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felt a wave of fear.
    Then the first person pulled off his hood, revealing himself. I gasped and leaped to my feet to embrace Maxon, forgetting again about my hands and gasping at the pain.
    â€œIt will be all right,” Maxon promised as I drew back my hands. “The salve takes a few days to get everything back to normal, but, Carter, even you should be walking on your own soon. You’ll heal much faster than most.”
    Maxon turned to the two other hooded figures. “This is Juan Diego and Abril. Until today they have worked in the palace. Now you will be trading places with them. Marlee, if you and Abril will go into the corner, the gentlemen and I will avert our eyes while you trade clothes. Here,” he said, handingme a cloak similar to hers. “This will help with some privacy.”
    I looked at Abril’s timid face. “Of course.”
    We moved to one corner, and she pulled off her skirt, then helped me put it on. I slipped off my dress and handed it to her.
    â€œCarter, we’re going to have to put pants back on you. We’ll help you stand.”
    I kept my face turned, trying not to get anxious over the sounds Carter made.
    â€œThank you,” I whispered to Abril.
    â€œIt was the prince’s idea,” she replied quietly. “He must have spent the entire day going through records and searching for anyone who came from Panama when he found out where you were going. We sold ourselves into service at the palace to provide for our family. Today we’re going home to them.”
    â€œPanama. We were curious where we’d end up.”
    â€œIt was cruel of the king to send you there on top of everything else,” she murmured.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    Abril looked over her shoulder at the prince, making sure he wasn’t listening. “I grew up as a Six there, and it wasn’t pretty. Eights? They end up being killed for sport sometimes.”
    I gaped at her in disbelief. “What?”
    â€œEvery few months we’d find someone who’d been begging on a corner for ages dead in the middle of the road. No one knows who does it. Other Eights maybe? The rich Twosand Threes? Rebels? But it happens. There’s a very good chance you would have died.”
    â€œNow just hold on to my arm,” Maxon coaxed, and I turned to see Carter hunched into the prince, a hood already covering his head.
    â€œAll right. Abril, Juan Diego, the guards should be coming to this room. Use the bandages and walk like you’re hurt. I think they plan to put you on a bus and ship you off. Just keep your heads down. No one’s going to look at you too closely. You’re supposed to be Eights. No one will care.”
    â€œThank you, Your Highness,” Juan Diego said. “I never thought we’d see our mother again.”
    â€œThank you ,” Maxon replied. “Your willingness to leave the palace is saving their lives. I won’t forget what you’ve done for them.”
    I looked at Abril one last time.
    â€œOkay.” Maxon pulled on his hood. “Let’s go.”
    With Carter limping and leaning into him, Maxon led us into the hall.
    â€œWon’t people be suspicious?” I whispered.
    â€œNo,” Maxon answered, checking around each corner all the same. “Lower-level staff, like kitchen workers or general cleaners, aren’t supposed to show their faces upstairs. If they absolutely must come up, they’re covered like this. Anyone who sees us will think we’re done with a task and heading back to our rooms.”
    Maxon took us down a long stairwell that opened to a narrow hallway lined with doors. “In here.”
    We followed him into a small room. There was a bed shoved into one corner and a tiny stand next to it. It looked like a carafe of milk and some bread was waiting, and my stomach roared just from seeing food. A thin rug had been placed neatly in the middle of the floor, and a few