“That would have to be the case.” His eyes sparked dangerously. “Being as I left in search of you five minutes after our conversation and couldn’t find you until now.”

He grabbed her shoulder. “I’ve had everyone out looking for you. Where have you been?”

Romy set her jaw. “I was walking,” she repeated. She knew he could tell she was lying. It was her typical weak Romy-lie.

She must have looked Nancy’s way one too many times because suspicion lit Atlas’s eyes, and he began to turn. She held her breath as the group began to scatter.

Romy waved her hand in front of Atlas’s face. “Why were you looking for me?”

He faced her, but blinked at her arm and very slowly grew still. His eyes locked on something. Romy glanced down and couldn’t help the loud inhale she took. She stared at the blue-black finger mark bruises surrounding her upper arm.

She shrank, staring at the marks that were quite clearly from a large hand. Dreading what she would see, Romy raised her eyes to Atlas’s. Grey eyes were on her, watching. His calloused hand made for her elbow and she flinched away. Hurt flickered in his dark eyes and Atlas’s hand fell back to his side.

He regarded her silently and Romy felt like he was just as out of his depth as she was in hers.

“Come with me,” he said.

It was nearly dinnertime. Maybe. . . . Her eyes slid to the Hull.

“Now,” he ordered.

Romy jumped and glared at him. She glanced around. The settlement was on their way to dinner and she and Atlas had drawn a crowd. With a huff, she strode after the demanding man.

She stormed past Atlas into his office. Romy saw Tina’s shocked face for a split second before Atlas slammed the door. She wondered what the woman would make of this conversation.

“Who gave you those bruises?”

Romy untied her shirt and shrugged it back on. “No one.”

Atlas wasn’t looking her way. His hands were clasped loosely behind his back. He stood like a soldier. Lucas was a soldier. The politics of this place made no sense to her. She didn’t know what move to make.

“Do you think covering them makes them go away?” His eyes were like flint. The angriest she’d seen them. “Tell me, or I'll find out myself.”

Romy was silent in the wake of his fury. He couldn’t help her—not if Lucas worked for the Mandate. She wouldn’t dump him in trouble, too.

“Was it Thrym?”

Her mouth dropped open. “What? No!”

Atlas turned on the spot and she was trapped under his gaze. “Then who are you protecting?”

My knot! she wanted to scream. Always her knot. And you, you fool.

His frustration grew as she remained mute. “I don’t understand, Rosemary. If someone’s hurting you, I can help.”