Nightingale by Dawn Rae Miller Read Free Book Online

my guards stand.
    Kyra grins and slides behind a desk. I shoot her a puzzled look, thinking maybe she’s testing with me since she hasn’t completed her assessments. But there’s only one tablet.
    “Your mother secured permission for us to remain in the room with you during the testing,” Annalise says, pulling her tablet from her satchel. “Best of luck.”
    “Best of luck,” the other guards mumble. Oliver is already lost in his wristlet, tapping away. Probably playing a game. And Kyra is no doubt listening to music from the way she bobs her head to an unheard beat. She sees me staring and flashes an encouraging smile before turning her attention to her shiny, new, green wristlet.
    How did I not see that earlier? When did Kyra get a States woman wristlet? Or better yet, why did she get one without testing?
    I drop heavily into my seat and tap the tablet on. The screen flickers to life and a familiar sense of competition kicks in.
    The test isn’t difficult and for three hours, I lose myself in academics, typing out answers, sorting complex groupings, and doing my best. Until I get to the diplomacy section.
    The questions here are easy, too. Almost too easy. I frown at the test. There are only twelve questions left.
    My hand trembles as I punch in the answer for the next question.
    And the next.
    I stare at the third question. It’s a general knowledge one about treaties with the Center and Eastern societies. Even if I slept through twelve years of Societies class, I should still get this one right.
    But if I score too high in Leadership, then what? Will Mother force me into that career? Or one of the other areas I’m testing in? I have no doubt that given the opportunity, Mother will keep me in San Francisco. Far, far away from the greenhouses and my dream job.
    She’s given me back my magic, but it’s up to me to claim my career choice. My finger hovers over the tablet before typing out the answer—one I know is wrong, but only slightly so.
    I read the next question and again, give a slightly wrong answer.
    When I finish, I go back and change a few answers in every section except Agriculture. In that part, I scan my answers, doubling checking their accuracy. Henry would be proud.
    I pause. Henry.
    Why won’t Mother let me talk about him to the he a lers? What is she hiding?
    I must hesitate too long, because Annalise rushes to my side. “Is something wrong?”
    “Henry…he…” My mind churns, trying to work out…something.
    Annalise rests her hand on my arm and my mind stills. “He was your Agriculture teacher. You worked with him frequently.”
    I draw my brows together. “I know.”
    “You’re going to run out of time if you don’t finish soon.” Annalise push es my tablet toward me.
    “Right.” I stare at the screen. Every answer appears filled in, so I rise from my seat and walk slowly toward the front of the room.
    “I’m finished.”
    The teacher takes the tablet. “Would you like to wait while I calculate the results? It could take twenty minutes depending on how loaded the system is.”
    Anxiety crawls up my arms, down my torso and explodes in my gut. “Yes, I’d like to wait.”
    She smiles at me. “I’ll be back shortly.”
    I slink back to my desk and Kyra moves up to sit next to me. “You did fabo , didn’t you?”
    I shrug. With the questions I threw, I’m actually not sure how I’ll score.
    “You did. I could tell. You went into the Lark-school-zone. Completely focused.” She holds up her shiny green wristlet. “I made a new mix. Do you want to listen?”
    I shake my head. “When did you get the new arm decoration?”
    Kyra’s fingers trace the intricate carving of her wristlet. “This morning when Annalise sent me ahead to the State. It’s pretty, isn’t it?”
    “Did you test for it?” I don’t hide the bitterness in my words.
    She purses her lips before answering. “No.”
    Flashes of red dance before my eyes. Am I the only one who has to follow official