Sovereign (Sovereign Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

covers
with magnets.”
    “Cori?”
he mumbles.
    “It’s
going to be fine.  I promise, I use the ducts all the time.  You’ll just have
to be careful...”
    “Cori,”
he says, more assertively. 
    “What?” 
We’re wasting time.  I look at the door, nervously, afraid someone else will
come through it.
    “You
know how to get to my room?”
    And
now I’m blushing again, but I try my best to play it off, adjusting my dress. 
“You know how I can’t sleep sometimes.  I just...worry, and I like to make sure
you’re okay.” 
    “Really?”
    “Yes. 
I check on Alyssa, too.”  I hope the last bit will comfort him.  I know he
cares for her.
    He
seems to be mulling something over, but I can’t read his expression.  “Cori,
there’s a problem.”
    I
immediately start to backpedal, certain I’ve just offended him.  Not respected
his privacy.  “I’m sorry.  I won’t do it anymore, I promise.”
    “The
problem is there’s no way I’ll fit through that vent.”
    I
soak him in, then eye the vent.  When I return to him, I realize he’s well over
six feet tall and quite bulky.  Though his waist is narrow, there’s no way his
shoulders will fit through the hole in my ceiling.  I barely fit through.  I
have no idea how I’m going to get him out of here.
    I
pace the floor, trying to think of something.  I check the hall one more time. 
Besides the scores of girls, there’s a guard on constant duty at the end of the
hall.  They rotate twice a day, twelve-hour shifts of nothing but sitting
still, and keeping watch, probably watching for things exactly like this--a boy
in my room. 
    I
decide there’s nothing we can do until the hall clears out and Dylan doesn’t
seem to mind.  I’m not concerned with afternoon classes since my life is being
put on fast-forward. 
    Dylan
crawls under my bed in case someone comes in, and I lay on top of it figuring I
might as well rest before the funeral.  Maybe the gate will magically be opened
while everyone is distracted with the service and no one will notice me running
as fast as I can to freedom.  Unlikely, but a girl can hope. 
    I
set my watch alarm for 4:30 so we’ll have plenty of time to get him out of here
before the girls come back from classes to change clothes for the funeral.  My
eyelids flutter and I allow sweet sleep to come over me. 
    In
a semi-conscious state, I dream of nothingness--just black in every direction. 
I don’t see any faces, but I hear someone’s voice, and I have the sensation of
holding someone’s hand.  I remember the last time I held someone’s hand and the
memory jars me awake.  My alarm is beeping, and Dylan is sliding from under the
bed.  I shut the alarm off and sit up, feeling groggy. 
    After
a few deep breaths, I slide my boots on over a clean pair of socks.  The boots
make the dress look even more ridiculous, and I’m glad.  I’m running out of
ways to rebel. 
    I
check the hall--it’s all clear except the guard.  I can feel Dylan’s breath on
me as he leans over my shoulder to see.  “Ready?” I whisper, without looking up
at him. 
    “Yep.” 
    At
that, I step into the hall, immediately drawing the guard’s attention.  I
stretch my arms and fake a yawn as I walk to the restroom.  Once I turn the
corner into the restroom, I count to five then let out a blood curdling
scream.  When I hear the guard running down the hall, I come out and meet him
at the door. 
    “Miss?”
    “There
is a huge bug,” I say.
    He
grumbles something under his breath then follows me into the room.  I point to
the far corner by the showers and yell, “Over there.”  He walks to the corner,
looking around.
    “Where? 
Are you sure?”
    “Right
there by the drain,” I say, walking towards him.  I peek into the drain.  “Ew,
did it crawl in there?  What if it’s poisonous?”
    “I
doubt there’s a bug, but if you see it again, let me know.  I’ve got to get
back to my post.”
    “Man,
that was a