NINE The rest of the night goes smoothly. When Thirteen comes out of the shower, I tend to her wounds as best I can without formal training, and she doesn't say a word to me. Kade glowers from the bar with every thank you she withholds, but she hates me, and I understand why she does. I accept it. Compared to her, I live a privileged life. I am protected in my ivory tower, away from the Fortunates who lurk in the shadows, waiting to hurt me. I'd hate me too. Once Kade is satisfied with her wound care, I set her up on the lounge for sleep. I add kindling to the fire to keep it burning, and I tuck myself in on the other lounge. I watch her for a long time before exhaustion takes me out. I don't know if she slept or watched the flames of the fire dance all night, but when I wake, she's gone, and Kade is somewhere by his bar, brewing coffee. The smell of it alone is enough to pick me up. I've always enjoyed the scent. I sit up and swipe at my face. My eyes are heavy as if suddenly fille

The council speaks, but their voices fall before reaching my ears. All I can focus on is her, Thirteen, the timid blonde who slept on the mattress beside mine, the girl who fought for the mustard-coloured dress. The Unfortunate I grew up with but never knew."The council will take Kaden Sario's word as fact until Michael Sario says otherwise.""I find it convenient, brother, that Michael is unavailable—""Shut up," Kade snaps under his breath. The moderators leave, and Thirteen lies still on the floor, her breathing laboured, her blonde locks stuck to the blood on her face. "Unfortunate Thirteen, do you recognise the Unfortunate kneeling before us?" Rita asks. Thirteen surveys me with her one good eye. She shudders, then nods. "You spoke to this Unfortunate prior to fleeing from the manor, did you not?"She nods. "Did she aid or encourage your escape?"Thirteen closes her eyes, and her body settles. My heart stops. Is she...?"Unfortunate," Rita probes. Still nothing. I gasp as

KADEHe chased her. His heart pounded a million miles a minute, and his lungs burned, but he kept pushing. The sun bounced off her auburn hair like a beacon. He had to catch her before someone saw her running, but damn, she was fast. Nine sprinted through the bush and manoeuvred around the debris like she'd done this run a million times. Sticks stabbed his ribs and cut at his face, his neck, but he didn't slow. He couldn't slow. In a few minutes, he entered a clearing, and ahead of them was a wide lake. Nine ran toward it like she knew how to swim. She didn't. Freeport was surrounded by lakes. Unfortunates weren't taught how to swim for that very reason. Even so, her feet sank into the mud that lined the lake's edge. She fell into it and kept going, dragging her feet behind her, digging through the sludge like she had a chance. He shouted her name as he closed in on her, but she kept pushing. His shoes sunk into the mud, and he had no intention of going further into the sludge. "A

KADEHe stared at Kathryn. His heart raced, and his pulse pounded like crazy in his neck. Nine, a Fortunate, could it be? Vince threw his tantrum, but it was white noise to the thrum of Kade's soul as it vibrated within him. The more he stared at Kathryn, the more he absorbed her features, the more he saw Nine in her. The violet irises. The auburn hair. The heart-shaped face. "Bullshit," Vince boomed. "Do you think I'm stupid? That I'm dumb enough to believe that she is of the same blood as me?""Believe what you want. She is my daughter, and you can test my blood to prove it."Kade flicked his attention over the council members. They looked disgusted. They looked embellished in scandal. Within the hour, the whole of Freeport would know about this. "How did this happen, Kathryn?" Rita asked, sitting forward."I was very, very young when I fell pregnant, barely completed my education." Choking, Kathryn dropped her head and took a breath. Her husband placed his hand on her shoulder and