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The man narrowed his eyes, piercing me with a look that screamed he was pissed. My stomach turned, making me feel sick, and just as I thought I was going to cave under his unforgiving gaze, he finally nodded in agreement.

“What about him?” he motioned toward the boy.

“We’ll take care of the kid,” Chase offered. I looked at him before returning my attention to the officer. The look he gave us was pure venom, and somewhere deep within me, fear trickled in. I knew this wasn’t over. It was only just the beginning…and I was going to pay dearly for it.

3: WTF?

AllIcoulddowas stare at the words, reading them over and over again.

Dissent

Resist

Rise

I knew rebel activity had been growing in the Subclass district. There were even some rumors of it spreading to District 2…butDistrict 1? Raúl was going to lose his mind, especially with Election Day only two months away.

“Do you think he did it?” I was pretty sure the boy was innocent, but another part of me was growing nervous. What if hediddo it? What was going to happen to me if that man told my parents I intervened in an Enforcement Officer’s duties?

Chase came up to stand beside me. “No, I really don’t.” Silence filled the space, but only for a moment before he bumped my shoulder. “Letting him go home was the right thing to do. You made the right call.”

I glanced at him before shifting my gaze back to the blaring red letters smeared across my father’s face. “Did I?” I blew out a breath. “I hope you’re right.” Silence fell between us again as we both took in the vandalism. “Why would somebody do this?”

Chase snorted. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“What?” I frowned.

Chase looked at me straight on. Nothing about him gave off any sense of hesitation. “What part of this is confusing to you? Telvia’s growing restless, Mara. People aren’t happy.” He looked back at the poster, seriousness enveloping his angular features. His words came out low and deep, as though he had forgotten I was there and was thinking aloud. “Raúl’s overstayed his welcome.”

Something ignited within me. “Are you nuts? He’s been voted in twicealready.Clearly, the people love him.”

Chase crossed his arms, eyes never wavering, “Could it be the election’s a farce? No one’s ever run against him, so of course he would win every time.”

My jaw hit the floor. I couldn’t believe I was hearing this from him. Yes, it was true no one ever ran against my father, but clearly no one thought they could do better,right? An inkling of doubt settled deep within me, and I hesitated.

No. Raúl was a good leader. Everything he did was to protect the Telvian people…allof them. I had to believe that. I was his daughter. Because if I didn’t believe it…if I was wrong about him, then—

I couldn’t finish the thought. That kind of thinking only led to trouble. And I had enough trouble plaguing me already.

Chase turned to face me, arms still folded across his chest. “It’s only natural that when people feel oppressed, they rise up.” He pointed at the ruined campaign poster. “I mean, look at this. This isn’t District 3, Mara. Someone in the Noble Class did this.”

I didn’t want to hear it. My mind attached to one word, and that word kept zipping through my consciousness. “Oppressed?You know, it’s not like shit’s been easy for him. Andclearlythe Telvian people placed him in power because they believed he could guide us through thedrought. That was some real crap, Chase, and you know it. And he did it. He got us through.”

Chase looked up at the sky as he exhaled, exasperation setting in. “Yeah, he did, Mara, but he’s been in powertoolong—”

“What?Are you insane?” I looked around, checking to make sure no one heard him. Grabbing him by the shirt, I shoved him deeper into the alley before whisper-yelling at him. “Are you crazy? How the hell are you even talking like that? Someone could hear you!”

His brows knitted together, tension growing thick between us. “Who cares who hears me?” It wasn’t a question, but a challenge.

“Icare! Last time I checked, you wanted my father’s favor,remember?” That did it. Chase’s eyes flickered, emotion passing through them before he blinked. When he opened them again, his expression softened as he cleared his throat.

“You’re right. You’re absolutely right.” He looked over his shoulder before looking back at me. “I’m sorry. I’m—I just…I just want to make sure that stuff like this doesn’t happen anymore, ya know? And figuring out why someone would defile your dad’s poster is an important step in making sure that something like this doesn’t happen again.”

I guess that made sense…kind of. But it didn’t help me feel any better or any less annoyed with him. I crossed my arms, giving him a dubious look.

He shifted his weight, inhaling deeply before speaking again. “I’m sorry, Mara. I…I don’t know why I got all fired up. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

Part of me felt relieved, but something else told me this wasn’t over. He must have noticed that I was unconvinced, because he gave me that smirk I loved so much. Two simple steps and the gap between us dissolved as he planted a simple kiss on my cheek.