When he came in from his run the next morning, Jared found Gideon in the kitchen, talking to someone on the phone. “Yeah, don’t I know it. Mm hmm. Ain’t much we can do about that one.”

 

Jared made lots of noise grabbing a mug and rattling the coffee pot so that Gideon would know he was no longer alone. Gideon spun around from where he had been hunched over the stove and gave Jared a nod. Speaking to whomever was on the other end, Gideon said, “You do what you can down there. I’ll talk to the kids when they’re all around. Jared takes after his daddy, up and at ‘em early, but those other two are damn good at wastin’ daylight.”

 

Jared’s stomach did a funny turn at hearing Gideon refer to Johnathan as his dad and took a sip of hot coffee to keep his throat from tightening up. He pulled out a carton of eggs from the fridge to scramble as Gideon wrapped up his conversation. “Yeah, Slater is here with me. No, you remember what I told you about that. Stay out of it now.” Despite his words, Gideon’s voice was gentle, more so than Jared had ever heard it. “You take care, you hear me? Hmph. I’ll see you soon.” Gideon ended the call, wiping a silly half-smile off his face. “You sleep good?”

 

Jared shrugged. “Okay.” He divided the cooked eggs between two plates, and sat down at the table across from Gideon. His run had made him hungry, and even after all these months with Gideon, Jared’s easy honesty with the man still surprised him, so he dug into his breakfast without saying much else.

 

After a while, Jared figured he should take the opportunity to talk to Gideon while no one else was around. Jared pushed his fork around his almost empty plate, and asked something he had wondered for years. “What does. Um. I mean. Why…” Jared tangled his fingers together, and fiddled with his bracelet.

 

Gideon refilled Jared’s coffee cup, then his own. He squeezed Jared’s shoulder. “Spit it out, son.”

 

Jared took a breath, and bypassed correcting Gideon this time. “I just want to know…and don’t get mad, okay, I’m sorry for saying it but.” He looked up at Gideon. “What does ‘ditchbreed’ mean? I mean I know what it means.” He said hastily. “But where did it come from?”

 

Gideon’s hand tightened around the coffeepot. He pulled a trivet across the table to set the pot down and took a seat next to Jared. “Your daddy never told you?”

 

Jared shook his head.

 

Gideon sighed, and gestured to Jared’s wrist. “He burned it off, but didn't tell you why you had it?”

 

Jared ran his fingers over the cuff covering his scar, where the dark stain used to be. “I know I was born with it. I know it means something bad.”

 

Gideon shook his head. “No, it don’t. It just means you come from something else, that’s all.”

 

Jared gave him an imploring look. “From what, exactly? I’ve heard so many different things and I just need to know the truth. I know I’m different; I just don’t know why.”

 

“He should have told you,” Gideon muttered. He took a long sip of coffee. “It was a long time ago. No one knows why it happened.”

 

“The Ravaging.” Jared had heard it a million times growing up on the streets, spoken mostly in fear. But no one would ever tell him what it meant.

 

Gideon nodded. “The Ravaging. Happened almost a hundred years ago. Stories say that Hell itself opened up and unleashed its fury on earth. The whole world over was destroyed by it. People killed, cities leveled. Infrastructure burned to the ground.”

 

“But what caused it?”

 

“No one is sure. Some say demons, some say Satan himself. Some say humans finally turned on each other, though I put my money on the hellspawn theory. Ain't no way humans caused that much destruction in such a short time. There are no living survivors from The Ravaging today, only descendants. They’ve tried to put some stories on record, but most of the survivors at the time were so damn traumatized that nothing much came out.”

 

An uneasy feeling came over Jared. “Hellspawn?”

 

“Like I said, most people say The Ravaging was caused by a hellish force. A war between the King of Souls and the Queen of Light...before the Ravaging people would have said heaven versus hell, angels against demons. See, people used to fight over lots of nonsense back then; religion, skin color, even sexuality, if you can believe it. Had a hard time letting people just be people.” Gideon waved his had dismissively. “A lot of things that used to matter back then don’t matter no more. But most say that evil demonic forces rose up and took their collective revenge on the selfish, spoiled human race.”

