Giada's parents were as nice as she'd claimed. Enzo and Quorra had been welcoming, quickly masking their surprise when their daughter dragged Kanden inside their home. Wasting no time, they ushered him inside and sat him at a sturdy copper-toned table while speaking rapidly between English and something else he couldn't identify.

Before he understood what was happening, he'd been sent to wash up in a shared bathroom between this unit and another, separated by a locked door on the other side. Two shower stalls stood on each side of a partition as well as toilets and wash basins. Where the space lacked décor, it made up for in cleanliness.

When he dried his hands and came out, he noticed Giada had changed into a gray tunic over a pair of leggings in a slightly darker shade. Her wild hair bounced over her shoulders in a dance of orange and red flames, giving her an otherworldly appearance of an ancient goddess.

Rich aromas of herbs and grains saturated the air, making Kanden's mouth water as Quorra shoved him into a chair and piled salad and a serving of seasoned grains on his and Giada's plates.

After so many ups and downs that day, food had been the last thing on his mind. His empty stomach rumbled loud enough to wake the dead as he stared at the surprisingly hearty meal. The portions were larger than those seen among the lower class and slightly smaller than the rations his elite station afforded, consisting of lettuce, tomatoes, onion, and other scarce food items. This family was better off than most, making Kanden wonder how many others went hungry so the higher tiers could eat this well.

A glance around the room confirmed their status: metal gears made from various alloys decorated the walls to form a pleasing aesthetic, though Kanden found comfort in the shabby sofa with long-faded fabric that had been patched in at least two spots.

He didn't know many middle-class families and had often wondered how they lived. The founding families tended to enjoy relative luxuries with their larger units, and Kanden was suddenly grateful his parents had opted for a less opulent lifestyle. Any items from the Overland were scattered throughout the Underground, likely acquired and hoarded by a select few families.

Quorra and Enzo took their seats across from Kanden and Giada, folding their hands and bowing their heads.

When Kanden cast an uncertain glance to his friend, Giada leaned close and whispered, "Just go with it. I'll explain later."

Following their lead, Kanden peeked through his lashes as Enzo recited a brief prayer, thanking the Lord in a place called Heaven for the food and their blessings. Kanden wasn't versed in spirituality, but the invocation was earnest and sincere, ending with a reverent amen.

Once the family lifted their dented forks, Kanden took a tentative bite and closed his eyes with a soft moan. This family made herbs go a long way.

"I've mished this," Giada mumbled around a mouthful of food.

"Gia, chew your food and swallow before you speak," Quorra chastised in a sharp tone. "It's no wonder you can't find a man. No one wants to marry a slob."

Kanden almost choked while Giada rolled her eyes, shameless and unfazed. He would have been mortified if Father suggested the topic or bluntly singled him out like that.

"He'sh gay," she retorted through the same bite, "I don't need to impresh him."

Kanden nudged her leg with his and playfully wrinkled his nose. He'd have stuck out his tongue if they'd been in the dorms, but he didn't know Giada's family, and he wanted to make a passable first impression.

With a deep frown lining her thin mouth, Quorra didn't appear amused by her daughter's antics. She muttered something in her native language and shook her head. "I don't know why the good Lord gave me such a feral child. You can't just go calling people out like that. It's rude."

"I'm not bothered by it," Kanden assured the matriarch, feeling a sudden desire to protect his friend. If anything, Giada made him more comfortable in his awkward skin than a lifetime spent with his closest friend and ex boyfriend, both of whom had seen his best and worst qualities. "Giada's great."

Enzo rested a hand on his wife's. "Peace, Quorra. We should enjoy our time together with our family and present company." Facing his daughter, he asked, "Speaking of, why are you here and not in training?"

Giada set down her fork and swallowed her food. "I quit."

"Why?" Enzo watched her intently, leaving his plate untouched. "Joining the Enforcers was all you could talk about these past few months."

When it became apparent she needed to elaborate, Giada sighed. "You taught me to stand up for myself if something wasn't right, and I would have been eliminated anyway. I don't like the way one of the trainers handled herself."

By the way her cheeks turned pink, Kanden could tell Giada wanted to say more, but she seemed to have held back out of respect for him.

