CRAVE (Exiled Book 2)

by Victoria Danann

  “Serene says these kids won’t be ready to move to Farsuitwail for a year. Maybe more. But my group, they’re the oldest ones, are going on a field trip soon. We’ll see how they react. Maybe they’ll make an adjustment faster than she thinks.”

  “We need a place of our own.”

  “Yeah. They could build us a place here. Something temporary.”

  “I don’t know, Dandy.”

  “Just meet my kids. Then you can decide.”

  “Your kids?” He raised an eyebrow and didn’t look especially happy about the way she phrased that.

  “It’s just an expression. They need somebody, Crave. They’re innocents.”

  She saw that his nostrils flared when he looked away. She knew it might be an uphill battle and she knew why. She was prepared to give up working with the orphans if it was too much for Crave. Dandelion had her priorities sorted. Crave came first. End of story.

  “Who’s that?” Crave lifted his chin toward the door, which was left open because there was a steady stream of well-wishers who wanted to say hello to Crave and see how he was doing.

  Dandy followed his gaze. Half of Dread’s body was visible. The other half was hidden. “That’s Dread. He’s one of mine and he’s been wanting to meet you. Dread, this is Crave, the bravest and most beautiful male in the entire world.”

  Crave looked at Dandy with eyes still too puffy to widen, but both eyebrows raised as if he couldn’t believe she’d made that claim.

  Dread made no move after that impressive introduction.

  Crave said, “Well, are you going to hide behind that door or are you going to show yourself like a man?” Dread blinked three times quickly before taking a step to the side so that he was fully visible front and center. Crave looked him over. The child was clearly alpha, but he was just as clearly an innocent, as Dandelion had said. Though he looked hard to see it, Crave didn’t find a monster lurking behind the boy’s face. He more resembled someone starving for attention.

  “That’s better,” Crave said. Noticing the way Dread’s eyes kept sliding to Dandy, he said, “Do you have designs on my woman, boy?”

  Dread stared Crave down, drew himself up to his full, if diminutive, height and said, “Maybe.”

  Like Dandy had been the first time she heard it, Crave was surprised by the depth and richness of Dread’s voice, which was by no means in proportion to his size. Crave wondered if the kid was going to grow into those vocal cords. If he was, he’d be big enough to challenge Crave for his mate someday.

  When Dandy heard Dread’s confession of admiration, she looked away and pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. When she glanced at Crave she was thrilled to see the old dancing twinkle in his eyes that she hadn’t seen there for so, so long.

  “Well, forget it,” Crave said with authority. “She’s mine.”

  Dread shrugged as if to say, “We’ll see.”

  “So what do you do for a living, Dread?”

  The child blinked and looked at Dandy. She smiled and nodded encouragement.

  “I go to school.”

  “That’s not much of an occupation. Do you play scruffal?”

  Dread looked confused and shook his head. “I don’t know scruffal.”

  Crave sounded incredulous. “You don’t know scruffal?” He looked at Dandy as if he couldn’t believe that children Dread’s age weren’t playing scruffal.

  “Well, who would teach them, Crave? Certainly not me!” She laughed.

  Crave nodded. “I have to admit that you coaching scruffal would be something to see. Is there a place to play?”

  She thought about it for a minute. “Not really.”

  Crave nodded, but looked thoughtful.

  Sabre showed up at the door. “There you are!” she said to Dread. “Half the school’s been searching for you.”

  It was clear that Dread was supremely unconcerned about that. He looked at Sabre as if she was an annoyance. “I was right here.”

  Sabre peeked into the room, smiled at Dandy, then looked at Crave and said, “How are you?”

  “Perfect,” he answered without hesitation.

  She laughed. “Yeah? Well, that’s not how it looks from here.”

  “Looks aren’t everything,” he said.

  “True enough.” To Dread she said, “Say goodbye. And next time don’t just go running off without telling somebody you’re going.”

  Dandy could tell by Dread’s reaction that he had absolutely no intention of complying, which made her turn her face into her shoulder and chuckle.

