I folded my hands in my lap. "He's dead."
"Why'd you come here?" Ethan's response was emotionless.
"To find you. I need your help."
"You can't get her back." He crossed his arms. "You must know that."
"Of course I can, why else would I be here?"
He scowled. "You shouldn't be here. You shouldn't have come."
This was it. After everything, my only hope was saying 'no'? I wasn't about to give up. "What else was I supposed to do? Just leave her with them?"
"Quinn will survive. She'll do what they say, and they won't need to hurt her."
If he only knew who she really was. Or about Bailey. I couldn't tell him any of that-especially if he wasn't helping. "They'll hurt her no matter what. You and I both know she isn't strong enough to survive."
"But that's why she'll be okay. She knows how to do as she's told, unlike you."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I sat forward, itching to get up.
He sighed. "What was your plan? What do you expect me to do?"
I looked down at my hands. "I don't know."
"This was a mistake, Kayla."
"Yes, it was. I should have realized what kind of man you were when you left. If you won't help me, I'll find someone who will." I rose, ready to get as far away from Ethan as possible.
"That's not fair. I was a kid. Eighteen. I've tried to change things. I know you read my letters. You wouldn't know how to find me otherwise."
"Actually Thomas read them. You had your chance."
"This just gets more and more interesting," Mason said from behind me. "I'll help."
I turned to face him. "You will?"
He took a few steps toward me. "I tend to be very helpful to the girls of this club."
"But I'm not part of the club."
"Not yet." He wrapped his hand around my upper arm. "It would be a simple exchange."
"Exchange?"
Ethan paled. "Kayla, don't do this."
Mason turned to look at Ethan. "You better watch it. You're walking a thin line."
"You don't know what you'd be agreeing to."
"What other choice does she have? Do you plan on walking out that door with her? Are you going to take a willing girl away from the club?" The threat in Mason's tone would have terrified anyone.
Ethan's face went blank. "No, of course not."
"I didn't think so."
"Let's talk, Kayla." He led me back over to the couch, but this time he sat next to me.
"I'm listening." I tried to calm my rapidly beating heart.
"If you agree to a Cording, I will help you get your sister."
"All I have to do is agree?"
"Do you know even know what a Cording means, Kayla?" Ethan strode towards us.
Mason glared at him "Either keep quiet or leave."
Ethan lowered his head. "Yes, Mason."
"I know what it means. It means I'm marked as the club's. I have to make myself available to the members." I looked down, embarrassed to even acknowledge it.
Mason once again moved my chin so I would look at him. "We only take willing girls in Sray. We are not like the Reine."
"I understand. I'm willing. I'd do anything to save my sister." If I wasn't determined before, I was determined now. My father flashed through my mind. My body wasn't worth more than his life. It wasn't worth more than Quinn, and definitely not more than Bailey.
"How many men have you been with?" Mason's question took me by surprise.
I wasn't sure what the significance of my answer would be to a man like Mason, but I went with the truth. "None."
"Shit, Kayla." Ethan had his head in his hand.
"What? Is it shameful my father protected me?" I knew why he was upset. I should have lied, but I was too exhausted. Besides, then he'd expect me to understand things I didn't.
Mason put his hand under my chin again, forcing me to look up at him. "Are you saying you're a virgin?"
"I have never been with a man." I crossed my arms, and I wished Mason would release my face.
"Not even Ethan?" He finally moved his hand. "From the way you two talk, I'd have thought there was a history."
I tried to scoot away, but I was out of room. "I was fifteen when he left."