Part 7 (1/2)

The memory of my first solo-transport feels more distant than just a few hours ago. ”I don't know. It was hard the first time.”

”Try and if it doesn't work, you can piggyback with me.”

I lick my lips and draw a deep breath. I may be inebriated, but I don't want to look like an idiot in front of my friends. ”Don't laugh,” I say to the group.

Maz holds up his hands. ”Never.”

Kyra shows me a picture on her wristlet. ”This is the alley on Haight. I'll meet you there.”

She blinks out, leaving Maz, Ryker, and I behind.

A plan forms slowly in my mind. Maybe we don't have to go anywhere at all. Maybe I can send Maz ahead and Ryker and I can talk alone for a few minutes? ”Maz?” I say. ”You next?”

He shakes his head. ”I'm going last. Why don't you and Ryker go at the same time? Just in case something happens?”

My legs shake. ”Okay.” I don't move.

”Are you ready?” Ryker asks.

”Yes.” Not really. If I can't do this on the first try, then what? Will Kyra have to come back to get me? How mortifying.

I picture the alley in my mind and step forward. To my surprise, everything goes black. My toe hits the ground and I wobble to gain my balance.

Next to me, Kyra shuffles her feet. ”Not bad. But next time, try not to land so close. Personal s.p.a.ce and all.”

”Sorry.”

Maz and Ryker step out from the shadows. Even though he saw her minutes ago, Maz lifts Kyra so her feet dangle off the ground and kisses her on the lips. I turn my head. Open affection disturbs me. It feels wrong.

Ryker fidgets with the sleeves of his coat and walks closer to me. ”Do you think they'll always be so nauseating?”

I laugh. ”Probably.”

”When I get my mate, I promise we'll never act like that.” He jabs his thumb in Maz and Kyra's direction.

I pause and double check his wristlet. It's blue, not orange like a Singleton. ”You don't have a mate?” By this time, everyone should be sorted out and paired off.

”When I switched houses, all the Dark witches had already been paired off.” He shrugs. ”Not that I mind. If Lena wasn't human, I'd want to be with her.”

Well. Ryker is full of surprises today, isn't he? ”You...loved her?” I say the word slowly. It's not something that rolls naturally off my tongue.

”I guess. I like her more than any other girl. I think about her all the time. But it doesn't matter. She's not for me.” He tilts his head back and stares at the sky. ”Besides, she's bound to someone else. Last week. Kyra told me.”

Part of me wants to tell him that's why he should have followed the rules and not formed an attachment to her, but he sounds...sad. Ryker actually liked Lena. And he'll never be allowed to be with her because she's human.

”Laaark,” Kyra singsongs. ”Let's go.”

I glance at Ryker. There are a million questions I want to fire at him about Beck and Lena. But with Kyra and Maz here, it isn't the time. There's a reason he waited until we were alone to say what he did.

We step out onto a bustling street. I'm not entirely sure where we are, having never ventured outside of the allowed areas.

People, who I think are mostly humans, pack the street. Music floats around us as Maz guides us toward the venue. The closer we get, the thicker the crowd grows.

Suddenly, worry nibbles at me. ”What if someone recognizes me?”

Ryker and Maz exchange knowing glances before they burst out laughing.

”What?” I demand.

”We're counting on you to scare the h.e.l.l out of them to keep them quiet,” Maz says. ”Give them that b.i.t.c.hy look of yours. The one you threw at those diplomats on the train.”

My mouth drops open. ”What?” Apparently, I'm stuck on that word.

Kyra pats my hand. ”No Dark witch will dare snitch on you. Not with the rumors floating around about your abilities. As for humans, Malin has little contact with them.”

Great. So I terrify everyone.

But as we walk down the street, four across and wearing formalwear, I begin to think maybe it isn't such a bad problem after all. Most people do a double take and upon recognizing me, scurry away. Excitement builds in my chest. Maybe being famous isn't so bad after all.

Kyra stays at my side, quiet. She holds her finger against her wristlet and her eyes scan the crowd. Of course. She's in guard mode. We may be sneaking out, but if something happens to me...

”What's there?” I ask, pointing up the block to the where people stand at least six deep.

”Looks like a daily display of Sensitives,” Ryker says. We've stopped before a slightly run down building.

My heart plummets at the mention of Sensitives. ”It doesn't look the same as on the wallscreen.”

Ryker shakes his head. ”Do you think the State would broadcast this?” He motions to the crowded street around us. ”I bet most of the ones we see are staged.”

Even though he's probably right, my eyes grow wide. Am I the only person in the entire society who isn't cynical about the State?

Kyra and Maz slink through the blacked out front door of the building and I follow them. Music pulses through the confined, dark s.p.a.ce.

”Are they...like us?” I yell into my wristlet. I have no word for non-witch. Human doesn't sound right, since we're all human. Plus, I'm still not convinced our wristlets aren't being tracked or listened to.

Ryker's eyes glow slightly under the black lights. ”Who?”

”The people being sentenced out there.”

He gives me a funny look. ”I don't know. Probably not. Most look like normal people.”

I take a step back toward the door but Kyra holds her wristlet to her mouth. ”Let it go, Lark.”