  When they were gone, Crave said, “So that’s one of ‘your kids’, huh?”

  “Yes. When I was waiting for you…”

  “Waiting for me?”

  “Um, when Charming told me you were coming, I got people to cover my jobs and went out on that big flat rock to wait. In the middle of the night, it was really cold. I guess you know that. Anyway, he’d snuck out of bed, gone to the kitchen and made me tea. He brought it to me and that’s the first time I ever heard him speak.”

  “What did he say?”

  “Well, he wanted to know what I was doing. I told him it was hard to explain, but did my best. Then he offered to go get you for me.” When Crave heard that, he took his eyes away from her, looked at the ceiling, took in a deep breath and let it out. “When I didn’t accept that offer, he wanted to build me a fire to keep me warm. I told him that the fire would keep me warmer, but I wouldn’t be able to see in the dark. He offered to stay to keep me company, but I sent him back to bed.”

  Crave continued to look at the ceiling and didn’t say anything for a long time. “Are the others like that?”

  “They’re like us. All different. Some are boisterous. Some are clowns. Some are quiet and shy. But all of them need us.”

  “What do you think is going to happen when the day comes that they find out we killed all their people?”

  “I don’t know. That’s a question you should ask Serene. Or Free. I just know that it was right to keep them alive. And they need us.”

  “You said that.”

  “I know.”

  He looked over at her. “How many kids you got?”

  He didn’t miss the smile that came over her face when she said, “Thirteen. Eleven-year-olds. Well, there’s one female who’s twelve.”

  He grunted in acknowledgement. “Well,” he swung his left leg off the bed, “help me up so I can go take a look at the rest.”

  Dandy froze with her mouth agape. He was moving into a sitting position on the side of the bed by the time she’d recovered enough to say, “That would be a big ‘no’. You’re not ready for ambulatory adventures, leader’s son. Just put those legs back on the bed and under the covers, where they belong.”

  “Dandelion,” he said quietly, but firmly, “gettin’ up one way or another. Are you gonna help or are you gonna end up sittin’ on the floor on your ass because you’re in my way?”

  “Ugh! You’re too weak to do a believable impression of a brute, Crave.”

  “Yeah?” His eyes sparkled with mischief. “You want to bet? I say if you lose you have to ride my cock every day for the rest of your life.”

  She laughed. “Okay. You win. Now that that’s decided, lay back and be a good boy.”

  When she saw that he really was getting up with her or without her, she scrambled to duck down and get his big arm draped over her shoulder for support.

  “Help me get my pants on, okay? We don’t want all the other females to go cold on their mates because of finding out what they’re missin’.”

  She laughed along with him, but that didn’t mean she didn’t agree.

  Twenty minutes later he was wearing olive khaki cargo pants, a soft clean, charcoal gray Henley, and boots a couple of sizes bigger to accommodate his swollen feet.

  It was slow going, using his Promise as a human crutch, but Dandy was amazed that he’d healed so much in just three days. When they got to the exit, Flora met them on her way in to chec
k on him.

  “Oh, you’re up,” she said. “Good. I was going to insist that you have a stroll around this morning.”

  Crave gave Dandy an I-told-you-so look. “Yeah? While you’re here, tell my woman I’m cleared for sex.”

  “Hmmm,” Flora said. “I don’t see why not. Just listen to your body.”

  He laughed quietly. “I always do.”

  He was glad to be outside again. The morning still held a slight hint of chill from the night before.

  “That’s the dining hall.” She pointed to the biggest building. “That’s the dorm. It’s divided into wards by age group and each group has a monitor who sleeps in the same room. I’m there in case somebody gets sick or has a bad dream. Or in case somebody won’t go to sleep and leave the others alone.”

  “Show me,” he said.

  “You want breakfast? Since you’re up, you might as well eat.”

  He looked down and gave her a lopsided smile. “Sure. You got bacon? And cinnamon rolls?”

