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“We’re not unhappy,” Zeke said “We haven’t settled in yet, but ill We just need time”
“Rosie can answer for herself”
A hitch in Zeke’s lip showed he was entertained by that Cadence had stopped on her way back to the table and wore a deer-frozen-in-headlights look Rory felt like the spark “I’m unhappy”
“You were unhappy in the decay You used drugs to try to find your happiness and you were killing yourself You don’t kno to be happy You need to trust I have your best interests at heart” He gave off a father-knows-best vibe with a hint of big-bad-wolf huff and puff “Can you trust me, Rosie?”
There was no measure too sernail, the moisture in a breath for how little she could trust Orrin, especially as broken promises were a currency in Abundance
They’d attracted a lot of attention, heads turned their way, eyes glancing, hands raised to hide words whispered She could keep pushing her discontent and earn Orrin’s anger or roll over and show her belly “I’m scared” Belly it was
Down caain and she locked down her dislike of that Up went Orrin’s voice to please the spectators “Child, you have no need to fear Look around you This is a coreat expense by ift This pure air we breathe is our joy The children we birth are hope for the neorld We are the future The only part of any worth that will survive You are valuable You are loved here You are free The one thing I ask of you is to trust in ood people, your new brothers and sisters, have agreed to do”
Cue crescendo of strings in the orchestra that would be playing if this was a TV show Even knohat Orrin was doing to her, forcing her to voice her trust in him, to commit it out loud itnesses, she felt the pressure of the moment
A smile flirted on Zeke’s lips That was all she needed
“I trust you” She should’ve put more of a tremble in her voice, but there was applause anyway It rippled out froo no
t to be listening
Orrin wore a look of triurazed her cheek, before he bent to speak in her ear “You will learn to love me As I love you Be patient, my beauty”
It would’ve been less disturbing if he’d detailed hoanted her skinned alive to make soup from her bones, but she didn’t react until he’dfor the comfort of Zeke’s eyes
“Gao”
No ti the stunned look It clashed hat she said “You’re favored”