Citadel by C. M. Alongi

Author:C. M. Alongi [Alongi, C. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-09T23:23:46+00:00

“So, do you prefer men?”

The question caught Riley completely off guard. Especially since he and Bella had been sitting in relative silence for the last hour. Only two patients had come to collect their medicines, and it had been very straightforward, minus the odd looks they both gave Riley.

“What makes you say that?” he asked.

Bella shrugged. “You’re here. Obviously you’re not . . . well, not the manliest person in town. Why else would you pursue women’s work?”

“The same reason some women pursue men’s work. It’s their Placement,” he said, a defensive edge to his voice. He forced himself to take a deep breath and be calm. Wouldn’t do to get into an argument on his first day.

“If you say so,” she said. “But you didn’t answer my question.”

He rolled his eyes. “No, I do not prefer men. The few times I have liked someone like that, they’ve all been girls.”

“Sure.”

He caught the disbelief in her voice and didn’t care. Such accusations of “sexual deviancy” had led to executions before, but they were incredibly hard to prove. And like most of his father’s policies, Riley honestly didn’t see the point in pursuing this one. That was how the Hundred-Faced God made them, and some had joined the Doves specifically because of it. Just because he didn’t see the appeal of the same sex didn’t mean he was going to persecute those who did.

A tall, big-nosed figure strode up to the desk. Riley straightened. “Markus! Good to see you.”

Markus blinked at him. “So it’s true.”

Riley bit back a sigh. Hundred hells, can we have a single conversation today that doesn’t revolve around this?

“Getting medicine for your wife?” he asked.

“Yes,” Markus said, somewhat stiffly.

Bella excused herself to use the restroom, leaving the two of them alone in the hall.

“I’m disappointed in you, Riley,” Markus said. “You could’ve been governor. We needed that.”

“Even if that did happen, that would’ve taken years,” Riley pointed out. “Help me fill out this form so we can keep track of your wife’s treatment.”

They did, very awkwardly. Riley noticed that Markus was dressed in one of his best suits and frowned. “I thought you worked during the day.”

“I do. But Jane was too weak to leave the house today, so I took a break.”

Riley went back into the closet to fetch the medicine, searching through rows and rows of glass and wood. While he was there, he came to a decision.

“You know,” he said, coming back out, medicine in hand, “we do deliver.”

“We prefer not to do that,” Markus said. Under his breath, he added, “Too dangerous.”

“I can ask Asiya if I can take you on specifically. Everyone knows Jane and I are friends.” He set the medicine on the desk between them. “God knows I could use the exercise.”

Markus opened and closed his mouth, then nodded. “You know, that would be very nice. Thank you, Riley.”

He smiled, watching Markus leave.

Let them whisper. Let them laugh. Let them hate his guts. He was going to be the best medic Citadel had ever seen.

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