 

Gideon poured himself a second cup of coffee, but didn't drink it. “I’m guessin’ you never went to school, though Johnathan certainly did somethin’ right, smart as you are. But it’s in all the history books. Half the population, completely decimated in the blink of an eye. Scholars still wonder today how advanced the human race might be if The Ravaging had never happened. Had to build just about everything back up from scratch...buildings, roads, phone lines, houses, you name it. Most luxuries got streamlined, since so many resources dried up. After The Ravaging, people had a very back to basics approach, which is why everything is now so heavily monitored and regulated; why we all got either civilian issue trucks or bikes, standard mobile phones, and the like.”

 

“That still doesn't explain-“

 

“I’m gettin’ there. These dark souls that rose up, caused all the destruction, they didn't just kill. They also…” Gideon looked uncomfortable. “Hell, you deserve to know the truth. Some of them mated, with human females. Against their will, of course.”

 

“They raped them.” 

 

Gideon nodded solemnly. “Yes. Nine months later, thousands of babies were born with a mark, an imprint of the darkness that helped create them. A permanent stain on the top of the left wrist. The mothers, they died the instant the baby was born, but the babies lived, and went on to make more babies, and, well. There are still some descendants of those today.”

 

“I have a mark of Hell on me,” Jared choked out, horrified.

 

“No, son, you don’t. You are one hundred percent human, just like the rest of us. The demonic forces, whatever they were, died along with those poor women they violated. It happened all over the world, but here in the states, a huge divide of burnt earth was left along the banks of the Mississippi River. It doubled to twice its size and the edges turned black. The largest batch of offspring to come from The Ravaging were born in cities along those ditches.”

 

“Ditchbreed.” Jared whispered.

 

“Just a nasty word used by nasty people, or those that don’t know any better.” Gideon sighed. “I’m ashamed to say I used it a time or two back before I realized the damage that stigma was spreading.”

 

Jared curled his right hand over his left wrist, digging the cuff into his skin.

 

“The babies were pure, their offspring were pure, you’re pure,” Gideon promised. “Ever since then, humans have just been tryin’ to rebuild, to bring back the life they once knew before The Ravaging. There has always been ignorance, unnecessary prejudice directed towards those who still bear a hereditary mark, but thanks to our current government, there is now a resurgence of hate born from fear of another Ravaging.” Gideon wrapped his hands around Jared’s, where they now had a death grip on his coffee cup. “But it’s all nonsense, you hear me? Nonsense. It’s a damned crazy quirk of genetics, that mark. That’s it. You ain’t any more evil than the dust beneath my fridge.”

 

There was a tightness in Jared’s chest, and he was grateful for Gideon’s grasp on his hands because they were developing their familiar tremor. “I’m stained.”

 

“You’re a Cooper,” Gideon countered. “Loved, safe, and full pure human, just like the rest of us. Vivienne Knox, now there is a spawn of Hell. Has a whole army of Agents dedicated to wipe out an impurity that don’t even exist.” Gideon squeezed his hands. “We won’t let her, Jared. You ain’t a stain to be wiped clean, you hear me?”

 

Blood rushed Jared’s ears, at the memory of Johnathan telling him that exact same thing just days before he died. “He saved me.” Jared cast his eyes upstairs, where his brother and sister still slept. “They saved me.”

 

Gideon released his hands. “They damn sure did. And you deserved it. There are other Renegades like Johnathan Cooper, like your brother, like Reese Slater, who just want the world to learn that rescues ain’t nothin’ to be scared of.”

 

Jared shot up from his chair, backing up against the kitchen wall. Knowing there were good people out there didn't cancel out the bad. “Vivienne wants us gone. She wants us eliminated, and she’s having no problem convincing other people to help her.”

 

“Sadly, you ain't wrong. And Declan killing William out of revenge for murdering your daddy started a whole fight within a fight. Vivienne probably wants him now more than ever. But no matter how many Agents she’s got, we Renegades are gonna stop them.” They both heard movement coming from upstairs. “We are in for one hell of a fight, son, but don’t for one second think we ain’t gonna win it.”

 

Jared wanted to believe that was true, but the reality was, all he’d felt lately was loss.

 

 

After dinner that night, Gideon directed them all to a local bar where they could “let off some steam and maybe get to know one another,” though he was mostly eyeing Declan and Reese at that last comment. Gideon had begged off, telling them he had to be on hand for any Renegade communication that might come through.

