Splintered

Chapter Thirty: Wear a Necklace Made of Rope Side by Side with Me

The prince of Panem wanted to set his own kingdom on fire, and he wanted to make her his flint striker.

Hazel's heart chawed on her sternum, disbelief rippling through her veins.

I'm not built for this. I'm not a revolutionary. I'm just a girl with permanent blood under her nails and too many dead friends.

The couch dug further into her spine along with something she had completely forgotten. The knife. Tucked into the waistband of her dress, every backward movement made the bulk dig more into her.

Yet the discomfort did little to distract. Instead, she traced his words over in her mind.

The right to vote? Extended to the Districts? Had he completely lost touch with reality?

Snow was all but feasting on her reactions. Devouring her response. She met his stare, hunting for a trick beneath the madness, but found only solid conviction.

"I'm apparently not the only one who's lost touch with reality." She murmured. "Are you high off your new perfume?"

The edges of his eyes softened, although his hold on her shoulder did not. "I am not insane, Miss Marlowe."

"Maybe let a doctor decide that." She kicked back.

The tips of his fingers played her shoulder bone like a piano, "I thought you didn't trust doctors."

"I don't." Hazel shook her head again as his words swelled in her mind, "But even I can recognize someone who needs one."

"I'll admit that, at first, the concept may seem preposterous, but if you truly consider it, you'll see its merits." His thumb drummed against her collarbone. The cool leather did nothing to combat the frenzied rush of her bloodstream.

Certainly, he couldn't mean they would actually allow district folk to vote. Perhaps it would all be for show, a farce, or another game?

Hazel narrowed her eyes. "You are asking me to lie then?"

"I am not." Snow's thumb paused its beat.

He couldn't mean...

"So we will truly vote?"

His eyelids lowered gently as he nodded once in confirmation

A shivering breath fell from her, "My recklessness is wearing off on you."

"One man's recklessness is another's inspiration." A lopsided smile flashed as he scoured her face.

"And you think this delusional idea will head off, Augustus?"

A line cut deeply between his brows. "Being from the districts, I can't fault you for your ignorance of his status, but Augustus is quite popular in the Capitol."

Studying the imperfection between his eyes, she asked, "More than you?"

The rim of his lip curled. "A case could be made. He has been around longer and, over the years, has been very generous toward certain powerful causes."

She didn't even want to know what causes those might be.

"And you promoted him to Gamemaker. Seems you've made your bed."

"Perhaps you will help me unmake it. The Districts vastly outnumber those in the Capitol, and their participation could overturn any advantage Augustus can secure. Their votes...your vote, could tip the balance."

My vote....

Hazel never imagined she'd live to hear those words, especially not from a former Gamemaker. He spoke like they were equals. Colleagues. Allies. The thought curdled her pulse. She could practically hear Silus's voice in her head, full of righteous fury. She was half tempted to pull Leo's weapon from her waistband.