Was that the reason James didn’t want to bring me here? Did he think I wouldn’t fit in? I couldn’t be tamed? No, I reminded myself. It was the other aspect of life in Judaculla. The part about being “made pregnant,” and what happened afterward. What always happened whenever another male child was born in Judaculla. The women, all outsiders, were always blamed for the never-ending curse of all-male births. After childbirth, there was a drastic change in the way the woman was treated. Many were verbally or physically abused by their husbands. It seemed as if the men wanted it known it wasn’t their fault another male had been born. That was why James hadn’t brought me back. He didn’t want me to live that way. A nasty thought dug at me.

But what if that wasn’t the reason.

What if it was something else?

James doesn’t want you here.

It was what Ever had said. But as far as I could tell, that girl was full of herself and quite possibly other stuff.

I followed Calla into a large library. Floor-to-ceiling shelves lined all four walls. The only natural light cascaded down from wall-length transom windows located above each bookcase. I tried to calculate how many books were kept in this room, but my estimate easily soared above a few thousand. I ran my fingertip along one of the shelves, appreciating the absence of dust. It didn’t make much sense that we were being sent to clean an already-spotless room.

“Over here,” Calla said. She motioned me to a small podium that was tucked under one of the bookshelves. A burgundy, leather-covered book was on top of the podium. It was closed, and the edges of its pages were gilded.

“What is it?” I asked, but then regretted my question. I really needed to be better at slipping my questions into our conversations, so I wouldn’t appear so out of place.

“I’m beginning to be a little concerned about your One. Didn’t he tell you anything?”

“Mine told me many things,” I said. “But there were some things he said he didn’t want to tell me because he thought I wouldn’t understand.”

Calla nodded, seeming to believe a story in which I sounded simple-minded. “Mine told me there were things I’d have to learn later as well.” She stared at the podium, then bit her lower lip. “I don’t guess it would hurt for me to tell you. Everyone else knows.” She glanced around the room nervously.

“It’s okay, Calla. We’re the only ones here. What is it?” I coaxed.

Calla took a deep breath, checking the room once more before whispering. “The Bound Book. It’s a list of everyone who is bound together. Each of our names is written inside.”

“Why?” I asked.