others. Isabel wasn’t one of them. She’d tightened her fists as though she’d suspected this result.

“It’s settled,” one of the older men said, his lined cheeks and pure-white hair making him older than Isabel. “We won’t speak of this again. They’re part of us now.”

“What about Kele?” a young woman asked. She wore her black hair modishly short. Four turquoise studs graced her left lobe, five on her right. “She caused all this shit.”

As a whole, the group turned to Zeke.

He looked wearier than Liz had ever seen him, torn between what was expected and what he could live with.

“We should banish her,” the young woman said.

Kele lowered her face, making no move to defend herself.

She seemed so alone, so thoroughly defeated, Liz ached for the young woman as much as she did for Zeke. Kele had done a monstrous thing by leading Carreon’s men here. However, her hopeless love for Jacob, wanting to keep him away from Liz had driven her. Nothing else. Surely, everyone here knew that.

“No,” Zeke said. “Kele stays. I know she made a mistake.” He interrupted the young woman, his tone mild, pacifying. “But she also risked her life to protect you and the others. No one harms her. No one treats her badly, understand?”

Kele murmured, “Thank you.”

Liz swallowed. She wanted to hug the girl, give her some measure of comfort, but didn’t dare do so.

“Close the door,” Zeke ordered.

As they sealed the stronghold, he spoke to Jacob. “Dr. Munez needs a place to stay. See that he’s comfortable, all right?”

Jacob nodded once, still not acknowledging Liz’s presence.

It was so odd, she couldn’t help but continue to question it. Before tonight’s battle, he’d made it clear that he wanted Zeke to share her, not even bothering to ask her thoughts in the matter. Those, Liz suspected, Jacob had known from the start. He was agreat-looking man, as virile as his brother. However, he wasn’t Zeke.

She wondered if Zeke saving Jacob’s life tonight might have had something to do with his sudden attitude change, unless there was something more behind it.

Maybe Jacob didn’t want to challenge his brother’s authority at this point…as Isabel had just tried. Perhaps he was simply being more circumspect in his desires. Or he was still worried about Kele’s jealousy. What she might do next because of it.

“Please go back to your rooms and see to your loved ones,” Zeke said to his people. “No one followed us here. No one can get inside.”

“So you want your people to hide here forever?” Isabel asked.

Liz noted the derisive way the older woman had saidyour people,as though their vote for Zeke to stay had made them her enemy.

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