Evander rose from the comfort of the bed, taking a moment to glance at Lily, who was still asleep beside him. Her peaceful expression, framed by soft sandy brown hair, made him smile. It was a rare moment of calm in an otherwise turbulent world. Evander had come to appreciate these little things in life, these moments of stillness.

Being with someone who truly likes you... it's a different kind of warmth, he thought. His gaze lingered on Lily a moment longer, his mind echoing her vulnerability and trust. She had, after all, chosen to share the intimacy of sleep with him.

But this moment of serenity was abruptly shattered by a voice booming from outside the vehicle. It was unmistakable – the voice of Seraphina, harsh and filled with anger.

"I don't care what you think!" her voice pierced the air. "We agreed to certain rules, and you have no right to break them!"

Evander's eyebrows furrowed in concern. Seraphina rarely raised her voice like this; she was known for her level-headedness.

Something serious must have happened, he thought as he slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb Lily. He pulled on a pair of pants and a shirt, wondering who could be at the receiving end of Seraphina's ire.

As he stepped outside the vehicle, he saw a small group gathered around the bonfire, their faces illuminated by the flickering flames. Seraphina stood in the center, her hair blazing like a halo around her head, her blue eyes filled with fury.

Evander stood, momentarily disoriented, feeling as if he had been thrust into the spotlight. The women from the other group were all staring at him with intense scrutiny. They appeared as if they were attending a high-society event rather than camping in the wilderness. Their outfits seemed more suited for a red carpet than a dirt path. Even in the midst of this incongruous setting, the women exuded an air of elegance and superiority.

At the forefront of the group was the apparent leader, a woman with straight golden hair that fell like a curtain down her back. She held herself with a regal poise, and there was a piercing intelligence in her eyes. It was clear she was accustomed to being in control.

This feels like some sort of power play, Evander thought.

Seraphina, on the other hand, looked far from impressed. Her long auburn hair, usually a cascade of flowing waves, now looked more like a fiery mane, matching the anger in her icy blue eyes. Her arms were crossed over her chest, and she glared at the other woman.

"I don't care how much money you're offering," Seraphina said defiantly. "We're not selling out, and we're not letting go of our claim."

The woman with golden hair tilted her head slightly, a condescending smile playing on her lips. "Seraphina, dear, I understand your reservations. However, the amount we're proposing is more than generous for people in your position."

Seraphina's expression hardened further if that were possible. "People in our position?" she retorted. "What does that even mean?"

The woman sighed as if she were dealing with a particularly stubborn child. "Let's not pretend here. You know exactly what I mean. Our groups are not equal. You could benefit significantly from our resources."

Evander watched the exchange with growing unease. What claim are they talking about? And why are they pointing at me?

Unable to hold back any longer, he stepped forward. "What's going on here?" he asked, his voice calm but firm.

The woman didn’t address him but eyed him with appreciation like a prize to be bought. Evander mind clicked to what they were talking about, and it was him.

Evander stood firmly in front of the woman with the straight hair, his eyes locked onto hers. Her condescending attitude was grating on him, and he could see that Seraphina was on the verge of losing her cool. It was time to set the record straight.

"Listen," he began, his voice strong and unyielding. "I'm not some possession to be bought and sold. I won't stand here and let you talk about me like I'm some kind of merchandise."

The woman's eyes narrowed, her lips pursed in annoyance. Evander felt a flicker of satisfaction at having ruffled her composure.

Seraphina placed a gentle hand on Evander's arm, giving him an appreciative look. Evander turned to her, his expression softening slightly.

Evander faced the woman with the straight hair again. "So let me make myself clear," he said with finality. "I'm not for sale, and I'm not going anywhere. You can take your money."

The woman looked past him, deliberately avoiding his eyes, her face twisted with an icy anger. "He's making a mistake," she hissed at Seraphina, as if Evander wasn't even there. "He thinks he has power now, but he'll soon realize how wrong he is. Men like him don't have a choice; they are prizes."

Evander's jaw tightened at her words, his eyes glinting with anger. "I do have a choice," he said defiantly. "And I choose to be with my women."

The woman scoffed, her disdain palpable. "Very well," she said, addressing Seraphina again with an air of condescension. "Have it your way. But remember this, Seraphina. There will come a time when he'll regret this decision."

With that, she turned around and walked away, her group of women following closely behind. The atmosphere around the campsite felt tense and heavy as they left.

