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  Lin shrugged and rolled his shoulders, freeing the tension that had built in his muscles. “I don’t know, but I am glad she left without speaking with you again.”

  I reached out with my free hand and gave my brother’s an appreciative squeeze. He had engaged the agent in conversation to avoid her attention moving back to me. I knew it couldn’t have been easy. He despised draekon more than anyone I knew. He’d lost too many friends to the Census.

  “Take care,” Jem muttered under his breath, lifting his goblet to shield his lips. “I think another agent has marked us.”

  Without hesitation, Lin and I lifted our own drinks, casually looking in opposite directions to try and see what Jem meant. My skin began to tingle as I scanned my surroundings. I felt a pair of eyes land on me. I could practically feel them trailing over by body, but I didn’t see their owner.

  I was turning back to Jem to ask where he was looking when a shadowy form snagged my attention.

  There, standing in the recesses of a pillared awning, stood the second male agent. He was one I had yet to see speak with any villagers.

  Something felt strange about him.

  An eerie feeling landed in the pit of my stomach, and I inhaled sharply as I realized his gaze focused solely on me.

  6

  “Shit.” My brother’s curse sounded close behind me, but I couldn’t find the strength to glance back at him. The agent had me trapped with his stare.

  “We need to move.”

  “And go where?” Lin questioned Jem. “He’s seen her. If he wishes to speak with her, he will.”

  “Then what do you suggest we do?” Jem bit out.

  “Lissa.” Lin saying my name was finally enough to pull myself away from the darkly-clad agent. My eyes were wide as I met my brother’s calm and collected gaze. I wasn’t able to speak.

  “You will need to walk in the gardens. It is dark outside. If the agent wishes to speak with you, it would be best if it happens out there. Keep him from seeing you up close in the candlelight.”

  Jem scoffed. “Like the dark will help. Lissa is beautiful even in the blackness of night.”

  I was unable to recognize the compliment. At the moment, my looks were a danger to me.

  Fear plagued me. I wasn’t ready for the confrontation. “Wh-what do I talk about? How do I deter him from selecting me?”

  “One-word answers if you can manage it,” Lin quickly coached me. “Do not speak more than required and be respectful, but not overly submissive. In general, aim for complete neutrality and blandness.”

  I heard Jem’s groan and subsequent comment that I could never be seen as bland.

  “You are not helping,” Lin snapped at my friend. Jem had the decency to look at the floor, chastised.

  My brother turned back to me. “You’ll be fine, Lissa.”

  I offered a shaky smile. “I should go.” I swallowed. “I’ll come back inside after ten minutes or once the conversation has ended. Whichever comes first.”

  Lin nodded while Jem’s lips flattened.

  “Be careful,” Jem told me.

  “Remember, try to appear uninteresting,” Lin instructed.

  Gathering my strength, I brushed past them without another word. I didn’t want the agent to see any more of my interaction with my loved ones. I didn’t want him to see how his attention affected me.

  The garden was located on the far side of the courtyard. I exited the open double-doors and soundlessly moved across the stones. I looked down as I walked, noticing the lack of mud and dirt. Realizing there was little risk of ruining my nicest skirt, I dropped my grip on the fabric and let it trail slightly behind me.

  You can do this, I told myself. Just one conversation, then you will be free.

  The naïve part of me that believed good people were rewarded with good in their lives held out hope the agent would not follow me into the courtyard. Perhaps his interest would not be enough to warrant a walk outside to find me.

  The optimistic thought was dashed by the sound of heavy boots on stone.

  I continued walking to the garden, only stopping once I stood in front of a blooming rosebush. Leaning forward, I buried my nose into the nearest blossom. I loved roses; they were my favorite flower, but that was not why I chose to stop beside it. With the shade of the immense oak hanging overhead, the glow of the ballroom barely reached the edge of the bush’s leaves. I praised the gods for the clouds currently masking the moon’s glow.

  “Good evening, Miss.”

  Flattening my expression, I straightened and rotated to face the agent. His features seemed darker in the night, but our proximity allowed me to see how handsome he was.

  The planes of his face were sharp and angular, giving him a hard kind of beauty. His eyes were black like all Draekon, but they had a shimmering glint to them. I wondered if I would see flecks of lighter colors in brighter light.

  His perfect lips curved upward as he noticed my perusal. “May I have your name?”

  “Amelissa,” I replied, proud of myself for not stuttering. “Of Caldiri.” I wouldn’t give my surname if I could help it.

  The agent bowed his head. “Leith of Draek.” He used the capital’s official name, copying my method of introduction. “Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

  I dipped into a quick curtsy, hiding my trembling hands in my skirt.

  When I did not say anything, he filled the silence. “Are you enjoying the welcoming feast?”

  “Yes, but it’s crowded. I decided to enjoy the fresh air.”

  Careful. I reminded myself to say as little as possible.

  “Not a fan of crowds?”

  “Not particularly.”

  “Any reason why?”

  I shrugged. “Not accustomed to them, I suppose.”

