As Darius drove off, Kane stood and watched. The bracelet felt heavy on his wrist, but he knew that there would be a time, very soon, when he would be taking it off. He had already set in motion his own fate. The chances of going back to how things were before last night were zero.
But as he turned and walked to the elevator, he felt alive, his skin buzzing, his muscles tense. Inside him something stirred, and he felt like a man. Whereas until now, despite his age, he had always been a boy, always been his uncle’s nephew.
Somewhere in the distance, he swore he heard a lion roar.
6
It had been a long day. The thumping in her head had developed into a full-blown headache, making her feel sick. The collar around her neck seemed to tighten and pulse in time with her head, and all she could do was concentrate on getting through each task, one at a time.
Worse, a kind of depression was settling over her. Looking forward, she had no idea how she was going to survive two years of this life.
“You have to take it one day at a time,” Misty told her. They were outside. It was late afternoon, and they were both on their break before they had to help prepare dinner.
Amara sipped her cool water, and took a piece of the chocolate Misty offered her. “Thanks,” she said, placing it in her mouth and allowing it to melt. She closed her eyes and savoured this one tiny bit of heaven, trying to block out everything else. “I think I have to take it one minute at a time and work up to an hour, and then a day.”
Misty laughed. “Yeah, I had forgotten how bad it was. You are the first person from Shifters Prime the Reiniers have taken on since I started.”
“Really? Didn’t that make it kind of lonely?” Amara asked.
“Oh, I don’t mean there weren’t others when I first arrived. But over the time I have been here, the others worked off their contracts and left. There were five of us when I started.”
“And you have two months left to run. Wow, that means I am going to be the odd one out for nearly the whole of my contract, unless they take any more contracts on.” Amara felt the loneliness crowding in. The only thing that had made her first few miserable days bearable had been the support and advice Misty offered her. Three years here alone with no one to understand her, especially when the full moon came around—that was going to be tough.
“Yes, it’s strange, they used to take them on all the time, but then they stopped. I’m not sure why.” She shrugged. “Maybe they prefer their own. And that makes you special.” She nudged Amara and smiled.
“Do you know much about the family?” Amara couldn’t help herself asking, although she knew she should put all thoughts of Kane Reinier out of her mind.
“Not really. Darius is a self-made man, he started with nothing and built up his business.” She ate another piece of chocolate and offered Amara some more. Despite feeling guilty for eating Misty’s supplies, bought with her meagre allowance, she needed to feel the sweet, comforting velvety texture on her tongue.
“What is his business?” Amara asked.
“He is one of the only companies licenced to trade with the Prime. Legally trade, that is.” She looked along the drive, where a car had appeared, and began to stir. “He’s back early.”
“Who is it?” Amara asked.
“Darius. He normally works until late. They both do. One thing about the Reiniers is they have a strong work ethic when it comes to ripping off the people of the Prime.” She stood up, their break over.
“Ripping them off? What do you mean?” Amara asked, standing too. Thankfully her headache had gone back to being a dull ache. If she went inside and took some painkillers, she might even be able to get rid of it.
“They sell to the Prime for a premium. Most of the stock that is sent over is faulty, or not up to the same standards as they sell this side of the border. Then they have to add a premium. Darius managed to make some good connections in the Prime. Maybe that was why he took on contracts, to make himself look good to businesses in the Prime. I know he had a lot of shifters working in his factories. But now he’s built up his business, he doesn’t need the goodwill. Many Prime businesses are dependent on him. Or were. I only know because one of the drivers came here from a factory to serve out his contract when his health failed.”
“So the Reiniers put on a good-guy face, but are really the bad guy?” Amara asked.
“Maybe. But they have been good to me.” She turned to look back at Amara. “Listen, I shouldn’t gossip like this. There are far worse ways of working off a contract. So keep your head down and stay here; they will look after you.”
“I will. Thanks for the advice,” Amara said, and walked with her friend back to the house, where the car had pulled up outside and Darius was getting out. He paused, shielding his eyes from the sun that hung low in the sky. As he looked at the two women walking towards him, a shiver ran through Amara’s body.
“Damn, if we didn’t belong on different sides of the border, I would not say no to that man,” Misty said, her voice low.