Knox shifts. “Ender?”
Clover is right about one thing. Haven Warrickisa traitor. A liar who evaded the Bind. She is no different than the Untamed. Lawless, defiant, and untrustworthy.
“I think she stopped time,” Knox continues, “which means she is most likely a Timebender. A Class One.”
Everythingalwaysworks in her favor because she controls time. The rebels escaping at every turn, the boy dying before he could reveal the truth. It was her all along. Haven Warrick was always the puppet master. I feel like an idiot for trusting her, for bringing her into the fold when she was working against me this entire time. A small part of me knew she could not be trusted.
“They rigged her test,” I say. “Her mother hid her from the system, and now Haven is following in her footsteps.”
“She is a danger to you, to us,” Knox adds. “If your father ever learns about this?—”
“He won’t,” I say sharply.
“You can’t protect her,” Knox says gently. “Not without risking everything you’ve ever worked for.”
“She’s mine,” I say finally. “My soldier. My responsibility.”
My future wife.
I will handle Haven. I will ensure she gets in line and that she serves us loyally. And the first step is to convince her to accept the Bind. We will classify her as a Speedster. It makes the most sense. She can move places in the blink of an eye, because she stops time. It will be a convincing lie.
A Timebender is a Class One, and all Class One powers are forbidden. But a Speedster is a Class Three power.
Once she has the Bind, she will get in line, because the alternative is death.
And I refuse to live in a world without Haven Warrick.
chapter
forty-five
Haven
Today is our last test.
It’s been three days since Idris died, and I can’t help but feel like something is wrong. Ender has been looking at me like I killed his cat. He hasn’t spoken to me, despite my efforts to make small talk. Knox has been hanging out with me more, but it doesn’t feel light and fun anymore. It feels like he’s watching me.
“Is Ender mad at me?” I ask.
Knox is beside me. One boot planted against the wall. I’m strapped to the teeth with weapons and am wearing my favorite black jacket reinforced with matte armor plating––at the shoulders and ribs––cut close to my body so nobody can grab me. A holster is secured beneath my left arm, another at my thigh, with my blades strapped in.
“Why would you think that?” he asks.
“He won’t look at me,” I say.
“Why would he look at you?”
“Healwayslooks at me,” I say.
I don’t realize until I’ve spoken the words that I miss his attention.
“Ender is loyal to you,” Knox says. His tone is slightly cutting. “He would do anything for you. But would you do the same?”
“Where is this coming from?” I ask, confused.
Ender may suspect that I am a rebel, but if he doesn’t plan to kill me for it, why is he being so hostile? I would rather he confront me than poison me with his stare.
A sinking feeling hits me. What if he thinks I’ll die in the test today, and he figures that there’s no point in handling me?
