The White Rose

“Violet.” Ochre looks pale in the moonlight. His big brown eyes are dark shadows. “They took her. She’s . . . she’s gone. I tried to get in touch with someone from the Society, but they moved me to a different dairy and I didn’t know anyone. I barely managed to get to the training tonight. I thought maybe you’d be there. They took her, Violet!”

“We can’t choose who we free from them, Violet. It has to be all or nothing. Do you think Lucien would ever choose to help a companion?”

“Like I said—it’s nearly impossible to find.” Lucien is smiling at me. “Believe me. I’ve spent hours on my own, wandering around these woods looking for it.”
“But . . . what is it?” I ask.
“Your new home.” His smile widens.
“Welcome to the White Rose.”

The royalty take and take and it never seems to be enough for them. They steal girls to make their babies, boys to protect them, or seduce them, or serve them. But we are not objects. We are not the latest fashion or the most expensive prize. We are people.

“If you admit you need people, you can lose them.” Her gaze sharpens, returning to the present. “But needing people can save your life.”