Prodigy by Marie Lu Read Free Book Online Page B

interested in you, and that means he can be influenced by what you tell him.”
    “So you want me to go back to the Republic?” I say. My words seem to echo. From the
     corner of my eye, I see Tess shift unhappily on the couch. Her mouth quivers with
     some unspoken phrase.
    Razor nods. “Exactly. Originally, I was going to use spies from my own Republic patrols
     to get close to Anden—but now we have a better alternative.
You.
You tell the Elector that the Patriots are going to try to kill him—but the plan
     you tell him about will be a decoy. While everyone’s distracted with the fake plan,
     we’ll strike with the real one. Our goal is not only to kill Anden, but to turn the
     country completely against him, so that his regime will be doomed even if our plan
     fails. That’s what you two can do for us. Now, we’ve heard reports that the new Elector
     is going to be heading for the warfront within the next couple of weeks, to get updates
     and progress reports from his colonels. The RS
Dynasty
airship launches toward the warfront early tomorrow afternoon, and all of my squadrons
     will be on it. Day will join me, Kaede, and Tess on that ride. We’ll organize the
     real assassination, and you’ll lead Anden to it.” Razor crosses his arms and studies
     our faces, waiting for our reactions.
    Day finally finds his voice and interrupts him. “This is going to be incredibly dangerous
     for June,” he argues as he props himself up straighter on the couch. “How can you
     be sure she’ll even reach the Elector after the military gets her back? How do you
     know they won’t just start torturing information out of her?”
    “Trust me, I know how to avoid that,” Razor replies. “I haven’t forgotten about your
     brother, either . . . If June can get close enough to the Elector, she may find out
     where Eden is on her own.”
    Day’s eyes light up at that, and Tess squeezes his shoulder.
    “As for you, Day, I’ve never seen the public rally behind
anyone
the way they have for you. Did you know that streaking your hair red has become a
     fashion statement overnight?” Razor chuckles and waves a hand at Day’s head. “That’s
     power. Right now, you probably have just as much influence as the Elector. Maybe more.
     If we can find a way to use your fame to work the people up into a frenzy, by the
     time the assassination happens, Congress will be powerless to stop a revolution.”
    “And what do you plan to
do
with that revolution?” Day asks.
    Razor leans forward, and his face turns determined, even hopeful. “You want to know
     why I joined the Patriots? For the same reasons
you’ve
been working against the Republic. The Patriots know how you’ve suffered—we’ve all
     seen the sacrifices you’ve made for your family, the pain the Republic has caused
     you. June,” Razor says, nodding at me. I cringe; I don’t want a reminder of what happened
     to Metias. “I have seen your suffering too. Your whole family destroyed by the nation
     you once loved. I’ve lost count of the number of Patriots who have come from similar
     circumstances.”
    Day turns his stare back up at the ceiling at the mention of his family. His eyes
     stay dry, but when Tess reaches out and grabs his hand, he tightens his fingers around
     hers.
    “The world outside of the Republic isn’t perfect, but freedoms and opportunities
do
exist out there, and all we need to do is let that light shine into the Republic
     itself. Our country is on the brink—all it needs now is a hand to tip it over.” He
     rises halfway off his chair and points at his chest. “
We
can be that hand. With a revolution, the Republic comes crashing down, and together
     with the Colonies we can take it and rebuild it into something great. It’ll be the
     United States again. People will live freely. Day, your little brother will grow up
     in a better place. That’s worth risking our lives for. That’s worth
dying
for. Isn’t it?”
    I can tell