Guilt prompted him to address the patriarch. After all, Giada would probably still be on the lower floor had it not been for him being too weak to follow orders. "It's my fault, sir. Giada stood up for me when Olivine slapped me."

"They hit the recruits?" Quorra demanded, looking between him and her daughter. "Is that permitted?"

Giada shrugged. "I don't know, probably? It's not worse than a brutal death penalty with everyone watching, but she didn't need to be so awful. She called him useless and said he should have been killed as an infant."

The parents exchanged a troubled glance. Touching his thumb and index finger to his chin, Enzo frowned. "I see. I'm proud of you for speaking up, but you should be more careful. Olivine might not be part of the Council, but she fought hard during the riots, and people respect her. You don't want to be on her bad side."

"I can ask my father to take her back," Kanden offered, keeping his gaze down as his appetite fled. "It's me Olivine is angry with. I refused to participate in the hand-to-hand combat training, and I pushed for leniency with Ryker after the riots."

Giada's eyes widened. "Why? He's a criminal."

Her words hit him like the sting of Olivine's hand, making him recoil. "You don't understand. He was young when his dad died and the rebels approached him while he was in a bad place. Much as I'm angry that he lied to me, he had no part in the events leading to the riots. Everyone is so quick to judge without seeking the truth, but he was every bit a victim as the rest of us."

Enzo cocked his head to one side. "You have quite the sharp mind, Mr Calvorite. Are you sure you wouldn't be better suited to Engineering? We could use someone with your ability to think outside the box and question your surroundings."

Kanden shook his head and dropped his hands in his lap. "Please call me Kanden. Mr Calvorite is my father. But no. I've never considered anything outside the conservatory. Watching plants grow has always made me happy. I was only in training because my father put me there."

"Your compassion is not weakness," he said mildly, pausing until Kanden met the older man's hazel eyes. "It is a strength that many could learn from. Based on your response just now, it's obvious you give everything careful consideration. Some might say that's a mark of leadership."

Kanden stifled a bitter laugh. Him? Lead people? No way. "I disappoint everyone I meet. Ouch!" He glared at Giada, who had kicked him under the table. "What was that for?"

Twisted in her chair with one eyebrow raised and her lips puckered, she watched him as if he should already know the answer. "You inspired half the recruits to walk out of one of the most elite factions. People listen to you. Even Griffin followed you, and he's an idiot. How can you not see that?"

"Maybe they were all tired of Olivine's crap," he argued, unconvinced by their flawed observations. "I've been told my entire life how worthless I am — I know my place, and it's not as some imaginary hero."

Giada didn't back down. "Okay, then tell me where you've been going with Rhonin. Why aren't you allowed to quit? You already told us you don't want to be an enforcer."

There was no good way to respond without breaking Rhonin's order for secrecy. Kanden trusted Giada, but too much knowledge could be dangerous. All he could do was shake his head and hope she'd understand. "I can't answer that."

Pain clouded Giada's eyes, and she blinked rapidly, either in surprise or to stem tears. Kanden couldn't tell, and he prepared to excuse himself when Enzo lifted a hand and stopped them.

"Kanden, please sit back down. Giada, whatever you're thinking, keep it to yourself for a moment and listen."

Halfway out of his chair, Kanden sank into his seat while Giada turned toward the table and hung her head, hiding her face behind a curtain of red curls. Both waited in tense silence for the patriarch to speak.

Pushing his plate aside, Enzo clasped his hands and leaned forward, keeping his elbows off the table. "There are things the Council isn't ready to share with the public."

"But—"

Enzo stopped her with a stern look only a father could give. "Please do not interrupt." To Kanden, he said, "I am aware of your task. Engineering has been working in tandem with Maintenance to achieve the same goal. I have no control over whether your father decides to keep you in the training, but he placed you there for a reason. Difficult as it is, I recommend seeing the benefits and taking something meaningful from the experience. It will not only make you stronger physically, but you will learn resilience and control, both of which will help you in life."

Kanden sought any weakness with the logic but found none. If Olivine hadn't pushed him too far with her nasty words, he might have considered at least trying to finish but not now. Violence was the one line he couldn't willingly cross. Except for when he hit Griffin, but that had been in the heat of the moment before he could stop himself.

