“But why?” I implored. “Does this have anything to do with the Reaper?”
“Shhh,” Rose said, whipping her head like she half expected to see someone in the room. “Are you daft?”
“The Elite are the ones who told me,” I explained.
They shared a look over my naked body, communicating in a nonverbal way that took true knowledge of another. Rose’s mouth became a thin line as she shook her head, but Violet looked down at me.
“What do you think of the Elite?” Violet asked.
I caught my lip between my teeth. Violet nodded at whatever she read on my face.
“I don’t think I need to tell you that what I am about to share doesn’t leave this room,” Violet whispered so quietly that I rose up onto my elbows to hear better. Rose began applying wax again. “A rebellion is coming, Fledgling.”
People are rising up.My heart began beating faster and harder until each breath took effort. Was it fear, or was it my own battle cry?
“Does your Mate often confide Illum information to you?” Violet asked. “Clearly he’s interested in you, judging from the photo in the Press.”
“I don’t know if he’s truly interested, or if he’s just using me.”
Rose rolled her eyes. “There are many ways to kiss someone. Hands don’t cling to obligations. Nor do polite kisses linger.”
My face heated. “Who said it lingered?”
“Everyone. It’s all the Elite have been able to talk about.” Rose applied more wax. “Collin is constantly in the Press—giving messages on the Illum’s new passings, the Reaper situation. Everything related to the Illum comes from him.”
“And he’s connected to you,” Violet said quietly. “You are the only non-Elite with access to the Illum.”
“What about Tabitha?” I asked. “Collin mentioned she has run the city for more than fifty years. Why isn’t she in the Press?”
Rose grew impossibly paler. “We don’t talk about her.”
“We can’t keep her in the dark,” Violet protested. “He’ll eat her alive.”
“Better her than us,” Rose responded bitterly, her eyes on Violet’s bruised face.
“Rose,” Violet began, a delicateness to her words. “We are all in this together.”
“No,” Rose declared, her voice cracking as she gripped the side of the table. “We aren’t in this together because the walls have ears, and all secrets slither back to the mother’s nest. And she is in that nest, soon to be in bed with one of them. I told you this is a bad plan, Violet. You overreach. Why can’t this be enough?”
“Rose, the time of hiding is coming to an end. There is no going back. We will all have to pick our sides. You know mine.” Violet held Rose’s stare. Rose trembled, shaking her head. “No matter the cost. No matter the consequences.”
“I need to find a new lens,” Rose said, sniffling as she walked away.
“Tell me, Fledgling, are you tired of being in the dark?” Violet asked, ripping one strip.
“Yes,” I said, and meant it.
“We need information, and you can get it.”
I glanced up at her. “What information?”
“Information to help the Reaper.” Violet tore the last strip from my skin, then beckoned me to follow her to the next room.
The Illum had always claimed to be dedicated to peace, but looking at Violet’s ravaged face, that couldn’t have felt further from the truth.
No one spoke as Violet styled my hair in a upswept low twist with pieces framing my face. Rose replaced my lens, painted my lips a bloodred, and left my eyes simple with long lashes. My nails were shaped into ovals and painted the color of rubies to match the jewelry I was to wear.
At last, we made our way into the final room. Violet passed me a pair of nude panties. I dropped my robe and shimmied into them before making my way onto the platform.