Evander watched them leave, feeling a mixture of frustration and anger. Seraphina stood beside him, her face still clouded with anger. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that, Evander," she said, her voice quivering with emotion. "You shouldn't have had to deal with that."

Evander looked at her, his anger subsiding. "It's not your fault, Seraphina," he said, his voice softening. "I know you were just trying to protect me."

Evander stood by the campfire, its flames licking at the cool morning air, casting a warm, flickering light on the surrounding vehicles. The fire crackled and hissed, its embers drifting upwards like fireflies. The atmosphere in the camp was tense, the faces of the lower-tier women reflecting a mixture of embarrassment and disappointment after seeing the confrontation between the women from the other group with their higher-tier women.

Seraphina gently pulled Evander away from the fire, her grip firm on his arm. They walked a short distance away from the rest of the group, stopping under a canopy of tall, whispering trees. The early morning sun filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Evander could see the anger still etched on Seraphina's face, her eyes like storm clouds.

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"I'm sorry you had to witness that, Evander," she began, her voice barely above a whisper, a hint of regret in her tone. "I didn't expect those women to be so brazen."

Evander looked at her, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "What was that all about?" he asked, his voice a mixture of curiosity and concern. "Why did they want to take me?"

Seraphina sighed, a mixture of frustration and resentment in her eyes. "There are many ways men get exchanged among women in our society," she explained, her voice low. "Some of these methods are legal, others are not. What those women were proposing was a legal exchange, though it's not much better than some of the less savory options."

Evander listened intently, the feeling of being treated like a commodity unsettling in his stomach.

"One of the ways is kidnapping, which is semi-legal," Seraphina continued, her voice tense. "It's tolerated in some areas, but not others. More commonly, men are exchanged legally by women giving up their rights to a man and transferring those rights to another group."

Evander's confusion grew. "Why would anyone give up their rights to a person? Why would someone agree to be transferred?"

Seraphina shook her head, her face a mask of disapproval. "It's often not a choice, Evander. It happens between rich and poor groups, where the poor group has no option but to sell their men to make ends meet. It's disgusting, but it's a reality we have to deal with." Her voice trembled with anger, her eyes hard. "And just because those women are richer than us, they think they can come and buy you as if you were some kind of livestock."

"There are other ways, too," Seraphina went on. "Women can duel over a man or use underhanded legal methods like challenging a woman's competency to claim a man."

"Competency?" Evander asked, feeling like he was lost in a maze of unfamiliar concepts.

"Yes," Seraphina replied, her voice tight. "If the woman is deemed incompetent, they lose her rights to her man. It's a tactic used by the powerful to strip away the rights of those less fortunate. It's just another way to take what they want."

Evander shook his head in disbelief, his anger growing. "This is all so wrong."

Seraphina looked at him, her eyes softening. "I know it is, Evander. But it's the world we live in. We have to fight to protect what's ours. In this world, you need power to keep men, especially desirable men like you."

The compliment, unexpected and unfamiliar, caught Evander off-guard. A short, nervous laugh escaped his lips, echoing softly between them. The laugh was almost out of place, juxtaposing the intense conversation they had just had. Beneath the amber glow of the morning sun, his fair cheeks took on a slightly pink hue.

Desirable? Evander's internal musings raced as he felt a rush of self-consciousness. That's not a word I'd ever associate with myself. In the world he once knew, he wasn't the kind of man who attracted second glances or lingering looks. He was perhaps even slightly rugged from the many challenges he'd faced. His bank account wasn't overflowing, nor did he wear the latest fashions. He might have been considered ruggedly handsome to some, but certainly not a catch by most standards.

"Why... why did you call me a desirable man?" Evander questioned, his voice betraying a hint of vulnerability. He glanced away momentarily, his gaze finding a distant point, seemingly lost in thought.

Seraphina tilted her head, her eyes analyzing him, taking in his perplexed expression. With a playful whistle, she chuckled, "Just look at you."

Evander shifted on the spot, a hint of impatience and irritation flashing in his hazel eyes. He didn’t need to be humored. But Seraphina continued, her voice firm with sincerity, "You're a fit, young specimen of a man, and you're very good-looking to boot."

For a split second, Evander's feelings were a maelstrom. He felt like a piece on display at an auction, being sized up for his worth, like an art collector examining a painting for its value.

Is that all I am now? A set of features to be evaluated? He internally groaned, the weight of the society’s values pressing down on him. He wasn't just a face, a body.

