Alfred didn't move. His right hand remained hidden inside his torn sleeve, his fingers gripping a sharp, jagged stone. The rough edge cut into his palm, but he didn't feel the pain. He was fighting a war inside his head.
Kiana saw the tension in his forearms. She saw the hidden intent to kill.
She didn't call him out. Instead, she let her head fall back against the cold stone wall and closed her eyes. She made herself look small, exhausted, and harmless.
Heavy, aggressive footsteps crunched on the gravel outside.
Before Alfred could make a decision, the rotting wooden door of the stone room was kicked open with a deafening crash.
Blinding sunlight and hot, dusty wind from the Wilderlands poured into the dark room.
Kiana squinted against the harsh light, lifting a hand to shield her eyes.
A tall man with fiery red hair stood framed in the doorway. Brogan Webster.
Pure, unadulterated hatred radiated from his eyes. He glared at Kiana as if he wanted to rip her throat out with his bare teeth.
Brogan stormed into the room. The heat of the wasteland clung to his skin.
He stopped right in front of Kiana, towering over her.
He gritted his teeth and threw a rough animal-skin parchment onto the dirt floor at her feet.
"Sever the contract," Brogan snarled, his voice vibrating with rage. "Now."
In the corner, Alfred's grip on the hidden stone loosened. The rock slipped from his fingers and hit the ground with a soft thud.
Brogan's head snapped toward the sound. His eyes landed on Alfred's bloodied, battered body.
The veins in Brogan's neck bulged. On his collarbone, the branded beast-mark flared with a searing, angry crimson light, mirroring his explosive fury. His hands curled into tight fists, his knuckles popping loudly in the quiet room.
Kiana opened her eyes. She looked down at the dusty animal-skin contract by her boots.
She didn't scream. She didn't reach for the whip that hung on the wall.
Slowly, Kiana leaned forward and picked up the parchment.
She calmly brushed the dirt off the rough surface. Her movements were so steady, so unbothered, that Brogan froze. A flicker of confusion crossed his angry face.
Kiana tilted her head up and met Brogan's furious gaze dead on.
"Look at the situation," Kiana said, her voice dropping into a crisp, analytical tone.
She pointed to her own battered body, then gestured to the open door. "I am severely injured. There are mutated beasts and rival tribes right outside this camp."
She held his gaze. "If we sever the contract right now, without the protection of a family unit, we will all die in the wasteland."
Brogan let out a harsh, mocking laugh. "You're just afraid to die. Stop stalling."
Kiana ignored his insult. She didn't have the energy for a screaming match.
"Three months," she said flatly. "A probationary period."
Brogan stopped laughing. He stared at her.
"You stay and protect me for three months," Kiana continued, her voice unwavering. "In exchange, when the three months are up, I will sign this paper and give you your freedom. No strings attached."
She tossed the contract back onto the floor. "And for these three months, I swear I will not invade your personal space. I won't touch you."
Brogan stood paralyzed. The concept of a modern, conditional contract completely short-circuited his brain.
Alfred stepped out of the shadows. He violently forced down the primal terror and disgust clawing at his throat. Whatever twisted game she was playing, her offer of a three-month probation was their only viable path to survival in this wasteland. His icy eyes locked onto Kiana for a long, calculating second, evaluating her like a dangerous opponent across a bargaining table.
"Agree to it," Alfred muttered to Brogan.
