Nightingale by Dawn Rae Miller Read Free Book Online Page A

channels? Mother just gave Kyra a wristlet and I had to sit through three hours of grueling tests. Where’s the fairness in that?
    “Don’t be mad. Malin felt your rescue was test enough to prove my placement.”
    I snort and don’t bother to hide my annoyance. It’s not that I want to break the rules, I just want everyone else to follow them also. Is that too much to ask?
    “You know I despise tests,” Kyra says. This is true. Once, to get out of an exam in Societies, Kyra hid in a bathroom and then claimed she had her schedule confused.
    “Everyone hates tests,” I snap.
    “Except you. Have pity on us mere mortals.” She pushes out her bottom lip and bats her round eyes at me in the most ridiculous way, and I can’t help but smile.
    Nervous energy builds inside me and to keep my legs from bouncing away, I stand and walk to the window. As I stare across the white hills, my breath forms a film of condensation. When we were little, Kyra and I would draw pictures on the steamy kitchen windows while we waited for Bethina to make us cookies.
    I close my eyes and remember how cozy it felt. Sometimes Bethina would sing songs about old pirates and blind mice. And when the cookies were done, she’d give us both one extra for keeping her company.
    “We should go out tomorrow,” Kyra says, joining me at the window. “To celebrate. Maybe see a concert? Maz said there’s a fabo band playing.” She holds her hand over her mouth in an attempt to hide her words from my other guards. “In the Haight.”
    I raise my eyebrows. The Haight is a notorious pit of debauchery and the seedy underbelly of San Francisco. No respectful States person would be seen there.
    It’s also where Sensitive sentencings take place.
    “I already told you I don’t feel up to it. Besides, I doubt Mother would let me go to the Haight. Especially after dark. I’m barely allowed out of my room.” I side-eye the rest of my guards. “And when I am, I have an escort.”
    The classroom door swings open and draws my attention to the front of the room. My stomach drops when the teacher stops near her desk. This moment could change my entire life. If I didn’t score well, because of my intentional wrong answers, I’ll be sent to some meaningless, low-level job.
    The teacher fidgets with her tablet while I hold my breath.
    Please, please let me get Agriculture.
    “Congratulations, Lark. You placed in the top two percent in Agriculture.” My breath whooshes out of me and I grin like a fool at Kyra. It takes me a moment to realize the teacher is still speaking.
    “What?” I ask.
    “You also scored in top two percent in Leadership.” She beams at me like this is a good thing. “Would you like your scores in the other areas?”
    “No.” My voice is barely audible over the howling wind and snow lashing the window. I place my hand over my heart, hoping to calm its thrumming against my ribcage.
    I scored too high in Leadership.
    “See? I told you.” Kyra claps my shoulder in congratulations. Oliver and Dawson do the same. Only Annalise remains silent. Watching me.
    I twist my dark ponytail into a knot at the base of my neck. The snow falls harder now, completely obscuring the world beyond the window.
    There will be no more time in the greenhouses for me. No more pretending I can have that sort of life.
    I’m going to State. To work with Mother.
     

 
    7
     
     
    Dozens of gowns hang before me and I run my hands over them. Taffeta, silk, slim-cut, voluminous. Mother thought of every occasion when she stocked my wardrobe.
    “Did you see this?” Kyra beams an image onto my wallscreen. “Look at that woman’s dress? She’s supposed to be an ambassador, but she’s dressed like a common worker.”
    I collapse into the mess of pillows on the bed. “I’m going to end up dressed like that at this rate.” Mother has ordered me to a dinner tonight for visiting diplomats. Even though I’d rather sit in my room and sulk over my assessment scores, I