Page 17 of Stormbreaker

With New Manhattan’s population growing every year, The Shield provides for and protects those who earn it, and everyone is expected to prove their worth. Those who fail are considered failures of the system itself.

My gaze wanders to the back of the room where a group of cog hopefuls all sit, wearing cautious looks. I don’t know what happens if they fail. Do they simply go home? Or is their future just as uncertain?

Stevie is still shouting into her bullhorn about upholding the values of Aria and the challenges ahead, before the other three leaders do the same. They introduce the group of people standing at the front as secondary school leaders who will help with the testing, including my cousin Anan Samra from my mother’s side, who cheers along with the rest.

He spots me and winks, and it helps settle some of the nervousness tingling in my fingertips. Surrounded by so much happiness and excitement, I feel like my father’s lecture this morning was a lifetime ago.

While everyone talks, I study the other sides of the room. Despite The Shield’s mandate that we all cooperate, the Houses are extremely competitive and secretive with one another, constantly vying for position. Fiama and Aria are the most powerful Houses and dominate the largest portions of the city. They’re constantly battling each other for more territory within our tight borders, which is another reason my father hates Aria so much.

I suppose even when we’re provided with everything, there are natural leaders and followers, and our human natures can’t be suppressed.

Stevie lifts her bullhorn and shouts a few more insults about the others. I can’t help but admire her as the only female student leader. She seems so fearless. I know I’m not supposed to think that about a member of Fiama’s greatest rival, but her energy is infectious.

While the others speak, my attention wanders to the Solitude sitting in the corner. He’s leaning against the wall behind him, his arms folded as he ignores his food and watches everyone with a detached expression.

I’m surprised the dean allowed him to stay, but the fact that they’ve issued him a uniform suggests he’ll be allowed to pledge if he can pass initiation. Unless this is all a ruse and they’re planning to do away with him later?

As if feeling my gaze, his eyes cut to mine, his jaw hardening.

He’s so raw and wild and yet . . . magnetic. Not what Solitudes are supposed to look like.

I resist the urge to look away, instead meeting his glare with one of my own.

I think about Raine. About his mother, who he never got the chance to know.

Solitudes took them both from us.

He looks away, and I realize the itching in my hands has suddenly eased as I return my attention to Devon. The room is chanting, pounding their fists on the tables, the floor vibrating.

“Initiations begin this week!” Devon shouts into the bullhorn. “Be prepared, my little pledglings, because your first test could come at any time, day or night.” He scans the faces in the room, the corner of his mouth lifting in an insolent smirk. “And I’m sure I don’t have to remind any of you what happens if you fuck this up.”

6

I’m in the bathroom brushing my teeth when my phone dings the next morning. Picking it up, I scroll to our group chat to see that Silver and Hazel have been discussing the Solitude at length.

silver: y’all.

silver: a third year just confirmed

silver: new guy rolled up here from the fucking Wastes

hazel: Rook

trinity: that’s his name??

hazel: weird, right?

silver: I don’t know . . . it’s kinda hot

silver: did you see his arms?

silver:

trinity: You do not have the hots for a Solitude. And those tattoos! He’d probably eat you after he fucks you

silver: girl . . . why do you make this so easy for me?

trinity: Stop it. You’re sick.