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Roses.
I am Kadar. He leveled a hard gaze on Ryan. Let's
go, boy. Your father wants you back in the room.
His father?
I must have said the words aloud because Kadar
said, Boss. Top Brass, the big cheese.
My mouth fell open, and I glanced questioningly at
Ryan.
He wasn't looking at me but at Kadar who was in
the process of turning on his heel and striding away,
completely unconcerned. Ryan followed after him
without a word. The moment he left the room, the
door closed with a quiet whoosh.
His dad was the man in charge. I didn't know what to
think of that.
What the hell was that Q and A about? Kitten burst
out the moment we were alone. They asked me the
freakiest questions ever. Ev-er. My sister told me
they'd interview me, but she didn't mention an all-out
interrogation. They knew about every mistake I'd
ever made.
Me, too. Thankfully she didn't ask what my
mistakes were. I explained what Ryan had told me,
and Kitten's eyes those lovely cat eyes of hers
titled higher. She actually purred.
How long do you think we'll have to stay in this
room? she asked, rubbing her hands together. I'm
ready for action.
I don't know. Also I didn't know why Boss failed to
explain any of this to us. Did he want us left in the
dark? If so, why? I mean, if the man's goal was to
heap as much stress on us as possible, he'd already
succeeded.
I wonder how many kids are here and how they'll
react to me, she said, the barest hint of vulnerability
in her voice. You know, 'cause I'm an Outer.
That she feared being rejected really resonated with
me. If I hadn't liked her already, I would have then.
I like you, I said.
Maybe we can be partners or something. But you
better not let me down. I refuse to be one of the
losers sent home. She pranced around the small
room, radiating excitement. She even rubbed her
temples against the walls. Just think. If we make it to
the end of the program, we'll get to fight crime and all
that shit. There's nothing better than kicking ass and
taking names!
I could think of a few things I liked better. Boys,
music, relaxing .
This is, without a doubt, the coolest thing to ever
happen to me. As she spoke, her nails elongated to
sharp points. The slight sheen of golden hair on her
skin stood at attention.
I'd never been in a fight just for the fun of it. But I
didn't have nine lives did she? so was going to
be careful with the one I had. Finally.
I wonder if we'll get to stay in barracks with the boys
or not, she said.
I don't know. What I wondered was if the instructors
lived here. Say, a certain hand-to-hand combat
instructor named Ryan& . Did he have a girlfriend?
My hands tightened into fists at the thought.
Uh, who are you thinking about, girl? Kitten smiled
over at me. Your face got all gushy and red. And you
better not say Bradley. I'd have to hurt you. That boy
is a mhore and no friend of mine is going to date a
mhore. Wait. We are going to be friends, right?
Yes. I blinked in confusion. A what now?
A mhore. A male whore.
I barked out a laugh. You don't have to worry about
me and Bradie boy. He's not my type. I hadn't dated
in a while and had rarely dated boys my own age,
but I didn't tell her that. I didn't want her to ask
questions, like where I'd met my last boyfriend. Then
I'd have to admit I'd been to rehab.
So we're friends? Kitten asked again.
I hope so. I could use one right now.
Me, too. She leaned close, whispering, Who were
you
The door opened for the third time, and the ballerina
Mia Snow, Ryan had called her strode inside,
holding a plastic cup. Kitten pressed her lips
together and stared in awe.
Mia wore confidence like a cloak; it oozed from her.
Despite that confidence, she didn't look capable of
fighting me and actually winning. I was taller than she
was by two inches.
However, she did look capable of killing me in cold
blood. There was something about those enigmatic
blue eyes that said, Enjoy your current breath
because it's your last.
Why had she fought for me? I didn't understand and
was afraid to hope she saw something good in me.
Yeah, she'd mentioned passion. But that didn't seem
like enough to me.
My name is Mia, and I'll be your guide. She
stopped just in front of us and slapped the cup in my
hand. This is for you. I'm sure you already know the
drill.
A blush heated my cheeks. My first drug test would
A blush heated my cheeks. My first drug test would
be today, it seemed. Kitten stared at the cup in
confusion.
So I wouldn't have to comment, I returned my
attention to Mia, who was clad from neck to toe in
skin-tight black syn-leather. At least, I thought it was
syn-leather. I'd never seen material so soft and
supple. Surely it wasn't real.
When the aliens had first came to our planet through
inter-world portals and war had erupted, animals and
plants had nearly been decimated. Some of our
lakes had even dried up. We'd had to rebuild, well,
everything one of the reasons we were the New
World. Now we were a society who relied totally on
synthetics fakes, manufactured reproductions.
I didn't just know that from my history books. I knew
that because of my great-grandpa. He'd lived
through it and had delighted in telling me story after
story of poverty and famine. During the rebuilding,
the Enlightened Age, he said they'd had to find new
ways to survive and had relied on alien technology
and alien food supplies.
I'll be here for the next few weeks, helping you settle
in, Mia continued. If you're lucky, I'll even train you.
Her voice was dainty, but like her eyes, it held layers
of sharp steel. If anyone bothers you or gives you
trouble, don't come to me. Handle it yourself. That's
part of being an agent. She paused, studied us.
Whether she liked what she saw, I couldn't tell. I
believe a good team works together but a great
team likes and respects each other. I can't make the
others like you. You have to do that.
O-kay. That had just seriously lowered my chances.
No questions? Good, she said before we had time
to respond. Let's do the tour thing. This way. She
pivoted on her heel and seemed to float away.
Kitten and I shared a reeling glance, then trailed after
her. I kept the cup at my side as a long, white hallway
closed around us. What was it with these people and
the color white?
This way, you'll stand out on the monitors, my
common sense piped up.
Ahhh. Now that made sense.
Did Bradley make it or was he rejected? Kitten
asked Mia, and I had to wonder about her obsession
with the boy. Seemed like more than simple
curiosity.
For now, he's in, was Mia's response. Who knows
how long he'll be allowed to stay. He's been taken to
the boy's quarters.
Kitten frowned. No co-ed, huh. That would have
rocked.
Mia cast a dark glance over her shoulder.
Fraternizing isn't forbidden, but it is discouraged. At
least in the beginning. Neither of you need the
distraction right now. Her gaze focused on me for a
split second longer, hard and knowing.
I experienced a flash of resentment. She'd fought for
me, but even she acted like the slightest thing would
send me into a drug-induced tailspin.
I bet nothing distracted Agent Mia Snow, though. I
stared at her. Long black hair swished over her
back. The strands were like a midnight waterfall.
Still, she looked like she was marching into battle.
Ready to kill.
She made a sharp turn, and the walls became silver
panels. The floors are heat and weight sensitive;
they logged you into the database the moment you
stepped upon them. Your shoe size was taken, your
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