Splintered

Chapter Sixty-Two: Pardon & Price

The refined paper crinkled beneath her shaking grip. Unfolding it revealed paragraph after paragraph of convoluted legal language. She could barely read it, let alone comprehend it, through the re-emergence of unshed tears.

What she could easily understand, however, was the presidential seal at the bottom of the page, along with the inscription:

Executive Grant of Clemency

President Maximinius Ravinstill

Honorable President of Panem.

"It can't be." Hazel breathed, her shock solidifying into full-blown astonishment.

Snow regarded her carefully, "I promised you they would be protected."

It was like baffling sunlight suddenly dawning through the malicious storm raging in Hazel's soul. Rowan would live, and the credit for his salvation would go to none other than the man before her. A Gamemaker. The Senator she'd fought against, whom she never quite agreed with, yet also had reluctantly aligned herself. The man she'd never fully trusted. The same one she'd seen snuff the life from others while calling it mercy. Yet here he was, a walking contradiction once again. Deliverance in a custom-made Capitol suit and leather shoes that could still have rebel blood caked in the soles.

"You did this?"

"I did," he answered gently.

Before she could think better of it, she surged forward, wrapping her arms around his waist, pulling him into an embrace. Snow froze, sucking in a jagged inhale. A heartbeat passed, then another, before his shoulders lowered. One palm came to rest lightly at the small of her back, the other threaded behind her shoulders, guiding her closer, drawing her in until his chin skimmed her hair.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," she murmured into his shoulder.

His chest vibrated with a low hum, and only then did he ease her back to arm's length. "You must know, there are some conditions."

Snow kept his hold firm, steadying her until she was fully balanced.

"Such as?"

Snow let go, circling her and ambling toward the small pile of firewood.

"As you can imagine, Rowan is no longer safe in District Seven. He's managed to royally anger the entire peacekeeper unit here." He plucked a thick log, tossing it into the fireplace. "And even if he hadn't assaulted multiple officers, you know as well as I do how Panem treats rebels."

"He's not..." Hazel started, but her voice gave out.

Snow didn't respond to the half-hearted denial. Instead, he caressed the growing flames until they raged within the hearth.

"What will happen to him?" she inquired.

"If he accepts the pardon, he will be enrolled in the Capitol Academy, effective immediately."

Hazel's stomach lurched, and she searched his face for any signs that he was being dishonest. Yet she found nothing.

"How is that possible? Are District kids even allowed?"

"No." Snow settled the poker back down, facing her once again, "But most anything can be made possible for the right price. Though, in this case, it would be steep."

Hazel shook her head, "We can't afford it."

Snow didn't look away from the flames. "You won't have to."

Hazel scowled. "You'd cover his tuition?"

He pitched his head as the fresh log crackled.

"In full."