CHAPTER 5

LYRA

As I leave for the dining hall, my embarrassment turns to anger.

There is no way I want to be his bride. I don’t even want to stay here any longer, but I know I can’t escape. And I know I can’t wipe that stupid disdainful look off his face.

As I load my plate, I can’t help thinking about Zachary’s attitude.

I am sure the three of us weren’t the only team struggling. Why is he targeting me? Did Zachary have a grudge against Elena?

I immediately dismiss my thought. If they knew each other, Dorian wouldn’t have made me pretend to be her. He’d have seen right away that I was an imposter.

Seems like there is a lot I don’t know.

Lost in thought, I walk toward the dining table.

Suddenly, someone bumps into me. I fall to the ground, my food splattering across the floor.

Gasps and snickers ripple through the room, but I don’t have to look to know who was behind me.

Sabrina.

I push myself off the floor, my gaze locking onto Sabrina and her friends smirking at me.

“Oops,” she says, covering her hand with her mouth mockingly. “Didn’t see you there, Elena. So sorry.”

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Of course she’d seen me.

Lola, one of Sabrina’s friends, laughs. “Maybe your friend Prince Zachary will help you clean up your mess.”

Sabrina glares at Lola so hard, that Lola actually flinches.

Obviously they’d seen Zachary talking to me earlier and decided that I was a threat, instead of just a punching bag.

Glancing down at the food, the sheer waste makes me feel sick. This is more food than the kids in the orphanage might see in a week.

I straighten and meet Sabrina’s gaze. I know I ought to keep a low profile, but there was anger rising up inside of me. “You shouldn’t waste food, Sabrina.”

Her smirk falters just slightly before she scoffs. “Spare me the lectures, Elena. Maybe if you weren’t so clumsy—”

The doors to the dining hall open, and the butler steps inside.

“What is all this?” He asks, frowning.

Before I can speak, Sabrina starts explaining it, smiling sweetly, “Elena did it on purpose. Isn’t that so wasteful?”

The butler doesn’t even glance in her direction, and that makes me smile slightly. The smile is gone, however, when the butler’s gaze lands on me.

“Clean it up.”

Sabrina opens her mouth to argue, and he glares at her. “Should I inform Beta Theron?”

His tone is very calm, but there is a threat underneath it that everybody in the room hears. Sabrina is not in charge here.

Without another word, the butler leaves. Sabrina stares after him, and then storms out too.

I sigh and get to cleaning up the mess.

***

The next day, I go to find my team to discuss the ball, but Sloane is nowhere to be found.

“Sloane has squad duties and training, so the King gave her permission to leave temporarily,” Zoe explains. The words settle in my head and remind me that there is a world outside.

No one knows how long the selection will last. Right now, I am safe. I am Elena, just one of dozens of potential Lunas.

But clearly, Prince Zachary and Sabrina have already noticed me. If I slip up, even a tiny bit, I am sure I’ll be caught.

I need to have an escape plan ready. If things get too bad, I need to know there is a way out.

The mention of Sloane reminds me of the registry in town. Anybody can join to scavenge the wastelands. I can sign up with a crew.

It is a risky plan, but it is a plan.

And that is all I need.

***

It is easy enough to sneak past the guards. I’ve done stuff like this plenty of times in the orphanage, when I’ve slipped into the kitchen to swipe some food.

I don’t think anyone saw me leave, and I am sure I wasn’t followed. So long as I am back before anyone notices I’m gone, I don’t think there will be an issue.

I arrive at the registry office, which is a plain building between a weapons shop and a trading post. A bored-looking clerk glances up when I enter but says nothing.

“I want to check squad openings,” I explain.

The clerk closes the ledger and picks up a stack of forms.

“Only Outriders has an opening now. Want to apply?” he asks.

Sloane’s exploration squad. I know the Outriders are always on the move. They aren’t really tied to any city or even any pack. It could be the perfect place to disappear if it comes down to it.

“Yes,” I say. “Absolutely.”

As I fill out the form, I sign my real name—Lyra.

The clerk stamps the forms and hands me an address. “Report there this afternoon. The squad leader will make the final decision.”

Finally, I feel like things are going right.

I use the time before the meeting to cover my tracks. I find a half mask to hide the scar on my face. And it is easy enough to find the herbs I need to hide my scent.

I just need to make sure no one looks at me and thinks that’s Elena.

I think that once the selection is over, and I am able to explain everything to Sloane, she’ll understand why I have to hide. She is reasonable.

Right now, I need to be anyone but Elena.

***

The address is an old training ground. Though it had been repurposed, there are scratches and dents that show what it once was.

A woman is waiting there. I recognize her. Sloane.

“You’re the new recruit?”

I nod and take a breath, purposely lowering my voice. “Lyra.”

“Name’s Sloane,” she says. “Other members will be here soon.”

I nod and take a step closer. Sloane’s eyes narrow as she scans me.

“What’s with that mask? And the weird scent?”

I debate telling her the truth. She’d understand, I am sure of it. But before I can tell her anything at all, we hear the door swing open.

I look up and nearly choke.

It’s Zachary.

I stare at him blankly, absolutely bewildered. Why on earth is he on an exploration squad? What can he possibly gain from this?

I swallow the confession that was already on the tip of my tongue. Now that he is here, there is no way I can tell her the truth about my identity. Zachary would have both Dorian and me executed if he finds out.

Sloane is still staring at me, expectantly.

I go with a half-truth instead.

“I had a shitty ex-boyfriend,” I say simply. “He betrayed me. Disfigured me. I’m using herbs for healing.”

Sloane seems to accept that answer and nods sympathetically. Thankfully it’s an explanation that didn’t invite too many questions.

Zachary notices us talking. He walks over and nods to Sloane before turning to me. I need this disguise to work, because as his eyes scan me, he looks confused.

“Do I know you?”