Broken Wings (Cruel and Beautiful World, Book One 1) Read Online Free PDF

as that mild relief set in, she stood back up and walked into the crowd, trying hard not to limp. She made sure to drop the wristband somewhat near its owner's foot. Then she continued to the curb, where she stared blankly at the road. She needed to come up with a plan but her mind was not as sharp anymore. Years of torture could do that to a person.
    "My band. Where the hell is my band? Someone's stolen it! Someone stole -"
    "Isn't that it right there?"
    Deryn looked over her shoulder and saw someone pointing at the ground. The woman she had taken the wristband from looked at it, blinked, and laughed before picking it up. "Oh, thank Saevus! The Guardians would've had my head for sure!"
    "We need another round to celebrate!" said a man, walking over and putting his arms around her and her friend who had spotted the wristband. "On me!"
    The women both laughed and followed him inside. Deryn turned back to face the road and began to think.
    "Did you hear the rumor that some Guardian got his throat slashed open?" a man asked his two acquaintances as they walked up beside her. He took out a pipe that smelled like strawberries, a poor tobacco substitute, and lit it.
    "Yeah, I heard some Outsider slave did it. Wouldn't be surprised if we're all watching their execution this weekend," said a man with a large cleft in his chin.
    "No, I don't think so," said the man with the pipe, taking a large puff. "Word is they escaped, which is why the whole Middle and Inner Cities are essentially on lockdown."
    "How annoying," said a ginger man, rolling his eyes. "I hope they catch the damn slave soon. I hate not being able to just walk over here from Inner without all the damn questioning."
    "Speaking of which, where is that damn tram?" asked the man with the cleft chin. "We need to get to the gates before they close 'em for the night."
    "Don't think it's supposed to be here for another few minutes." The pipe man took another puff, only now noticing Deryn standing there. He turned to look at her, catching a slight glimpse of her profile. Luckily, this was the less bruised side of her face, so she probably looked fairly normal, albeit a little tired. "Where're you headed?"
    "Nowhere." Deryn turned her head so he couldn't get a better look at her.
    As she did this, a man walked up on her other side, wearing a black coat with the hood covering his face, much like hers. She moved her head so it was facing forward, reached into her pocket and clutched her knife. Just in case. The new stranger rubbed his eyes, appearing very weary.
    "I can fix that," said the man with the pipe, grabbing her wrist.
    His hand landed directly on a large bruise. It sent a horrible sting through Deryn's arm. "Ow!" she cried out automatically. She didn't mean to, since he hadn't even grabbed her that hard, but the pain was too strong.
    The hooded stranger stopped rubbing his eyes. He stood frozen for a moment before glancing sideways at her.
    "Shut your trap! I barely touched you!" shouted the pipe man, releasing her with a push so she flew backwards.
    Deryn collided with the stranger in the hood. He caught her before she could hit the ground. The sleeve of his coat rode up and Deryn got a clear view of the wristband burrowing into his left wrist. It had President Saevus's crest on it - a dragon shaped like an 'S' with the words 'In Saevus We Trust' in a half-circle around the top, representing the protective shield around the city. Reserved only for his top Guardians. She tried not to gasp and pulled herself off of him. She needed to get out of there. Now.
    Deryn turned to walk away, her hand still on the knife in her pocket, but the man with the pipe grabbed her again. "Where you going, princess?"
    He pulled Deryn into him. Before she even had a chance to try and get away, the hooded Guardian grabbed the man's arm and shoved him off of her.
    "You dare lay a hand on a lady?"
    Deryn's heart stopped. Dear god, she knew that voice. She turned her head slightly and tried to get