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"Michael," Su at their son

He takes a deep breath, then resignedly nods "Thank you, Miss Buchanan That would be very generous of you, if it wouldn’t get you into any trouble"

"It won’t"

"Thank you," Day says quietly "Most people treat MJ like he’s some sort of freak But he’s not--he’s just special"

"I have a sister, Polly, and" My voice cracks a little; it’s always so tough talking about her "She got hurt, and now she’s not very well, and people can be really mean to her, so I knohat it’s like to have people be cruel to the person you love"

"Then you understand?" Day says, s a little

I nod "We have to protect them"

Michael Senior studies me with curiosity

"Did you know Dayani’s applied for the Fast-Track Political prograhten theabout that," I say

"We’re so proud of her To think one day our little girl will be an E in Centrum!" she says

"I haven’t even been accepted yet, Mama," Day says

Sumrina waves a hand "A technicality There’s no one smarter or better qualified than you, sweetie"

Michael Senior wipes his spectacles, then puts them back on "This country will be a better place with a Workboot for an Emissary It’s ti man"

"Not now, Michael," Sumrina snaps

There’s a knock at the front door, and a ust of icy air that ainst my chest as Ash Fisher walks into the rooray preacher’s s crates of food

The atrees when Ash spots isters on his face

He’s changed out of his school unifor dark trousers, leather work boots and a fitted black shirt that accentuates every inch of his powerful, muscular frame He looks at me, into me, like he can see every secret I have, every rush of , unexpected emotion: desire

I turn away, horrified at my body’s reaction to hi, a predator that would gladly rip htest provocation Then why areso red?

I’m just hot from the fire, that’s all

"Ash!" MJ beams

"Hey, MJ I swear you’ve shot up another inch since I last saw you," Ash replies, ignoring the frosty look frohs at this I doubt anyone will be as tall as Ash He has to hunch over to stop his head fro hioods It all see, not to mention a Haze dealer He’s aDay’s faentle voice whispers insidearguination That’s howthe tinned food "Look, Sumrina, peaches Not had the an anxious look in my direction, like I’m the person she’s most afraid of in this room, not Ash

Day barely conceals her contempt for Ash as she helps her ot someone I cared about hooked on Haze, I’d hate his out there; it’s so addictive and destroys lives

He slides another look in my direction, and the air between us crackles with tension

"Don’t you have soe?" Day says abruptly, referring to the place where he hten into a thin line

"Well, it was lovely seeing you, Minister Fisher, Ash I’ot plenty more ho," Su thelances at ht, we should go I hope to see you atAsh outside

"That was rude The Fishers are our friends," Michael says to his wife the instant she shuts the door

A glimmer of fear crosses Suht ofbefore, but when I think about it, I aet her fa with "race traitors" if I want to, and crush any hope of Day getting onto the Fast-Track program

Michael Senior watches me from the corner of the room He’s not scared of me; he’s not ashahtened to voice his opinions on the Sentry In many ways, he reoes by s such a nice ti in The wail of the air-raid siren, signaling the start of curfew, surprises us all I leap up, panicked Mother’s going to kill ," I say

"I’ll walk you hoet a can of anti-Wrath spray, which every family owns, no matter how poor they are

Day follows me to the door "See you at school to you over for dinner so the deal we made earlier

"That’s okay I didn’t really expect you to do that"

"I want to," I say, and it’s true

I’ood friends I have a small spark of hope that maybe my life in Black City won’t be so awful after all

9

NATALIE

THE NEXT DAY at school isn’t as nerve-racking as the first, mainly thanks to Day She walks et to her own lessons on time, which is no mean feat with so many books to carry I don’t kno she does it It really reminds me of my first-ever day at school, and how Polly took care of me The recollection makes me smile, and I o to theon Ash’s jacket, which I’ve decided to keep because I actually like the way it looks on ets when he sees it--and follow the other students out into the corridors I check ainst me I’m supposed to meet Day in a few minutes by the cafeteria I think I rele" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>