Page 31 of Ensnared

“Itall fell apart after that.Abouthalf of the remaining civs decided to leave—the two families, actually.Saidthat we couldn’t protect them, that we wouldn’t do what needed to be done.Theywanted to try to set up somewhere themselves.”Hisvoice is a little bitter at that. “Domtook it pretty hard.Butmost of the women stayed, and a couple men.Itworked for a while, but we had problems.Peopledidn’t want to pull their weight.Jealousy.Peoplehoarding supplies.Thenthere was everything withHeather, and the drama withThomas, of course.”

Thomas?Andwas this the woman they mentioned earlier?Thelast woman they had here?Ascasually asIcan,Iask, “Heather?”

Finally, a smile touchesLucky’smouth again. “Nah-uh.That’sawholeother story.Andnot mine to tell.You’llneed to earn that one.”

Ipout, humor lightening my mood again, and he chuckles.

“Whosestory is it then?”Iventure.

“Dom’s, mostly.KindofBeau’s.”Hesobers again. “Look,Iwill say that there was a lot of drama.Thefallout of that relationship hit our whole group pretty hard, burned away a lot of trust.Sojust go easy on us for a while, okay?They’llsee you’re different soon enough.”

Well, that isn’t confusing at all.

Ilook at him sideways. “Howcould you know that already?ThatI’mdifferent toHeather.”

Luckylaughs then. “Oh, sweetheart, you couldn’t be more different.”

“Jaykobsaid—”

“Ah, don’t listen to him.Jaykcan’t see past his own prejudice.Theonly thing you have in common withHeatheris that you both talk kind of fancy.”

Ishake my head, disbelieving.Fancy?Ifhe only knew.Maybethey aren’t seeing through me as easily asIthought they were.

“Hey.”Luckynudges me with his shoulder, drawing my attention. “Iwant you to know, we have helped people over the years.Wekeep an eye out for anyone who needs help, but it really isn’t that simple.Mostgroups want nothing to do with us.Anyonewho’s survived this long is careful—they don’t exactly run our way.”Helifts a brow. “Andif they do, they’re not usually the type we want to bring home for supper, if you get my meaning.Ifthere are women like you around, they must avoid us like the plague.”

Didn’tIdo exactly that?Isaw several groups of men over the years and not once didIwork up the courage to go up to any of them.

OrperhapsIjust had the sense not to.

Therewere signs that other women survived—tampons raided from supermarket aisles, diapers depleted—but my actual sightings of them were few and far between.Thoselarge packs of families and soft, smiling people disappeared years ago.

Luckygrimaces, taking in my expression, as if the confirmation hurts him. “Beau’sstitched people up while we’ve been out, we’ve traded news or supplies, but most of them have their own plans now.Theytrust their own, that’s it.Andit’s not like we’re going to point signs to where we are for just anyone to find, either.”Helooks me in the eye. “It’snot as easy as wanting to help.Peoplehave to accept it.”

Itreminds me ofJaspertelling me family is whoIchoose to make it.

Weboth fall silent, lost to our own thoughts.

“HaveIscared you off already?”Ican feelLucky’sgaze asking me to understand.He’sclearly trying to keep his tone light but failing spectacularly.

Andin that moment,Isee it in him.There’sa melancholy under his brightness thatIfeel in my bones.

Iwonder what causes someone as warm asLuckyto burn so quietly cold.

Iwonder if any of the others notice.

Hesitating,Ilook up at him. “It’sa lot.It’sall been a lot.ButI’mnot leaving untilIhave time to take it all in.”

Idon’t want to leave at all.Theforest is a frightening place to live alone, and it’s hard to draw boundaries for myself when allIwant to do is hide under my new silk sheets and read and eat delicious cheese and claim cuddles and let them erase the last four years from my mind.

ButIneed to be tougher than that.Experiencehas taught me that gift horses should not only be looked in the mouth, but examined for fleas and attitude problems and secret, nasty packages strapped to their saddles.

JustbecauseIwant it, it doesn’t meanIget to have it.

Andit certainly doesn’t meanI’llget to keep it.

Relieftouches his features.Heblows out a breath then holds out his hand. “Comeon, then.Let’shead back inside and you can get some rest.”

Hewalks me back and lets me go when we reach the house.Iwalk up to my room, my mind tripping over a dozen stumbling thoughts.I’mreadying myself to sink into another deep, pillow-soft sleep whenIspot a book by my door.

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