Vicky released his hand as if it were on fire when Abby turned toward them. Abby’s gaze fell to Nathan’s hand before she focused ahead again.

“Do you have a girlfriend, Nathan?” Abby inquired.

“I don’t think now is the time to discuss relationships, Abigail.” Vicky smiled at the back of her twin’s head while contemplating choking her.

Brian hugged Abby and subtly shook his head at her. It was the wrong move to make as Abby’s shoulders went back.

“Oh wait, you hunters have an engagement ceremony of some sort, don’t you?” Abby inquired.

“They do,” Vicky said.

“That’s right,” Abby said and slapped her forehead. “I’d forgotten Kadence told us the elders picked their partners for them.”

Vicky knew she hadn’t forgotten anything; Abby was up to something.

“Will they choose a bride for you, Nathan?” Abby inquired.

“That’s their plan,” he replied crisply.

“You must be excited about that,” Abby said. “Weddings are happy occasions.”

“This really isn’t the time,” Vicky told her.

“Why not? We’re alone down here, and no one wants to think about what has happened above. Plus, I find it fascinating to learn about other cultures; I did want to join the Peace Corp, remember?” Abby asked.

“I do,” Vicky said, but she kept waiting for whatever trap Abby was setting to spring.

“And now I have an opportunity to learn more about the hunter culture that I find fascinating.”

You’re so full of shit, Vicky thought as she met her sister’s sweet smile. She hoped she’d kicked Abby a time or two in the womb. Abby had a large heart, and Vicky knew these questions were coming from a place of love, but she’d give anything for this to end.

“Plus, learning new things is a good distraction from what might be lurking ahead,” Abby continued.

“It’s easier to hear a possible threat if no one is talking,” Brian grumbled.

“I meant lurking in our futures, not ahead of us down here. From everything Vicky said, there is no threat here,” Abby replied.

“There’s been no threat, so far,” Brian said.

“I don’t want to think about those children and hunters and what happened to them,” Abby said.

Vicky couldn’t argue with her, but she wished Abby would ask about something that didn’t involve weddings.

“Will they choose a bride for you soon?” Abby asked Nathan.

“Yes, Abigail,” Vicky interjected. “The elders will soon choose the perfect, virginal bride for Nathan. Though why anyone would want to marry someone without testing the goods first, is beyond me.”

Nathan dropped his head into his hand and rubbed his forehead to ease the hammering that started there hours ago. Duncan and Brian both snickered before discreetly coughing into their hands. Asher wasn’t as discreet as he laughed loudly, and Logan muttered an agreement.

“You must be looking forward to marriage,” Abby said to Nathan, as if Vicky had never spoken.

“Yes, because all men want a wife who will cook, clean, rub their feet, say yes to their every whim, and never speak out. How exciting for him, how thrilling for her.” Vicky realized jealousy colored her words and everyone could hear it, but she’d had enough of it all.

“And what if they both suck in bed? Could you imagine how miserable that relationship could become? I mean, sex isn’t everything, but no one wants to walk around in a permanent state of sexual frustration. I’ve seen the show, Snapped; I’m pretty sure that’s why 95 percent of those people went bonkers.” Vicky couldn’t get herself to shut up as her exasperation poured out. “Besides, I never understood why someone wouldn’t experience a few different men or women before settling on the one. The idea of only knowing one man for life sounds boring to me.”

“Hey!” Abby protested.

Vicky knew she’d struck the nerve she was aiming for to distract her sister. She actually didn’t find it boring; to each their freaking own, but this inquisition had to end.

“Of course, I didn’t mean you,” Vicky said with a wave of her hand. “You couldn’t help being boring; Brian ruined you when you were fifteen.”

“Hey!” Brian protested, and his head swiveled toward her.

“Well, you did,” Vicky said with a flutter of her lashes. “After she saw you, Abby forgot all other guys.”

“You make me sound like a pedophile.” Brian’s gaze went beyond Vicky to the others. “For the record, I never touched her when she was fifteen, and we didn’t become mates until she was twenty-one.” He glared at Vicky before turning away from her.

Brian guided Abby forward as her attention remained on Vicky. Behind Nathan, Asher and Logan both stifled their laughter while Abby and Vicky glared at each other.

Nathan might have found the interaction between the twins amusing, in some ways it reminded him of his relationship with Kadence, but he wasn’t thrilled about being the center of Abby’s questions. Not when he finally had Vicky at his side again and just wanted to take solace in her presence.

Vicky willed Abby to stop, but when Abby’s gaze shifted back to Nathan, Vicky’s temper started to boil.

“Will your engagement be soon?” Abby asked, and Vicky heard a tenor of fear in her voice.

“If the elders had their way, the ceremony would be tomorrow,” Asher said.

Vicky’s breath caught; she struggled to keep her face impassive after this revelation, but Abby must have seen or sensed something as she stretched a hand toward her, but Vicky avoided it. If she took comfort from Abby now, she would burst into tears and never stop crying. She refused to let that happen. Her eyes had been wide open when she deepened her relationship with Nathan, and she would not break over her choice.

“But Nathan told them no,” Logan said. “I’m beginning to understand why.”

Nathan met Logan’s eyes over his shoulder. Logan was focused on Vicky, but then his attention shifted to Nathan. He didn’t know what to expect from Logan, but his friend shrugged.

“Nothing will ever be the same after today, and believe me, I’m in no rush to return to the marriage chopping block,” Logan said. “I’d prefer a little more time between fiancées, but I suspect the elders are planning to try marrying me off again soon.”

“I think they’re going to marry us all off,” Asher muttered and pulled at the collar of his sweater.

Vicky buried the excitement that leapt to life at the revelation Nathan told the elders no to the engagement ceremony.

It might not mean anything for you. He’s dealing with enough right now without adding marriage to it. Of course, he would want to put the ceremony off until everything gets straightened out, Vicky told herself.

Unfortunately, Abby didn’t seem to agree as she turned and gave Vicky two thumbs up. Vicky rolled her eyes at the dorky display, grateful Nathan hadn’t seen it. Brian shook his head at his mate as Vicky and Abby simultaneously stopped walking.

Unprepared for the sudden halt, Nathan barely avoided smacking into Abby’s back, but Logan didn’t stop himself from bumping into Vicky. He stepped hastily away as Vicky scented the air and her nose wrinkled.

The search of the tunnels had proven futile night after night, but tonight, they weren’t so lucky.