  He bobbed his head. “You grew up in Caldiri.” He stated the fact like it explained everything.

  “Yes.”

  “You don’t look like you are from here.”

  “Oh?” I tried to sound calm, all the while my heart threatened to beat right out of my chest.

  “Not at all,” he replied. Slowly, he reached his hand out towards my head. I willed myself to remain still as stone as he reached farther and plucked a rosebud off its stem. “You are unlike any Caldirian I have ever seen.”

  The conversation was not going the way I wanted. His words didn’t come off as overly forward, but I needed the agent to consider me ordinary, nothing special. I was failing.

  “I moved here when I was four. I don’t know where I am originally from.” Perhaps if he could not confirm my heritage, he would deem me unsuitable for service. For all he knew, I could be the daughter of bandits and thieves. No draekon in the capital would want such a woman in their service or to produce their offspring. It was a long shot, but I couldn’t think of another idea.

  “Really?” The agent’s lips pursed in thought. “Your parents never told you where your people came from?”

  “I never met them.” A small lie, but it might as well be true. After all, I could scarcely remember what my mother or father looked like.

  The only parent I remembered was Papa Gil, and he never shared anything about where my family came from. All he told us was our parents hired him to be our guardian. They loved us enough to ensure we were provided for, but we knew nothing else.

  “Pity.” Agent Leith sounded sincere.

  I remained silent, mentally preparing myself to endure the rest of our interaction.

  “I noticed your fascination with the orchestra. Are you musically inclined?”

  My head jerked. How long had he been watching me? I bit my tongue.

  “Tell me,” he said, twirling the rose in his fingers and watching it, “do I sense an unwillingness to be recruited?”

  I physically took a step back. The outright question blindsided me. I was lucky I didn’t fall to the ground.

  “Pardon me?”

  The agent lifted his attention from the flower. “Do I sense an unwillingness—f
rom you—to be recruited to the capital?”

  Struck dumb, I had no idea how to respond to the question. Honesty might anger him, but a lie could easily result in my recruitment. I felt trapped.

  Fortunately, he did not make me suffer long. “I get the feeling the majority of the population in Caldiri do not want to be recruited. Is that true?”

  I looked at the rosebush and brushed my fingers against the silky petals. Why did I feel like I was in the middle of playing a dangerous game?

  I decided a short, honest answer was my best option. “Many of us do not wish to leave Caldiri.”

  “But why?” Genuine surprise marked his tone. “Many of the villagers are starved. The town is sunken in poverty. Why would anyone desire to stay?”

  I bit the inside of my cheek. Commenting on our hatred of all things draekon would hardly go over well with a draekon.

  Instead of answering, I lifted my shoulders, feigning ignorance.

  “Hmph.” His eyes trailed the length of me. A knowing gleam filled his gaze, and he nodded slowly to himself. “I shall leave you to your fresh air. Apologies for disturbing you.” With that, he abandoned his position and crossed the courtyard towards the ballroom.

  Once he was out of sight, my limbs started to shake. I stumbled to a wooden bench, collapsing on it.

  What just happened?

  Did a draekon agent just ask me why humans would not wish to be recruited to serve in the capital?

  Was he really so oblivious to realize people didn’t want to be slaves to the physically superior creatures?

  While he didn’t say or do anything to elevate my worries, something about my exchange with Agent Leith left a sense of foreboding growing in the pit of my stomach.

  The rest of the banquet proved uneventful. I returned to Lin and Jem but refused to answer any of their questions regarding my interaction in the garden. I hardly knew what to make of it myself, let alone how I would explain the odd conversation to my overprotective loved ones.

  So, I simply assured my brother and best friend there was nothing to worry about. Agent Leith hardly said anything to me before excusing himself to return to the feast. My words were supported by Agent Leith proceeding to converse with numerous eligible young women throughout the ballroom.

  I watched as he danced from woman to woman, enticing them into polite conversations before swiftly moving to the next. Was it my imagination, or did the women appear bereft when Agent Leith left their side?

  “Stop staring at him,” Jem said through clenched teeth. “You’ll draw his attention back to you.”

  I wanted to counter his command by saying there was something strange about Agent Leith but I resisted. I didn’t want to have to explain myself, especially not at the banquet.

  By the time the clock in the foyer chimed midnight, I was both physically and mentally exhausted. Constantly surveying the room for agents and strategically placing myself out of their impending path was draining. I was more than pleased when Lord Stanley announced the end of the welcoming banquet.

  My brother and I exited the stunning home arm in arm. Jem walked out with us but quickly bounded away after telling us of his desire to rush home to check on Jane. I watched my friend’s departure with a smile. Jem was an amazing friend but an even better big brother.

  “If you aren’t careful, people will begin to suspect there is something going on between you.”

  My brows furrowed as I rotated to look at my brother. A smirk covered his mouth. “What are you talking about?”

  He jerked his head towards Jem’s retreating form. “The way you and Jem interact. It almost seems like you are romantically involved.”

