Beginning of Chapter 16

Quinn awoke in a cabin.

A wood-panelled hut of old split oak, drooping from the abuse of time and weather. The beginnings of winter were kept out by its old, forsaken architecture. Each wall was stuffed full of dry straw; waxed cloth clumsily hammered into the planks to keep out the cold, and if Quinn placed her fingers at the edges of each crevice, she could feel the whistle of snow trying to enter.

But it was a small space, merely a room. A queen-sized bed, a table slotted against the walls, two chairs, and an old antique stove with a chimney that led outside, rusting and cracked. But it hissed with life and light, warm and smouldering, casting shadows against the walls. A pot bubbling upon the heat.

Immediately her eyes danced towards the woman that tended to her room, squatting, and feeding the fire. The flames crackled, spitting embers, dust and smoke. And outside, through thick panelled glass, she could see snow banked against the windows, rising higher by the minute.

A sudden blizzard.

No chance of escape.

Her body was cold and everywhere hurt. It burned when she moved, achy hot and stinging. And her eyes drew to the blanket, to her right leg wrapped thickly and held into place by a long slender piece of wood. A broken leg? Her scowl deepened. It would slow her down. Float hissed when she whispered its name, breathless and only on her tongue. Her neck was bare, empty—free.

Odd.

Perhaps, she could try to escape. Her eyes narrowed, lips pursed, ready to bolt. But the Alpha turned, and her features were familiar. A lifetime of memories. And Quinn remembered her with a cigarette to her lips and a tired groan on her tongue. She'd see her in the market, slouched against a stand, haggling prices. And she'd seen her in that cell on her first night in the Kingdom, with a warning to not touch the bars.

"Xin?" Quinn squinted.

But God it was such a long time ago, that it felt almost like a distant dream. And Xin simply looked back, eyes hard, but they did not disagree. She stepped closer and revealed thick fabric long-sleeve flannel, thick pants, and an apron draped around her waist.

There were no bruises on her face, no cuts on her lips, but Quinn supposed the abuse could be buried under all that fabric. The Alpha seemed a little better and healthier. And there was a simple leather collar around her throat.

But it was the hair sprouting from her head that had Quinn really looking, the curl of dark locks that extended to her nape. It'd been a long time since she was last shaved—a sign of self-worth, a sign of Omegas that didn't care for the shaving.

And truly the leather collar was just leather.

The Omegas here didn't use electrocution. Quinn's eyes widened and considered that fact. It must mean that they were confident that they could control the Alphas, confident that they were stronger. Or perhaps, her eyes narrowed, they had no reason to fear retaliation because the Alphas here were mated.

Xin did not smile, crouched over her checking her temperature. A hand to her forehead, her voice was thin. "You should be dead."

Her tone was crude. She turned; a lid lifted from the metal pot. The steam brought forth the smell of something meaty and good boiling on the stove. And it had Quinn aching with an animalistic sort of hunger, a growl spilling from her belly.

"I don't want to feed you," the Alpha announced, almost bored, exhaustion colouring her voice, and walked over with the wooden bowl. "I've spent enough time trying to get you to wake." She handed it to Quinn. And she nodded, thanks spilling from her lips.

It was watery, and beneath the thin liquid was soft-boiled canned beans and salted unknown meat, but it was scalding hot. And that made it good, led to running warmth down her throat and in her belly. It didn't take long for her to finish it, swallowing everything down as if it were the best thing she'd ever had.

"I thought I was dead," Quinn stated, polishing off the last of it. She gave Xin the bowl, but there were no seconds. Instead, the Alpha spooned the rest of the broth into the same bowl, pulled up a chair and ate from it without a word. "What happened to me?"

"You were found in the pit…Battling Lonely, fucked up your leg in the process" Xin answered, chewed loudly, and then swallowed, propped a leg up on the chair. "You were almost dead." The Alpha swallowed down a burp. "Where were you stationed at?"

"Fern," Quinn answered. "We clean bathrooms, and we could sell our blood. They liked mine, so I was promoted to be a Blood slave." This had a smile quirked on Xin's lips, a strange look in her eyes.

"The ones where they put a spout in you, and turn on the tap?" Xin snorted, and scratched at her collar.

"Yeah. And then—" she paused, unsure if she should mention that she'd offended a king. She licked her lips. Fuck no. They'd kill her if they knew. She opened her mouth, searching for an excuse. "I guess I…"

"Offended a noble?" Xin guessed; brow raised. This had her stiffening. " It doesn't matter. In Hemlock, no one cares. And with him vouching for you, you could have killed an Omega and they'll still let you stay." She crossed her arms. "You're lucky," there was a rude exhale of breath, "only Z could have saved you."

"Z?"

"He carried you from the pit, arms around you like a fucking princess," Xin snorted, "haven't seen that in a while." Quinn was silent, absorbing—horrified. But Xin didn't seem to care, and she nudged her chin towards the door. "This hut is his. The food is his. Whatever medicine I'm using on you. His."

Xin scoffed, and dropped her empty bowl. Then swiped at the drying herbs on the table, and pocketed the crumbs. She met Quinn's gaze daring her to speak, but Quinn averted her gaze. The Alpha smiled, satisfied at her subservient display, dusting her hands.

"He wanted you saved, said we had to do anything. You or nothing." Xin snorted. "You got everyone in a mess. If you died, I'd be dead. A couple of others would be dead. I guess I'm glad you're awake." She leaned back.

"I see." Quinn choked; eyes wide. "But why?"

"Who knows? Liked your face? Your scent?" Xin sighed, hand running through her hair. She seemed rattled. "This is the House of Hemlock. We're at the edge of the city, a travelling army. The soldiers that deal with Lonely. He's…like a God here. It'd take them days to kill a hundred. For Z he'd clear thousands in hours. So, what Z wants, he gets. You'll do well being careful not to offend your benefactor."

Her eyes grew sharp, sharper as she dragged the chair closer to look Quinn in the eye.

"The Alphas here have it better than the ones in the city, because we've worked for it. It took a lot for us to get here. You see this." She pointed to her hair. "And you see this." Xin pointed to her neck. "What do you think it's made of?"

"Leather? Cloth?"

"Leather." Xin nodded, "saw you looking at it. Interested to know why we don't have the electric ones?"

Quinn swallowed. "They trust you."

"It took a couple of deaths, lost fingers. Broken bones. Had to scare us good, and then we had to prove that we could be trusted." Xin drawled. "But we've got a system, one that gives us our Omegas. We don't need you ruining it for us. We don't need you destroying what we've earned."

"I won't," Quinn assured, hands raised. "I'm lucky to be alive."

There was a moment of silence, of Xin staring at her hard and silent. Then a soft sigh. "You are. Glad you understand that."

"It's tough I know." Quinn nodded. "I had to work for my place at Fern."

"I remember you to be inquisitive. You were always the best of us all, always haggling with what you've found. Then asking the wrong questions, going against authority. Driving shit into everyone's brains." Xin replied. "Running." Her eyes were narrowed. And Quinn grew silent, lips pursed, mind taking her back to the time when she'd run from the wolves, from Rowan in the wastelands. "Run here and you risk all of our lives. Run here. And we're dead. I'd shoot you first, any of the Alphas would. It'd benefit us to gain their trust. Just for a chance. We have no fucking reason to run because life here…It's better. Do you understand?"

"I understand," Quinn nodded, and grew silent. And she could see it in Xin's eyes that she was doing her a favour, laying out the truth for her on a silver platter. And she didn't have to. "Thank you."

"You're my responsibility, so don't give me trouble."

"I won't. I promise."