Part 31 (1/2)

”Not anymore.”

He points out at the vast interior. ”Shall we?”

I wait for my guards to give permission. Ryker has come down from the rafters and stands near Annalise and Oliver where the three of them study a tablet Annalise holds. I clear my throat and their heads pivot in unison. ”Can I go to work?”

”The area is secure. Ping if you need anything,” Annalise says, resuming her work.

After our dramatic entrance, it feels almost like a let-down to be wandering off with a man I just met. Granted, my guards can see me from pretty much anywhere in the building, but still.

I push all thoughts of snipers and food riots from my mind, and let the excitement of being here take its place. The smell of freshly churned dirt fills my nose. This is the life I imagined, only instead of having Beck by my side, I have Ryker -a guy who swings from rafters and kills people as a career.

Could be worse, I guess.

I grin. There are no prying eyes to prevent me from using magic. No appearances to maintain. I can just be myself.

I stretch my back and survey our work. In just a few hours, Crispin and I have planted and harvested six fields. Huge heads of cabbage, long green beans, tall stalks of corn. It won't feed the entire Society, but it's a start. Perhaps it's even enough to help calm the riots.

”Can you plant one more today?” Crispin asks. In the two days I've been here, he hasn't said much to me beyond instructions. The way the Light witches, the ones who haven't fled, eye me with suspicion reminds be of being at Summer Hill.

”Of course.” I pick up the seed spreader and wedge it into the ground. ”What do you want here?”

”Rice,” he grunts. ”We'll have to flood the field when you're done.”

I drop a seed into the spreader. With a wave of my hand, the entire row sprouts tiny buds. I lift the spreader from the ground and repeat the process until the whole field is planted. Then I stand at the edge and imagine a flood covering the dirt. Instantly, water covers everything. Feeling exhausted, I step back and wipe my brow.

”You need to get it to grow and harvest it, too,” Crispen says, dryly.

”I know.” The back of my neck aches. ”I need a minute to let my magic rest. I'm not used to using this much.”

He squats and jabs a stick into the freshly tilled dirt. Since being here, it's become clear why Mother didn't send me to the Ag Center even though I had the apt.i.tude: the Light witches who work here don't want my help. In fact, I think it's fair to say Crispin wishes I would leave. The sooner the better.

”Heya, Lark,” Ryker says as he jogs over to me. My heart flutters at the way his standard-issue Enforcer uniform compresses his already fit frame into something seemingly more muscular and lean.

My heart spasms and I grin.

Oh, G.o.d. What is wrong with me?

I scrunch up my forehead and press my lips together. Other than on the day we arrived, Ryker hasn't come to the Ag Center. Instead, he spends his days doing things he refuses to tell me about and at night, he doesn't come back to our room until I'm fast asleep.

Not that I mind. I'm still not use to sharing a room with him. He's not as messy as Beck, but it feels like he takes up more s.p.a.ce. Probably because he takes up one half of the bed. Something Beck never did.

”What are you doing here?” Every nerve in my body tingles, and I keep my eyes on the field, afraid that if I look at him, he'll see the effect he's having on me.

”I wanted to see you. When are you done?”

I lift my eyes and focus on Ryker's smooth, tanned skin; high cheekbones; deep brown eyes. He looks like himself until he tilts his head to the side and gives me a grin I'd recognize anywhere.

Beck.

My hands fly to my mouth, trying to control the scream growing in my chest.

One. Two. Three.

Dirt swirls around my s.h.i.+ns where I kick at the ground. Why is he so reckless? And where is Ryker? Surely he didn't approve this idea. I know he wouldn't.

When I turn around, Ryker-no, Beck-is biting his lip.

Are you stupid?

His face falls. No. I thought about this.

I doubt it. And if he gets caught...My stomach rolls. This is so much worse than sneaking into my bedroom.

Through clenched teeth, I say, ”I need to finish harvesting before I can leave. So maybe in an hour?”

Crispin grunts in confirmation.

Ryker/Beck straightens his back. ”I'll meet you at the house.”

He walks away. The ache in the back of my throat grows stronger.

Crispin points to the paddy of full-grown rice. ”It's time to harvest. You need to drain the water and dry it out.”

With a bowed head, I lift my index and middle finger toward the field, and allow magic to swirl within me. When I exhale, the water evaporates and a brisk wind rustles the rice stalks.

An hour later, after the field is harvested, I gather my things. ”I'll be back tomorrow.”

”Hmpf.”

”Have a nice evening.” I shuffle off toward the rest area where my guards wait. I'm relieved when I notice Ryker isn't with them. Still, if he's not here, and Beck is at the house waiting for me, where is he?

My finger twitches over my wristlet. ”Ryker Newbold,” I whisper.

”Cla.s.sified.”

I scowl. Either he's out on official business or he's somehow blocked me from seeing his location. Either way, it doesn't calm my nerves.

When they see me, Oliver and Dawson jump to their feet, but Kyra yawns and flips up a weird device she has strapped over her eye.

”Where's Annalise?” I ask.

”Malin needed her.” There's a red ring around Kyra's eye.

I point at the device. ”What is that thing?”

She tosses it in the air and catches it. ”Something new. It's called an eyepiece. It lets me see conferences and lectures. And your mother. All very boring, but extremely necessary according to Annalise.”

”Fascinating.” I adjust the strap of my satchel against my shoulder. ”I'm done for the day.”