Given to the Savage(67)

“What about the other breeders?” she asked.

His smile widened. “They will be freed, in time. I know the rebel leaders, I share their beliefs. Human life is valued and the breeders are human to them. Transition will be difficult, but change is here, it has already begun,” Silas said, his smile growing larger.

Rowan smiled as tears filled her eyes. She nodded. “I’m happy.”

“There’s more,” Silas said.

She looked up at him, waiting.

“They tested your blood while they operated on you,” he began, pausing just long enough that she wasn’t sure what she felt. “You are carrying my child, Rowan.”

“Already,” she said, looking away. “What will happen to the baby?” Would they take the child from her?

Silas touched her face and turned her to look at him. “If this child is like Tobias, another breeder, then what the colony scientists were studying could be proven right. We outside the colonies have adapted to the point where we have the ability to reproduce faster than the colony men and we can make male and female children whose chances of reproduction are much greater than those of colony men. Testing will continue to understand this and I’ve offered to help them with testing. They will know in a few months’ time whether or not you carry a breeder: male or female. If you want to know that is. Or we can wait until the child is born. Either way, he or she will be kept and loved.”

“Won’t they take my children from me?” she asked, still not believing. “It’s part of my sentence.”

Silas shook his head. “You’ve been cleared of any wrongdoing. Captain Amro tried to rape you, he was at fault. The death of the other breeder was his fault.”

“So, I’m free to go?”

He nodded once, his expression growing more serious. “Will you come home with me as my wife?”

“Wife?” Breeders did not marry. They reproduced.

“It wasn’t my intention, I didn’t even think it a possibility, but I love you, Rowan. I don’t want to live without you. Marry me.”

Rowan didn’t have a chance to answer. The door opened then and several guards walked inside.

“Rowan, this is Ben Menten, the leader of the rebel forces here. He’ll be taking over this colony.”

Rowan looked at the young man, unsure what to do, but he smiled as he approached and held out his hand.

“Your courage made our takeover possible,” he said. “Thank you, Rowan.”

She glanced at Silas then returned her gaze to Ben’s, but there was more commotion at the door and they all turned to look in that direction.

“Lis!” Rowan said, seeing her friend for the first time since having left the breeder facility.

Lis smiled a happy smile. Rowan’s eyes brightened and she sat up. She turned to look at Silas who waited expectantly and, for the first time since she had known him, he looked nervous. The guard cleared the way. There, holding Lis’ hand was a young boy no older than six. He walked close to Lis, his gaze remaining on the floor as he was urged forward. The top of his head was covered in thick, dark hair similar to Silas’ hair. He held a small bear to his chest. Lis bent down to whisper into his ear and the boy shook his head. She said something else and the boy shyly raised his eyes to Silas.

Silas gasped. Rowan stared at the boy with eyes as blue as Silas’, their pupils slanted just like hers.

“Tobias,” he said, stepping forward. The boy shrank back, Silas was so big that Rowan imagined he must look like a giant to the small child.

Lis squatted down beside the boy and held him. Silas took her lead and went down on one knee.

“This is your papa,” Lis said. “You will go to live with him now.”

“I want to stay with you,” the boy cried, throwing his arms around Lis’ neck. Rowan saw the flash of emotion in her eyes and it made her own fill with tears.

“Lis will accompany you to the settlement and she may stay if she likes,” Ben said, sounding hopeful and proud.

Rowan met Lis’ gaze, not believing what she had just heard. Lis smiled, but fear was underneath that smile.

“You’ll like it there, Lis,” Rowan said, speaking to Lis. When everyone turned to her, she shyly dropped her gaze.

Silas lifted the boy’s chin. “I’ve never been a dad so we’ll have to do this thing together,” Silas said. “But I promise to be good to you. There are boys at the village who are your age and soon, you’ll have a brother or sister,” he said.

“I’m sure he’ll be very happy,” Ben said. “I have a colony to get under control. Your transport is ready and waiting outside. Our guards will accompany you until you reach your destination.”