  “Me and Jem? Come on. No one would think that.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure,” Lin replied knowingly. “You two aren’t children anymore. It would not be… unusual if something stronger than friendship developed between you.”

  My jaw fell open. I snapped it shut. “There is nothing going on between me and Jem. We are friends. Nothing more.”

  Lin shrugged, still smirking. “If you say so.”

  I could tell he didn’t believe me, and that irritated me more than it should.

  “What about you? I saw you speaking with Bridget at the banquet.” I was the master of deflecting. “If you aren’t careful, people will begin to suspect there is something going on between you,” I parroted his words back to him in a sing-song voice.

  Bridget Pool was a twenty-year-old village girl who had grown into quite the beauty. She worked at her father’s bakery, and I had often seen Lin speak with her when he ventured to town to sell our crops. I wondered if he might be interested in her, but I didn’t think it worth asking.

  Until he decided to talk to me about Jem, of course.

  Lin snorted. He led us off the main road, cutting through a grassy field to reach the dirt path leading to our house. “I’m not interested in anyone.”

  “Oh, come on.” I rolled my eyes. “You aren’t interested in anyone? What is your plan? To remain single for the rest of your life?”

  “Actually, yes.”

  I blinked at his bland tone. “Be serious.”

  “I am serious.”

  My teasing demeanor vanished. In its place, sadness settled. “Lin, there is more to life than working in the fields. You shouldn’t be alone.”

  “I’m not alone.” His lips lifted. “I have you and Lorie.”

  The sentiment was touching, but my heart continued to ache. “That’s… different. A wife’s love would fill a different part of your soul,” I told him.

  I acknowledged the conversation was strange, and it wasn’t one I imagined brothers and sisters usually shared, but Lin and I had a unique relationship.

  The moment our guardian had passed, Lin and I formed a bond. Our guardian died unexpectedly, and we only inherited a month’s worth of wages from his job as the region’s gravedigger.

  Lin and I were forced to grow up, undergoing the change from children to adults together. It happened when we were much too young, and it occurred much too fast. Our daily mission became survival and to take care of Lorie.

  Looking back on my life, I don’t know if I would have survived the change if it weren’t for my brother. We leaned on each other—we relied on one another’s strength and support to keep our family alive.

  I wouldn’t have made it without Lin, and all I wanted was for him to find happiness and love in this life. He deserved it and so much more.

  Lin readied himself to protest, but I interrupted. “Just promise me you won’t turn love away if it finds you. Be open to it, at least.”

  He exhaled, shaking his head. “Life is complicated, Lissa. You know that.”

  “That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to live it to the fullest.”

  Lin stared up, scanning the stars in the sky. “This world is a harsh place. I do not want to bring children into it.”

  That I could understand. “Me either.”

  He lowered his head and smirked. “Be sure Jem knows that.”

  “Ugh!” I swatted my brother’s arm. “You are beyond frustrating.” Though, I was glad his words dispelled the tension between us.

  Lin chuckled and continued to lead us home. I could have released his arm once we were away from the formality of the banquet, but I liked being close to my brother. Our lives were so busy, I didn’t get the chance to speak with him as much as I would like. It was nice to have one-on-one time.

  “You know,” Lin broke the silence. “I often wonder if I should take us away from here. Just me, you, and Lorie. We can move to a different region. Start anew.”

  His statements took me by surprise. “I didn’t know you thought about leaving Caldiri.” We’d never discussed it.

  “All the time. I see no future for us here.”

  I gaped at him. “Where would we go?” How could we afford it?

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. Mar is near. So is Draek.”

  My fingers dug into his shirt’s sl
eeve at the mention of the capital. “Truly?” Had Agent Stone’s offer landed its mark?

  “It would be my last resort.”

  I struggled to understand his reasoning. “Surely, Caldiri is better than the capital. We are free here.”

  “Free to starve. Free to work ourselves to the bone.”

  I knew my brother wasn’t overly fond of our home region—heck, neither was I—but I had never heard him speak so openly against it. I had definitely never heard him rank Draek above it.

  “What is this really about?” I knew there must be something motivating his strong words. “What are you not telling me?”

  For a moment, Lin remained silent. He appeared ready to deny he kept any secrets, but he eventually released a breath and said, “There are rumors of a rebellion.”

  A rebellion?

  Blood pounded in my ears. “What did you just say?”

  “It is nothing, Lissa. Just rumors about humans rising up against the draekon. I only mention it because that is what was on my mind.”

  I gulped, processing his words.

  I knew about the rumors. I bet every working villager had. The whispers of a rebellion against the kingdom had been around for as long as I could remember. But that was all they were… whispers and rumors.

  In the years since first hearing rumblings of a rebellion, I never met or heard of anyone who was a rebel. I also never heard of any progress made by such a group. I wrote the whole thing off as some delusional human’s lie—some way for discontent people to persevere and make it through their bone-weary days.

  It was either that, or someone was simply trying to stir up trouble with nothing to back up their plans.