Page 154 of Moon Claimed

How are things between you two?

She’s a Thana. We hate seeing her so upset.

Would we have lost the grid if you didn’t forfeit?

None of the questions were easy, but I seized the opportunity to answer them in this private setting, thankful to get a chance at all. I was happy to notice the change of scent with a few who’d been on the fence about me.

“Who’s next?” I asked.

Wade exhaled. “Are you sure you want to visit anymore? How do you not get angry with that bullshit?”

“Because they deserve to know the truth. Or as much as I can give them.”

“It’s not a guilt thing, right?”

I gripped the wheel. “Maybe there’s an element of that. You know how much I love being lied to. I hate doing that to others. Mostly, I just want to do the right thing by them.”

He peered out the window. “Did you notice none of the stewards have asked how the shot Luthers are recovering?”

That hadn’t escaped my attention. “I can’t decide if that’s callousness or fear of showing sympathy—orif they want to show me that sympathy for Luthers isn’t okay after my forfeit.”

“It’s so fucked up,” he said. “If the game was just Grids, things would be so much easier.”

Yep.

Which was why I had to get the meets done. Sascha hadn’t made a peep. He always texted back within minutes.

He was ignoring me on purpose.

“Just here on the left.” Wade pointed.

Parking, I strode to the front door. A man no more than ten years older than me opened it before I could knock.

“What do you want?” He crossed his arms.

Wade spoke over my head. “Do you know who you’re talking to, Mark? Have some respect.”

I rested a hand on his arm. “Mark, Wade is introducing me to the tribe. Do you have five minutes for us to better know one another?”

Whoa,only Valerie put out this much dislike. She generally made the effort to keep it from her expression too.

“I’m busy,” he replied coolly.

I smiled. “No problem. I’m sure you’re hard at work for the tribe, and I commend you for that. Is there a time that suits you for me to return?”

He looked me up and down. “I’m busy every day,Head Steward.”

I blinked as the door slammed in my face.Okay, then.“I think he likes me.”

Wade was scowling so hard at the wooden entrance I worried it might burst into flame.

“Come on,” I said. “Not here.”

We’d barely pulled out of the driveway, when he slammed a fist on the dash.

I slanted a look at him. “We knew that would happen with some stewards. Put his name on the list and forget about him.”

“He’s such an asshole. I hate that guy.”