A gentle gust of wind swirled around as Evander's boots crunched on the gravel beneath. The large vehicle hovered slightly above the ground, its high-tech aura melded with a hint of enchantment. Pulsing lights gave it a luminescent glow, and the undercurrent of magic gave it a hauntingly ethereal presence.

As the vehicle's door slid open, the two of them stepped into a chamber. The blend of technology and magic was more evident on the inside: screens that shimmered with holographic images were contrasted with sconces that held dancing blue flames. The ambiance was an amalgamation of the past and the future, a union of archaic sorcery and advanced science.

Seated around a central table were the women of their group. Each face reflected a range of emotions, but Lily's stood out. Her usually shy demeanor had transformed. A subtle blush painted her cheeks, but the determined set of her jaw and the fire in her eyes showed a resolve that Evander hadn't seen much before.

What's going on? Evander thought, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

Amara, the portrait of calm, rose gracefully from her seat. Her raven black hair cascaded down her back, forming a velvety curtain that contrasted sharply with her porcelain skin. Her dark, almond-shaped eyes, which usually glinted with contentment, now held a hint of gravity.

"While we're all gathered," Amara began in her signature measured tone, "there's an important matter we need to discuss."

Evander felt a prickle of unease crawl up his spine. Did I do something wrong? His gaze flitted between the faces of the women, trying to discern the nature of this impromptu assembly.

As if reading his thoughts, Amara continued, "This isn't about fault or blame, Evander. But it is about fairness and unity."

Silence stretched, tension mounting as Evander waited for someone to elaborate. And then, it was Emma, her green eyes unblinking, who voiced what everyone seemed to be thinking. "It's about Lily constantly sharing a sleeping space with you, Evander."

His heart rate spiked, and a rush of heat flared on his cheeks. He glanced at Lily, noting the fierce determination in her stance, coupled with a touch of embarrassment. So, this is what it's about, Evander mused, feeling a mix of surprise and discomfort. The dynamics of this world never ceased to bewilder him.

Joy, with her bubbly demeanor slightly dimmed, chimed in, "It's just that there are norms, Evander. And as much as we like Lily, this constant... arrangement between the two of you is unfair."

A brief silence descended upon the group, broken only by the gentle hum of the vehicle's engines. Evander, still trying to make sense of the norms and customs of this unusual society, felt a rising tide of perplexity and frustration. The soft, ambient glow from the vehicle's walls cast a gentle light upon them, further intensifying the gravity of the conversation.

"Why is it deemed unfair?" Evander questioned, his brow furrowed in genuine confusion. "If both Lily and I are comfortable with the arrangement, why should it be an issue?" He cast a quick, searching glance towards Lily, who met his gaze directly and nodded slightly, her eyes echoing his sentiment.

He cleared his throat, feeling the weight of all eyes upon him. "Moreover," he added with a hint of challenge in his voice, "I've noticed that some of the others have occasionally joined us." The silence that followed was punctuated by a few reluctant nods of acknowledgment.

Amara, ever the voice of reason, spoke up. "Evander, it's not about preferences. It's about balance and fairness. In our society, there is an expectation of sharing, especially when it comes to someone as unique as you." She hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "You need to divide your time more equally among all your... wives."

He choked out a laugh, a mixture of incredulity and bewilderment. "When did I get married?" The weight of realization descended on him, and he raised a hand in a halting gesture, his voice weary. "Wait, don’t answer that. Being with someone... is akin to marriage here, isn't it?"

His gaze roamed over the faces of the women around him, each one a myriad of emotions - from affection to expectation. "So," he began, his voice laden with curiosity, "do all of you genuinely wish to engage in this shared... relationship? Is this truly what you want?"

The women exchanged glances, the atmosphere tense with anticipation. It was Arckit who broke the silence, her youthful exuberance bubbling to the surface. "I never imagined I'd have access to a man in my lifetime," she exclaimed, her eyes wide with sincerity. "Sharing seems not only fair but also proper in these circumstances."

Evander leaned back, the weight of the revelation pressing down on him. So, in this society, sharing isn’t just about balance. It's a deeply ingrained norm.

Seraphina, sensing his unease, stepped closer, her voice soft. "Evander, understand that this isn’t about possession or entitlement. It's about connection and unity."

The room grew silent, each individual lost in thought. Evander felt the weight of their words and the profoundness of the situation. Here he was, an anomaly in a society with customs and expectations so different from his own.