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Gregory whipshalf "That just earned you a detention after school, s where he hit me, but I refuse to let hs
"They should never have allowed you to cos were better before they agreed to let your sort into our schools"
Before the war ended, I had to be hoh," Beetle interrupts "Ash is a citizen, the saot to come to this stupid place like the rest of us It’s the law"
"Not for long When Rose’s Law passes, the first thing they’ll do is hettos with the rest of the nippers, where they belong," Gregory says, sto "sorry" as he passes
I touchcheek and turn back to face the school A bookish-looking girl with cara wire-rimmed spectacles and a pristine red beret, walks up the school steps, her long dark hair swishing around her shoulders She stands beside four empty chairs, her hands held aardly in front of her
"What’s Day doing up there?" Beetle asks
I quirk an eyebrow "Why do you care what she’s doing up there?"
"No reason, just saying" The tips of his ears turn pink
"Is it because you love her?"
"Shut up"
"You want to kiss her"
Beetle puncheshis bruised fist
"Reinforced bones,a twin-blood
We stand at attention as the Headmaster steps up to theflutters on the breeze It has two horizontal stripes, one red, one black, and at its center is a rose e the Purity faith
"Good , school!" the Headmaster’s voice crackles across the town square He raises his ar us, and we all follow suit
The school begins to chant "I vow to serve the savior of our great state, Purian Rose--"
Iup his own rude lyrics, and I try not to laugh I re: act like them, don’t stand out, keep your head down Yeah, easier said than done when you’re a foot taller than everyone else and have a set of deadly-looking fangs I’ll never fit in
"I pledge my eternal devotion to the United Sentry States, to uphold the hty Huhty," the school continues, Gregory speaking loudest of all "Long live the Sentry!"
The sound of hooves reverberates around the town square, and a e drawn by six Cremello horses enters the square from one of the side roads It drives past the students, who crane their necks to see who the passengers are, although it’s impossible to tell behind the curtained s TV cae, which coging in my chest as I wait to see who’s inside
The Headhted to announce that we have soive thee door, and five people get out They walk up the school steps
"I don’t believe it," Beetle growls under his breath
The first person is a waspish wonize immediately as Emissary Buchanan, flanked by two olderblack robes with a red rose emblem on the chest--the unifore boy, a few years older thana crimson military coatee, black trousers and boots--the uniform of the Trackers On his sleeve are three black stripes indicating his high rank The other visitor is a blond girl, her back toover her ar the faces in the crowd, and her blue eyes snag onmy own surprise
It can’t be her!
6
NATALIE
IT CAN’T BE HIM!
A chilling coldness creeps overhere, of all places? He didn’t seeers in my mind Tell anyone aboutsensation pulls at ain, like it did the last time I saw him
"You okay?" Sebastian whispers toht now Slung over my arm is the twin-blood boy’s jacket, and I wish ht it now, but hoas I to know he’d be here?
Across the square is the Boundary Wall I shudder at the sight of the Darkling guards patrolling the top Why did Mother agree to let irl next to me forces a smile She must be my new rent-a-friend I turn back to the crowd and discover the twin-blood is still looking at ris out over the crowd
"I have the great honor of introducing you to Natalie Buchanan, the E us as a student today, so please make her feel welcome" The or else is iaze falls upontheat round would open up and shole
The clapping dies down, and Mother moves to the microphone Silence falls over the town square, until all I can hear is the faint static buzzing from the microphone When Mother speaks, her words aren’t just for the hundreds of students in front of us, but for everyone watching at hoes as we’ve struggled to rebuild our great nation after the war ended alo, and no one has suffered overnment understands this better than anyone, and we’ve allowed o unpunished in our efforts to make this transition easier for you However, the time for leniency is over"
My eyes find the twin-blood boy in the crowd again, and I’ me, instead of my mother He turns his head away Mother continues her speech, and I pretend to be interested We ht?