Rebel (Legend, #4)(37)

Anden doesn’t look too different from how I remember him—a tall, composed young man with grave green eyes and a regal tilt to his chin. He seems more relaxed now, though, as if he’s finally been able to step into his position with comfort.

I give him a respectful bow of my head. “Elector,” I say.

Anden smiles at me and repeats the gesture, even though I don’t think it’s protocol to do so. “In the Republic, he has a longer title than that,” he says to Min. “He’s still well known within all circles as the boy who saved a nation. I’m indebted to him.”

Me, the savior of a nation. It’s still a bizarre idea. Listening to the Elector talk about our shared history gives me a strange, light-headed feeling. I try to think back to that blur of time, when I was known as Day and when the Elector and I had a trust in each other so thin that June was really the only one who held us together. My memories of those few conversations I had with Anden are spotty, but even then, I remember the way I’d feel every time I saw him standing in some fancy hall with June standing at his side as his Princeps.

“You’re indebted to no one, sir,” I reply to him now. “The Republic’s thriving because of you.”

“Ms. Iparis has always spoken of your humility,” he says. “It’s as intact as ever.”

June. The mention of her name warms my cheeks. It hadn’t been that long ago when she and Anden were still in a relationship. I remember seeing it rotating on the news over here. “Well, if June’s saying it,” I reply, “I’ll take it as a compliment.”

Anden laughs quietly. “We’ll welcome your brother when he returns to the Republic for his internship.”

“Thank you, sir,” I say.

The Elector bows to us both again. “If you’ll excuse me,” he says, turning back in the direction of the hall. “I need to have a word with the President. It was good to see you, Mr. Wing,” he says to me. Then he leaves me with the director.

I let out a breath.

“Thought you were off duty today,” Min says.

I nod to her. “Would’ve been,” I reply. “Somehow I got an invite to this thing.”

“Yes, well … I’m assuming it has something to do with Ms. Iparis.”

I scowl when Min notices the blush on my cheeks and gives me a small, sidelong smile. Then she steps closer and lowers her voice.

“Has Hann reached out to your brother in any way?” she murmurs.

All of my worries come flooding back anew. “Not yet,” I reply. “And honestly, it’d be great if he never did.”

Min frowns. “I know you’re unhappy about your brother getting involved in this Hann investigation,” she says. “But he’s the closest link we’ve gotten in a year.”

“We’ll find another way,” I say. “We got a sighting of him, didn’t we? We’re hunting down more info about the race itself too. Hann’s going to show up again if there’s another race.”

“Not if your brother’s not there,” she replies. Then she turns her entire body toward me. “If we get a lead, I expect to see your brother cooperate.”

“And if he doesn’t?”

“I think you’d prefer that he does,” Min says. “This isn’t a request, Daniel. This is an order.”

I lean over the side of the walkway and stare down at the dizzying height. “I don’t do well with personal threats, Director,” I say through gritted teeth.

“Good, because neither do I.” Min starts to walk away. “So let’s make sure it doesn’t come down to that.”

I watch her go, feeling a sense of helplessness that I haven’t felt since the Republic was at war.

The rest of the guests seem like they’re starting to stream inside the hall, but I stay where I am, in the solitude and the rain. At least I’d had Tess on my side when I used to live on the streets of Lake. Here, I feel alone.

“You’re not heading in?”

June’s voice comes from one side of the walkway. I jump, straightening, and look over to see her approaching.

My words jumble in my throat and fail to come out. Tonight, she’s in a floor-length gown of scarlet and black, the skirt billowing with floating fabric in a fanlike pattern. Whenever she walks, she looks like she’s gliding on air. Crystal drops sparkle on her ears.

I realize that she’s still looking at me, and force myself to stop gaping and turn back toward the main Hall of Philosophy. “I thought I’d get some fresh air before I had to head in,” I say. “What are you doing out here? Isn’t the Elector expecting you inside?”

She comes to stand beside me and gives me a brief smile. “He’s deep in conversation with Faline,” she replies, nodding toward the hall. “I think he’ll be fine on his own for a while.”

June, who always seems like she’s put together and has everything under control. I give her a tight smile, wishing I could feel the same way, instead of this awkward sense of uncertainty around her.

“Something’s bothering you,” she says after a while.

“Is it that obvious?” I reply.

She glances sidelong at me. “Well, I like to pride myself on how well I can read the details of everything around me.”