  “Probably not. Oatmeal and raisins.”

  “Oatmeal and raisins? How do you expect kids to grow strong with that crap?”

  She laughed. “It’s not crap. It’s nutritionally sound. We had a human expert plan menus for us.”

  “Humans,” he scoffed.

  “Jerky? You got jerky?”

  She shook her head, but said, “Maybe.”

  “Just give me some of that and take me to see your kids.”

  Dandy showed Crave the ward where she’d been living. Fourteen iron beds all made up as neat as could be with multi-colored trunks underneath.

  When he tried to envision Dandy living in the ward, taking care of orphans, he found it wasn’t a big leap of imagination. He remembered the patience she’d showed helping him learn to read when they weren’t much older than Dread. He remembered the obvious pleasure she took in making sure that Exiled were fed and served beverages of choice.

  He was also sure that Dandelion had bonded with the young because, when she’d come to this place, given the circumstances, she probably thought she wouldn’t be having any of her own. She’d been searching for a reason to continue after he’d pulled her heart out of her body and stomped on it.

  Dandy helped him slowly hobble to the classroom building. When they reached the doorway of the classroom where Dandy’s kids spent their days, several of them rushed her in their excitement to have her back.

  She introduced each and every one to Crave. A couple of them hung back thinking that he was the scariest thing they’d ever seen. A couple of them were overly curious and immediately began a barrage of questions, the most common one being, “You’re not taking her away, are you?” He could see and hear the anxiety behind that question.

  He didn’t answer directly, but smiled or patted them on the shoulder.

  By the time they got back to the guest room, Crave practically fell onto the bed.

  “I just need a little nap,” he said.

  “Okay.”

  She pulled off his boots and, by the time she’d pulled the covers over him, his soft snoring informed her that it was a good time to steal away to the kitchen for a cup of tea. Glad to see that he was still asleep when she returned, she sat next to Crave as she slowly sipped her tea inhaling the bergamot aroma, watching him sleep, and wondering about the future.

  When they were growing up, it had seemed that their future was mapped out, constant and sure as the sunrise in the east. Someday Carnal would probably take over as Extant. Crave would be an active duty warrior until he was too old. Dandy would work for Scar at the Commons.

  Then things had changed so rapidly and dramatically it made her head swim just thinking about it. There was no more Carnal to succeed Free. There was no more war. Pretty soon there would be no more Newland.

  She was holding her mug with both hands, deep in those thoughts when she realized that she didn’t hear Crave’s snoring. She looked over to see that he was awake and watching her.

  “What are you thinking about?” he said.

  “The future,” she answered honestly.

  “Yeah. Me, too.”

  She opened her mouth to ask him to tell her more, but Free and Serene interrupted by arriving at the door. They both looked too pink and skin was peeling in places, Free more than Serene, but they were smiling and looked healthy otherwise.

  Serene sat next to Dandy on the bed facing Crave. Free pulled up the only chair. It suddenly felt like the room was tiny and overcrowded.

  “You’re looking better,” Serene said to Crave as she patted Dandy on the knee.

  “Feelin’ better,” he replied, then shifted his gaze to his father.

  “You still thinkin’ full moon rites? It’s just ten days from now.”

  Crave looked at Dandy and grinned. “Wouldn’t matter if it was ten minutes from now. We’re not waitin’ any longer.”

  Free and Serene exchanged a look before he continued. “We talked about tearing down the holding facility and building a house on the site.”

  Crave nodded slowly. “I like the view of the training field.”

  “But we’re starting to move people to Farsuitwail. In just three months everybody will be gone. So what do you think we should do?” He looked at Dandy. “And I’m asking both of you.”

  “I’m glad you asked,” Crave said. He looked at his mother. “I think you’re going about this whole thing wrong.”

  Serene looked puzzled and cocked her head to the side. “What thing?”

  He waved around the room. “This orphan thing.”

  She smirked. “Oh? You’re an authority now?”

  “What if I was?”