The conversation dropped after that, leaving everyone to eat without any further discussion or attempt to lighten the mood. Giada wouldn't look at Kanden, and he couldn't meet anyone's eyes while he counted down the minutes when he could politely excuse himself.

When Quorra cleared the plates, Giada helped as Enzo remained in place and pointed at Kanden's shoulder, where his sleeve hung in loose, bloody tatters. "That from your mission?"

Kanden glanced at his bruised arm and nodded.

"Was it was successful?"

Another nod. "Yes, sir."

An awkward moment passed with Kanden clutching the hem of his shirt and twisting it around his fingers. He looked around the room for something to catch his attention, and his gaze landed on the copper gears. "How did you come by those?"

"Hm?" Enzo followed Kanden's stare and beamed with pride. "Ah! Our family brought many things from the surface, though I suppose one might call them rare treasures these days. I dare say the true prize is the literature we saved, including a Bible dating back several centuries."

"A what?" Kanden had never heard of this object. "Does it do anything special?"

Enzo's mouth curved upward at the corners and something akin to joy ignited his gaze. "You could say that. The Bible was very controversial in the Overland. Many wars were fought over religion, but there are teachings of love, acceptance, and forgiveness. My ancestors couldn't bear to part with it and passed its writings through the generations. The Founding Families were all scientists, and over time, the rest of society forgot, but that doesn't mean we can't benefit from showing kindness to others."

Oh. Kanden had read something about religion here and there in old books, but never delved into its significance other than to speculate too many people argued over the tangibility of an unseen higher power. "War over an invisible god doesn't sound very pleasant."

An unexpected chortle surprised him as Enzo slapped the table. "It is quite ironic, isn't it? For all the scripture's instructions to do good, we continue to find ourselves motivated by greed — over power, rations, or lovers, no one seems to have learned humanity is its own worst enemy."

Kanden blinked, unsure how to respond. Perhaps he should have kept his mouth shut; if people had been this way on the surface, it was a wonder humans hadn't driven themselves to extinction through selfish stupidity.

A knock on the door offered a much needed reprieve, and Enzo frowned, turning in the direction of the sound. With a soft hum, he went to answer and swiftly stepped back, motioning toward the interior of the living space. "Hello, Mr Calvorite. Either your ears were burning, or you have excellent intuition."

Kanden groaned and rested his head on the table. He wasn't ready for this. And of course, Father had thought to look for him here; Giada was one of only two friends he'd made in training, and a quick look in his or Ryker's home would make guessing Kanden's location easy. It wasn't like he had anywhere else to hide.

The chair previously occupied by Giada scraped the floor, and a warm hand touched Kanden's forearm, making him jump. Instead of the dreaded lecture, Father's voice was surprisingly soft. "You okay, son?"

Kanden sat up and scooted backward, searching his dad's eyes for the inevitable disappointment over him screwing up again. However, this time was different with concern creasing the older man's tired forehead. Dark, puffy circles sagged beneath his eyes, punctuated by deep crow's feet at the corners.

Guilt twisted Kanden's gut as he dug his nails into his palms. How much did Father know? Expelling a deep breath, he nodded. "I'm sorry. I tried so hard—"

"It's not your fault," Father assured him, "I'll deal with Olivine later. For now, I think you and Giada should come with me. There are things we need to discuss."

A loud clatter of a metal plate hitting the floor drew their attention to Giada near the wash basin, where she'd spun around. The color had drained from her face — a complete turnaround from when she'd fearlessly flipped off Olivine. Breaking her silence and gaping, she pointed to herself. "Me?"

Somehow, Father managed to appear scarier despite his best effort to appear non-threatening. The smile against his gaunt cheekbones and pale skin made him look demonic, and Kanden wished for Father's resting dick face instead.

"You're scaring people," Kanden muttered, earning a bizarrely appreciated scowl. At least that was familiar.

Father mumbled something unintelligible under his breath and shook his head. Then he addressed Giada. "Yes. I think it's time to fill you in on a few things and determine our next steps. You and Kanden created quite the dilemma with your defiance, and though I agree Olivine's behavior was inappropriate, you've painted targets on your back for anyone who would deem your actions as a threat."

And there it was, the other shoe dropping into an abyss of more trouble.