Prodigy by Marie Lu Read Free Book Online

off five minutes in my head when Razor finally takes a sip of his drink
     and leans back. I watch him closely, still wondering why one of the Patriots’ leaders—the
     head of a group that I’d always associated with savagery—is so polite. “Ms. Iparis,”
     he says. “How much do you know about our new Elector?”
    I shake my head. “Not much, I’m afraid.” Beside me, Kaede snorts and continues digging
     into her dinner.
    “You’ve met him before, though,” Razor says, revealing what I’d hoped to keep from
     Day. “That night at the ball, the one held to celebrate Day’s capture? He kissed your
     hand. Correct?” Day pauses in his conversation with Tess. I cringe inwardly.
    Razor doesn’t seem to notice my discomfort. “Anden Stavropoulos is an interesting
     young man,” he says. “The late Elector loved him a great deal. Now that Anden is Elector,
     the Senators are uneasy. The people are angry, and they couldn’t care less if Anden
     is different from the last Elector. No matter what speeches Anden gives to please
     them, all they’re going to see is a wealthy man who has no idea how to heal their
     suffering. They’re furious with Anden for letting Day’s execution go through, for
     hunting him down, for not saying a word against his father’s policies, for putting
     a price on finding June . . . the list goes on. The late Elector had an iron grip
     on the military. Now the people just see a boy king who has the chance to rise up
     and become another version of his father. These are the weaknesses we want to exploit,
     and this brings us to the plan we currently have in mind.”
    “You seem to know a great deal about the young Elector. You also seem to know a great
     deal about what happened at the celebratory ball,” I reply. I can’t hold in my suspicion
     any longer. “I suppose that’s because you were also a guest that night. You must be
     a Republic officer—but without a rank high enough to get you an audience with the
     Elector.” I study the room’s rich velvet carpets and granite counters. “These are
     your
actual
office quarters, aren’t they?”
    Razor seems a little put off by my criticism of his rank (which, as usual, is a fact
     that I hadn’t meant as an insult), but quickly brushes it off with a laugh. “I can
     see there’ll be no secrets with you. Special girl. Well, my official title is Commander
     Andrew DeSoto, and I run three of the capital’s city patrols. The Patriots gave me
     my street name. I’ve been organizing most of their missions for a little over a decade.”
    Day and Tess are both listening intently now. “You’re a Republic officer,” Day echoes
     uncertainly, his eyes glued to Razor. “A commander from the capital. Hm.
Why
are you helping the Patriots?”
    Razor nods, resting both of his elbows on the dinner table and pressing his hands
     together. “I suppose I should start by giving you both some details about how we work.
     The Patriots have been around for thirty or so years—they started as a loose collection
     of rebels. Within the last fifteen years, they’ve banded together in an attempt to
     organize themselves and their cause.”
    “Razor’s coming changed everything, so I hear,” Kaede pipes up. “They’d rotated through
     leaders all the time, and funding had always been a problem. Razor’s connections to
     the Colonies have been bringing in more money for missions than ever before.”
    Metias
had
been busier over the last couple of years in dealing with Patriot attacks in Los
     Angeles, I recall.
    Razor nods at Kaede’s words. “We’re fighting to reunite the Colonies and the Republic,
     to return the United States to its former glory.” His eyes take on a determined gleam.
     “And we’re willing to do whatever it takes to achieve our goal.”
    The old United States,
I think, as Razor continues. Day had mentioned the United States to me during our
     escape from Los Angeles, although I was still skeptical.