You Are Mine (Mine #1)(69)

“Of course.”

I bite my lower lip and hand him the book.

He takes it and runs his fingers over the cover. “It means something to you?”

Something, but what I'm not sure. Not more than the novel I pilfered from the library, but different. I want Zade to be kind and caring like Jacob, but without us dying. Maybe Zade is? “I'm not sure as of yet.”

“Maybe we can talk about it after I've had a chance to look through it.” As he settles further onto the bench, I contemplate what that may mean for me. For him. For us. Us.

His next words startle me out of my daydream. “I was wondering if you'd like to deliver invitations.”

“I suppose.”

“I can take them if you wish, or we could have them delivered. I just thought you'd want to.”

“I do.” I smooth a wrinkle from my skirt. “It's just that I've never done anything like this before. Mother always said I was too much trouble to go.”

He rests a hand on mine, stilling my nervous action. “You're good with people, I'm sure you'll do fine.”

He's warm through my glove. Sustaining. “How much time do you think we need to get them delivered?”

“It depends on how many we decide to hand deliver. We should at least visit all the council members, a few other prominent warlock households. After that, how about we see if you feel like doing more?”

It depends on how I feel? “That would be fine.” More than fine. “We should get them out in the next two weeks though. Bethany will get after my manners if we don't.”

He chuckles. “I've a council meeting the day after tomorrow, but none next week.”

The garden is silent. With the spell and us not talking, it's an eerie sort of sound. It gets me thinking about the tarnished park. Zade said I could ask anything. Finally, I work up the courage to say, “The other day at the park, Councilman Barkley said something.”

He rubs his forehead. “He said a lot of things.”

“The tarnished law he spoke of.” When he stays silent, I go farther. “What did he mean by that?”

His face darkens. “Some of the unmarried women have started rebelling.”

“Women like my sisters?” What do they have to do with the tarnished? And why are they rebelling? How are they rebelling?

“Not them. Those you call tarnished. The women are seen as the problem, but I believe the men are rebelling just as much.”

“What are they doing?”

He faces me. “Some have been escaping to Envado and other countries. Enough have left that it's caused a strain on the working force. The council and upper class don't like losing their workers.”

“But there are so many of them. Plus, they're always threatening to make more. And the lower class owes debts that they repay with work. Isn't it enough? Is it really a problem if people want to leave?”

He shrugs. “If it was just that, I don't know, maybe the council would leave them alone. I doubt it, but maybe. What's seen as the real problem is that some of them have started harassing council members and a few powerful warlocks.”

The death threats jump to mind. “Are you in any danger?”

“I'm safe enough.”

It doesn't sound like he really is. The weight of the gun on my leg is comforting, though I'd be able to do little good with it should the need arise. I want him safe. “But what of the problem we had and the others you've mentioned?”

“Not related.”

How can he know? At least this isn't a threat, as well. “And what of the new law? What are they proposing?”

“They are trying to implement more restrictions, and make current laws more severely punished.”

Katherine flashes through my mind. How will this affect her? “What type restrictions?”

“You're very inquisitive today.”

I blush. “Sorry. I didn't mean it.” Except I did, and I want to know. I just don't want to push the one person who's giving me answers too far.

“Don't be sorry, it's a refreshing change.”

He wants me to ask? I lick my lips and say, “Would you tell me more about the restrictions then?”

“Of course.” He clasps his fists together and I lean forward to better catch the details. “All those considered unfit will have their ink spelled to change colors on a monthly basis. They'll have to check in monthly which will include being tracked all the time.”

“How would they be tracked?”

“A certain spell can be used to find those who participate. Mostly, they'll use it to restrict their movements. If a person with their spelled ink goes out of an allowed area, severe pain will befall them. If they don't hurry back, they'll die.

“Die?” My heart is cold.

His nose flares. “In some cases.”

“Will they be speaking of this at the next meeting?”

“They always talk about it.”

This is too much for me to hold still. I stand and cross to a table. Its surface is hard beneath the weight of my hands. They want things worse for Katherine. And what about Katherine's workers? And the other tarnished?

The council wants to make life harder for them. One small step out of line and they could die. Gone forever. Not even something less than a shadow deserves this. And Katherine is worth more than a shadow. She's worth more than any warlock.