 

Jared and Rae hopped into their truck with Declan, while Reese followed on his motorcycle. The bar was small, half-lit, and just the right place for someone like Jared to be able to get in without an ID.

 

Shortly after grabbing a round of drinks, Declan and Rae both got up to mingle with the local crowd. Rae first squeezed Jared’s hand, looking at him with silent question.

 

Jared shook his head. “Go.” The guy Rae had her eye on was cute; lean, polished, and had been smiling at her with perfect dimples and straight white teeth for a good five minutes. He didn’t blame her for wanting to check him out. Jared glanced at Declan, watching him lean casually against the bar while chatting up a pretty blonde.

 

“You can go join him, if you like.” The corner of Reese’s mouth turned up. “Looks like she’s got a friend.”

 

Jared flushed, quickly looking away. “I uh, I didn’t come out tonight to meet people.” His eyes roved over Reese’s dark hair. “I’m not much for blondes anyway.” Jared wanted to smack himself when he noticed Reese grinning at him.

 

Luckily for Jared, Reese let the comment slide. “Didn’t take you for much of a drinker.”

 

Jared shrugged. “I like beer. Not much else. Back home, a couple neighborhood bars were really all that was around for entertainment, so when we felt a little too much cabin fever that’s where we would go. Bartenders there got to know me, but here...” Jared shrugged. This was the first time they’d been out in a long time. He didn’t blame Rae and Declan for trying to find some company for the night.

 

“Hard to get around a new place without an ID.”

 

Jared sighed. “Declan or Rae always have to get me drinks. I had a fake ID for awhile but when the new government regulations came down with stricter security measures a couple years ago, we couldn’t find anyone who could make a genuine copy.” Jared played with the label on his beer bottle. He tried to inflect a lightness in his voice, but feeling like he shouldn’t even be sitting here made it hard to find the confidence to do so. “It’s like I’m not even a person.”

 

Reese scoffed. “A piece of paper in your back pocket isn’t what makes you a person.”

 

Jared looked up through the hair that had fallen into his face to see Reese’s storm cloud eyes piercing right through him.

 

A hand on Jared’s shoulder startled him. “Don’t wait up,” Declan said, tilting his head in the direction of the blonde at the bar. “I gave Rae the truck keys.” Jared nodded. Declan studied the two of them. “Anything I need to worry about, Slater?”

 

Reese brought his beer bottle to his lips. “You just worry about your ability to seal the deal. She looks like she’s about to lose interest.” Reese laughed when Declan scowled at him, the sound rich and full.

 

Jared coughed. “I’ll be right back.” He gave Declan a playful shove as he rose, letting his brother know he was fine. What the hell was Declan afraid of, that Reese would snatch Jared out of the bar and take him somewhere else to have his dirty, wicked way with him?

 

The thought didn’t bother Jared nearly as much as it should have.

 

He made his way to the bathroom, using the break to splash some water on his face and clear his head. It had been Rae’s idea for them all to come out tonight, and while Jared had been getting sick of the confines of Gideon’s cottage, the jogging trails and lakeside views did enough to combat his own case of cabin fever. A part of Jared was enjoying being out, sitting and having a beer with Reese like they were just two normal people, but he was too on edge, and maybe still a little wary of the man that was Reese Slater, to fully enjoy it.

 

Jared spent way too long washing his hands, his eyes locked on his leather cuff. It was such a part of him, this thing that covered his stain wiped clean by a burn scar, that Jared rarely gave it a second glance. It was a comfort object to fiddle with when he got nervous, and a spot of warmth when strangers around him acted so cold. But after sitting at a table with a gorgeous man who would never once have cause to adorn his own wrists, Jared was more aware of his cuff than ever.

 

He took his time heading back to their table, winding his way around bar patrons and pool tables.

Jared was halted by a giant bear of a man leaning against one of the game tables, his hands wrapped suggestively around his pool cue as he eyed Jared. “Where do you think you’re going, pretty boy?”

 

Jared wasn’t exactly small, but the three men gathered around the pool tables inadvertently blocking his path were each about twice his size. One of them paid him no attention, a bored look crossing his ugly face, but the other two sidled up on either side of Jared, closing him in between themselves and the pool table.

 

Forcing away the panic that crawled up his throat, Jared spoke in measured tones. “Just trying to get back to my friends.”

