Page 11 of The Outcast
Victor held up a hand to stop me. “I don’t want to hear all your ‘buts’ and pleas to stay. You chose to go, and I hope you loved it in the Northlands because next year you’ll be spending a lot of time working there with people like them.”
I knew he was referring to Indiana and Aubri and this time, Aubri reacted. Walking closer to Victor, she narrowed her eyes. “Hey, shit face, say one more negative thing about the Northlands, I dare you.”
Victor straightened up to his full height. “I don’t believe I said a single negative thing. I’ve described what I expect of Banni and stated a few obvious facts about your people. Are you offended that I’m pointing out that you have a lot of personal growth to do until you can fully integrate with our people?”
“Funny, since I would argue that you’re the ones that need to grow. Where’s the challenge in being promiscuous?”
Victor scoffed. “You’re like little children clinging to your favorite toy, unwilling to share. We can’t have large, strong people with the mindset of a selfish toddler running rampant in our civilized society.”
“Wow.” Indiana shook his head. “You’re comparing us to toddlers now. What the fuck is your problem?”
“My problem,” said Victor with a cold glare, “is that everyone will blame me if this project fails. I’m the one who will convince the prime minister, and the moment one of your Explorers causes a scene socially, I’ll take the heat for it.” Pointing to me, he ordered. “I mean it, Banni. If someone is unstable, don’t you dare bring them here.”
“Understood.”
Victor’s gaze landed on each of us before he turned and walked toward the exit, letting out a last derogatory comment. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ll have to cut every candidate from the program. I have yet to see an emotionally mature Northlander.”
“Keep walking, genius, before this emotionally immature Northlander wipes the floor with your arrogant ass,” Aubri shouted after him, but Victor rounded a corner and disappeared from sight.
I looked to Indiana. “Is it true?”
“The part about you working in the Northlands? Yes, it’s true. We’re starting a training facility and Aubri and you will be the main instructors.”
“I’ll be the boss,” Aubri said and raised her chin.
“Why? I have more experience,” I objected.
“Because it was my idea and even though Victor is too stupid to see that living in the Northlands is far from a punishment, you know better.”
“How did you talk him out of reporting me?” I asked.
They exchanged a glance.
“How?” I repeated.
“We made a deal with him,” Indiana muttered. “Victor didn’t want anything right now, but Aubri and I now owe him a favor.”
My tongue raked over my front teeth as I took that in. “Do you think that was wise?”
“You would have gone to prison, Banni,” Aubri pointed out. “It’s not like we had much choice.”
“But what if he asks for something outrageous?”
“He will.” Indiana picked up a tool from the ground and groaned.
“Hmm.”
Val had come over to stand next to me, showing me a mental image of Victor having sex with Aubri. I shook my head. “No, Val. Indiana wouldn’t allow it.”
“What wouldn’t I allow?” Indiana asked Val, whose gaze went to Aubri and back to Indiana.
“Val thinks Victor will want to have sex with Aubri,” I explained.
Aubri huffed. “I’m sure he does, but that’s not happening. We specified that the favors can’t be anything sexual and that we won’t kill for him.”
“Good.”
Indiana shook his arms and hands as if he had ants up his sleeves. “Urgh, why did you have to bring up Victor having sex with Aubri?”