  “Well, let’s just say I’d be surprised.”

  “Dandy says you’re planning to stay out here for a year or two. I don’t get it.”

  “The experts say that children are traumatized by a change in environment. We thought that, so much has changed for them, we’d try to keep them in the same place. At least for a while. Until they get used to us.”

  “Let me guess,” he said, unmistakable derision in his tone. “Those were human ‘experts’. The same ones who said hybrid children ought to be eating oatmeal and raisins. You can’t turn hunters into gatherers by feeding them oatmeal and raisins.”

  “Well…” Serene began.

  “I think he’s right about that,” Free agreed, nodding, glad that no one was asking him to eat oatmeal and raisins.

  Serene glared at Free, but Crave continued. “Take a look around. First, their environment has changed. Completely. This is nothing like what was here before. Every sign of what it was is gone, thank gods, replaced with brand new buildings, clean beds, good food, and adults who’re sane and civilized. Most of the time.”

  Serene’s expression changed as she began to consider what Crave was saying.

  “Take a look at the result. The kids look like Exiled young in the Weavers Barn. I mean, not physically, but you know. They’re happy. Except for the fact that they don’t know how to play scruffal. Which is a crime, by the way.”

  “What is it you’re suggesting, Crave?” Serene crossed one leg over the other and crossed her arms in front of her.

  Crave glanced at Dandy. “Tear down the jail. Build us a house there like you said. But it needs to be big enough for twenty people.”

  Free, Serene, and Dandy exchanged looks.

  “What are you talking…?” Dandy started, but Crave jumped in before she’d finished the sentence.

  “There’s us. Dandy’s kids. That’s fifteen. And five of our own. That’s twenty.” He smiled at Dandy. She looked stunned. “Let’s move this operation to Newland. It would be a perfect place for orphans to grow up. It’s got access to the valley, nice weather, and a place to play scruffal.”

  It would be hard to know whose face wore the most shocked expression. Crave’s parents and his Promise were equally surprised.

  He went on. “Maybe when the kids are a little older, we can give them an option of moving dow
n to the city and finishing school there. We’ll have to figure some of this out as we go.”

  After a few moments of silence, when it seemed Crave had finished saying his piece, Free cleared his throat. “I think you’re forgetting one thing that just happens to be the most important thing of all. I’ll be retiring soon and,” he seemed to struggle to continue, but finally pushed forward, “since Carnal is gone, people will expect you to step in as the new Extant.”

  Crave stared at his father for a few beats before throwing his head back and laughing. “First, I’m the furthest thing from leader material. Second, and I can’t believe I’m having to tell you this, but where have you been while Charming has been holding things together during the biggest crisis and upheaval since we came to this world? He stood in for you while you’ve been mourning our brother.

  “People aren’t expecting me to step in as the new Extant. Charming’s not leader’s son anymore, Dad. He’s leader. And he’s doing a damn fine job of it. All we need to call it done is a party.”

  “He’s not even twenty years old!”

  “That makes it all the more laudable. He’s only twenty, but people have given him the respect and deference they’d always reserved for you. He’s not just any twenty-year-old, Dad. He’s leader.”

  Free looked at Serene and saw that her eyes were shining brightly. She nodded and smiled just a little. He looked at Dandy. “Is that what you want? You want to turn Newland into an orphanage and run it with Crave?”

  Dandy took a deep breath. “More than anything I can think of.”

  He looked at Serene. “What do you think?”

  “I think he makes more sense than the human experts.” She laughed. “And I don’t like oatmeal and raisins either. We’ll need to make some changes. Reconfigure some of the houses. But Crave is right. It could work. We already have a school. We already have a place to serve meals.” She nodded, clearly warming to the idea. “It could be good.”

  “I get the Bike Barn. I’m going to tinker with mechanical stuff. Maybe build some new bikes. Maybe make some of those electric car things, if the power they’re talking about happens.”

  “So you’re coming home to Newland for the ritual? Then staying here until you move everybody?”