 

“Well, don’t let us keep you,” the man snickered. His large, clumsy looking body betrayed his quick reflexes and in an instant he had his meaty hand wrapped around Jared’s naked wrist. “But maybe first you should play a little game with us.”

 

Jared curled his fingers to make a fist, the slim muscles in his wrist pulsing painfully underneath the guy’s thick hand. “No, thanks.” He gave his arm a tug, but the man’s hand only tightened.

 

The guy looked Jared up and down, a nasty gleam in his eye that reminded Jared of William Kingsley. “He’s got that look to him, don’t he, Red?” The man’s voice was cold and grating, nothing like Reese’s warm timbre.

 

The second guy, Red, nodded. “He sure does.” He crowded in closer on Jared’s other side. Jared braced for a fight, though he wasn’t stupid enough to think he could take both of them. Their sheer size and weight worked against Jared on that score. He darted his gaze around the room, but he couldn’t spot Rae or Declan.

 

Red ripped open Jared’s left sleeve, exposing his cuff. Jared shuddered when his finger ran underneath it, pushing against the puffy flesh of his scar. “Well, well.”

 

Jared fought the urge to vomit and figured if fighting wasn’t going to work, he needed to focus on flight. Jared racked his brain, forcing it to engage despite his growing panic. The bar had two entries, he remembered. Double doors at the front, one on the east side. There was also likely a back door out the kitchen, if he could just-

 

“You’re shaking, ditchbreed,” the first man whispered in his ear. His breath stank of cheap fries and stale beer. “It’s kind of a turn on.”

 

Jared hissed in a breath when the man dug thick fingers into the fragile veins at Jared’s pulse point. Just when Jared was about to shift his weight for a roundhouse kick to nail the guy in the crotch, someone behind him spoke.

 

“Let go of him.” Reese’s gravelly voice rumbled with dangerous promise.

 

The guy pinning Jared scoffed, though his grip did loosen a bit when he turned. “No thanks, I’m good.”

 

Reese chuckled, and the absolute lack of humor in the sound would have terrified Jared had Reese not been on his side. “Maybe I didn’t ask nice enough,” Reese drawled, his tone laced with steel. He stepped closer, and Jared could feel the heat of him at his back. “Let go of him, asshole.”

 

Red shifted, plucking a knife from his waistband. “Aww, come on now. That ain’t no way to sweet talk.” He smirked at Reese, twisting his wrist so the lamps above the pool table caught the surface of his blade in their yellow light. “Maybe the ditchbreed can teach you how. He seems to like it.”

 

“Does he?” Reese moved between him and Jared, blocking Red’s advance. Reese looked over his shoulder. “Jared?”

 

“Yep.” Jared took his cue, fisting his free left hand over his right.  He raised his arms and slammed them back down, crunching his captor’s wrist against the solid wooden pool table. Reese gave Red a hard shove, then shot out his hand in Jared’s direction. Jared wasted no time in taking it, grateful for Reese’s strong grip and long strides pulling him towards the side exit of the bar.

 

Once they burst outside, Jared bent double, pulling in deep breaths of fresh air.

 

Reese grabbed his shoulder. “Are you all right?” he demanded. He immediately loosened his grip. “Shit. Sorry. That’s no better than what they were doing.”

 

Jared shook his head. He missed the warm strength on his shoulder, though he would never admit it out loud. “I’m fine.” Pulling in another deep breath, he looked Reese in the eye. “Thanks. For uh, having my back.”

 

Reese curled his hands into fists, and slid his gaze back towards the bar. “It doesn’t have to end here.” Jared recognized that look, one that said he was looking for blood. He’d seen it his whole life on Declan, every time someone even glanced at Jared the wrong way.

 

The pressure inside Jared’s chest lessened, and he found himself almost smiling. “They aren’t worth it.”

 

The tension in Reese’s shoulders eased, and he stepped close, so that his chest was just inches from Jared’s. Reese lifted a hand towards Jared’s face, and Jared swayed forward, anticipating the touch.

 

Reese’s hand fell before making contact. He cleared his throat. “You want a ride back?”

 

Jared glanced over at Reese’s motorcycle. He had never been on one before, had only ridden in civilian issue trucks like their Bronco.

 

Riding back to Gideon’s on the back of Reese’s bike, gripping Reese’s denim clad hips and leaning with him into turns like their bodies were one, Jared thought that never had a new place felt so much like home.