Vanish by Sophie Jordan Read Free Book Online

light shrug and continue on, the mist weaving around my ankles. We walk past houses with their windows drawn against the morning. I don’t remember the pride being this quiet before, this still. Even this early, there was usually some activity. It gives me an eerie feeling. Suddenly the vine-covered wall edging the township doesn’t seem like something protecting us, but something hemming us in.
    “So quiet,” I murmur.
    “Yeah. Still curfew. You can’t leave your house until seven.”
    “Then what are you doing wandering—”
    “I’m part of the morning patrol.” He gestures to the blue band around his arm. I hadn’t noticed it before.
    “Patrol,” I echo numbly, staring at the blue fabric. “I didn’t know. Should I go back until—”
    “Nah. I won’t write you up.” Write me up?
    He smiles like this is a gift. I can’t muster a smile in return. I want no gifts from him. Tomorrow I’ll be certain to leave after seven.
    I turn and continue walking.
    “Pretty cool about your sister,” he says, keeping pace with me.
    “Yeah.”
    He slants me a look from his night-black eyes. “You don’t sound happy about it.”
    “Honestly, I haven’t had time to process it.”
    He nods like he understands that. “It will be a huge adjustment.”
    “Yes. Nidia will help Tamra get through it all—”
    “I meant an adjustment for you,” he smoothly inserts, his voice as slick as oil.
    The pulse at my neck skitters erratically. “Me?”
    His shoes scrape loose gravel on the path. The sound frays my nerves. “Yeah. You’re not top dog around here anymore.”
    I quicken my pace through the town center, past the school and meeting hall, eager to reach Nidia’s. “It was never like that.”
    “Yeah, it was. But now there’s two of you. You’ve got some competition.”
    I stop and face him even as a part of me just wants to walk faster and leave him far behind. That or punch him.
    He arches a golden eyebrow. “I’m just saying.” He waves a hand. “Cassian can’t have both of you.”
    I stare hard at him. He doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t even look away.
    I cross my arms over my chest and decide to get to the point. “Meaning you have a shot at one of us now?”
    He smiles that non-smile again, and I suddenly loathe him—this grasping, greedy boy that sees me or my sister as a way to climb the ranks. I despise that he thinks he can possess whoever Cassian doesn’t want. Because it’s as simple as Cassian choosing. And Corbin taking, seizing the leftovers like any foraging dog. My muscles tense in anger. Like hell .
    I snort and turn, start walking again, my steps faster, hard nips into the ground. “It’s not going to happen,” I toss over my shoulder.
    “You can’t run from it, Jacinda. Not anymore.”
    “From what?” I whirl around, wanting to be perfectly clear on whatever he’s implying.
    “If you don’t pair up with Cassian, my uncle will look to me next. We could be good together, Jacinda.”
    “You’ve got to be kidding.”
    His chest swells with self-importance. “My bloodline has led this pride for the last four centuries. Even your father could not usurp my family’s power.”
    “What do you know about my father?” I charge forward.
    “Just what I’ve been told. Before he disappeared, he was constantly challenging my uncle. To no avail. My family is the best suited to rule this pride. We’ve always been the strongest . . . and we’ll only grow stronger with a fire-breather and a shader added to our line.”
    I feel my face grow clammy-cold at the thought of Corbin and me , and I admit to myself that the idea of Cassian never made me feel this ill.
    “You’re nuts.” I continue walking, relief flooding me when he doesn’t follow.
    “You don’t get to decide anymore, Jacinda!” he calls after me. “You lost that chance. It’s going to be me or Cassian.”
    I know this is not an idle threat. He’s Severin’s favored nephew, after all. He would know things. Things