“We can’t evacuate all of them. It’s too much work,” he says. “We need a location, Haven.”
“Listen, it is sheer luck that I learned this. How do you expect me to find out where this occurs?”
“You got two days, princess,” Idris says. “We need a name.”
A frustrated sound escapes me.
“How?”
“Cozy up to the Commandant or break into his office,” Idris suggests.
“Easier said than done.”
“There are children andinfantsin these settlements,” Idris says. “We have to protect them, Haven.”
“I know,” I say softly. “I’ll try.”
I can’t expect Spider to tell me any more than he already has. He will find my curiosity suspicious. I’ll have to search for it myself. There are two days until the assault. That gives me a bit of breathing room to learn the truth.
Prue and the rebels are relying on me.
I close my eyes, but sleep remains far from my reach.
Breaking into Ender’s office in Block A would be impossible with all the security and surveillance. But I might have better luck slipping into his study at the Vale residence.
I’m half-surprised when Knox says that Ender accepted my request to visit my sister. I figured Ender would refuse out of spite, but this is an excellent turn of events.
“Ender will be here for dinner,” Knox says. “I’m supposed to keep an eye on you both. So, please behave.”
Mercy and I sit in the living room. The scones are lit, and they cast long, spindly shadows across the midnight-blue wallpaper.
“So, did you like the book?” Mercy asks.
“It was marvelous!” I say. “The scene where she undid his trousers with her teeth was a sight to behold.”
Mercy’s cheeks burn. Knox scoffs. His fingers tap on his tablet; he’s clearly multitasking.
“I don’t think that is the book I recommended,” she says with a frown.
“Oh, I read the summary of the book you picked. It wasn’t my speed, so I chose another one.”
“That doesn’t sound like one of the approved readings selected by the Department of Education.” Knox raises a brow. “Are you in possession of contraband?”
Sullivan brought Mercy books during his travels. Illegal ones. The one I found among her horde had been hidden with a fake cover. Imagine my surprise when I saw a man clutching a half-naked woman beneath the slip.
“No,” we say in unison.
His eyes shift between us both before he sighs.
“Don’t take those out in public,” he warns, before returning his attention to his device.
Mercy and I exchange a smile. Knox is so much cooler than Ender. The latter would have had us in matching cuffs before the night ended.
“I need the bathroom,” I say.
Mercy opens her mouth to guide me, but I silence her with a subtle shake of my head.
“I know the way,” I say. “From the engagement party.”
