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Isaiah Anderson eats it up, leaning forward, looking less distrustful.

“That’s exactly right, Ami. The PS has placed their own priorities, their radical fringe beliefs, over family ties. What about the Rights of men in marriages? The right of men to father and raise children? Many of us were forced to leave our families and we’ve lost years and years of time, of memories and anniversaries, children’s birthdays, just to accommodate how those women want to live,” he says bitterly, his voice rising.

He leans back. “Thereissomething you can do for the Forge.”

Vale’s head snaps over to his father. He had been watching me, I think.

“Both of you,” his father adds, smiling. His smile is not exactly warm and comforting.

“I know who your mother is, and I don’t trust you,” he says to me, and I can’t hold back a flinch. “No matter. You can’t prove yourself to me with words. You can prove yourself with actions.” He pauses, then says, “There’s something we need, that the Brotherhood has.”

At the confusion in my eyes Vale explains. “The Brotherhood is another militia on the west side of town.”

“They have information about the government of Greater Maryland that we need,” Isaiah tells us. “They tried to sell it to us but the price is too high. We have not been able to get it any other way.”

Vale shifts uncomfortably in his seat, and I wonder,What other ways did they try?

Isaiah smiles again, but not with his eyes. “We’ve managed to get Vale an invitation to their solstice celebration this weekend. You will go as his girlfriend and the two of you will obtain the information we need. It’s stored on a laptop in one of their offices.”

Vale is stiff beside me. “What information?” he asks.

“That’s classified,” his father says immediately and chuckles.

He leans back in his chair, tilting it a little.

“This is a great opportunity to prove your loyalty, Ami.”

“What about Zeph?” I ask.

He sighs, a bit exaggerated.

“Zeph is struggling in basic training,” he says sorrowfully, and my heart thumps in my chest. “I’m not sure what his future holds, but your success in this littleproject will go a long way towards ensuring your friend’s safety.”

Vale sucks in a breath and I hear the warning and the threat behind the words. I push down my reaction, school my breathing carefully. I don’t want Vale’s father in my head.

“When is the party?” I ask quietly.

“The solstice is Saturday,” Vale says. “The twenty-first.”

I had lost track of time, but that makes sense given how sunny it is here even when I lie down to go to sleep at night.

His dad stands and Vale pushes his chair back. He grabs my hand, defiantly, and we walk to the door together.

“We’ll follow up,” his father says, looking at Vale. Vale nods and opens the door, pulling me through.

Once we’re out in the hall with the door closed, he breathes deeply a couple of times and shakes his head.

“We get to work together,” I say.

“Something is up,” Vale answers me quietly. “I’ll find out more.”

“Stealing a laptop.” I shrug. “How hard can it be?”

Vale’s eyes widen. “They’ll be watching me. The Brotherhood and the Forge are not on good terms, especially lately. Maybe this is why.”

“Then why would they let you come to their solstice party?” I ask.

Vale shakes his head. “Can’t be a good reason, Ami, I’ll be honest.”

“It’ll be okay,” I say reflexively, although there’s no way I can know that.

Vale stares off in the distance. I realize we’ve beenwalking down the hall into a new part of the school when I pass the glass panes of a weight room filled with squat racks and punching bags. There’s a slight smell of chlorine in the air that has me sniffing curiously.

Vale notices. Of course he does.

“Ami,” he says. “Do you want to go swimming?”