"Nothing." Hazel's voice came out thin, almost flimsy. Though Snow caught it before the winter air swallowed it whole.

  "Doesn't seem like nothing." A blond eyebrow rose. He pulled their connected hands closer, tapping his thumb over her pulse point. "What have you been up to?"

  "Antiquing."

  With his other hand, he undressed the fabric wrapping around the tape player. "Interesting."

  "Is that a crime?" Hazel tugged on her arm. But it was too little, too late. The contraption's true form took shape as he worked at the cloth covering.

  "Depends." Snow pulled the machine fully away from her. Keeping the bundle close to his chest and still hidden by its wrapping, he turned it over, inspecting the contents. Once satisfied with his perusal, he cocooned it again.

  "Pytash, escort Miss Marlowe to her room."

  "Yes, sir." Sable marched forward, gesturing for Hazel to follow.

  "You promised." Hazel's eyes shot up to his, but he didn't answer her hushed accusation.

  "Ensure she actually stays there this time." Snow's eyes skimmed hers as he backed away.

  "Yes, sir," Sable answered.

  "I'm going to do a little research on...antiquing." A faint smile tugged on his lips, likely for the benefit of their peacekeeper audience.

  She didn't move as Sable sighed, finally gripping her arm when she didn't yield.

  The peacekeeper implored her to listen as he gently guided her away. She followed suit with a begrudging shift of her feet. Not that she had much of a choice.

  All that work to get this far just to have him strip her of her prize in a matter of seconds.

  Could nothing ever just be easy or simple?

  Bellona and Leo moved to join her and Sable, but Snow held up a gloved palm. "Wait. I need to speak with you, Private Drayton."

  Bellona halted, but her eyes sunk in respect, "Sir."

  "Coriolanus," Hazel strained against Sable, but she was no match for the boulder of a man. When he didn't budge and instead drew them both closer to the train station doors, she called to Snow. "She did nothing wrong. I all but forced her out here."

  Snow sighed, tucking the player away in his pocket. "Let me clarify." He turned his attention to Leo, "I need to speak with you, Private Drayton."

  Hazel pulled again, attempting to unearth her arm, but Sable held fast, whispering, "Don't make it worse. For once in your life, listen."

  Leo shot her a glance, his eyes sliding over her futile attempts to escape Sable. "It's all right, Marlowe."

  Nothing was all right.

  "Get some rest, Miss Marlowe." Snow crossed his arms. "I believe you are going to need it."

  Hazel squeezed her freshly bandaged palm but let the rest of her muscles laxen. Finally conceding, she let Sable drag her away through the train station doors. The nameless horde of Peacekeepers trailed them.

  But on the other hand, Bellona hadn't moved. Instead, she was rooted in place. An apprehension-dipped stare on her brother.

  "You are dismissed, Miss Drayton." Snow insisted. "For the moment at least."

  The words seemed to send a jolt through the Peacekeeper. She immediately turned her body with an unsteadiness that betrayed her fear and marched away, disappearing through the doors with the rest.

  A frail gust of frigid air swirled between the two remaining men. Somewhere in the distance, it howled as it forced itself through unforgiving alleyways and cement walls.

  Snow's gaze fell from the now closed train doors back to Leo. His attention slithered over the other man with an eerie sharpness. Assessing, scouring as if he could rub away the skin from his bones and examine what was beneath.

  Leo was rigid, eyeline bolted somewhere just shy of connecting with the Senators. The breeze tugged at the nape of his neck, the bare skin bubbling up under a faint sheen of sweat.

  "Walk with me private." Snow finally spoke, as he released a breath that puffed out between them. It wasn't a question.

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  "Yes, sir," Leo murmured.

  Without a glance backward, Snow led them through the doors of the station. But instead of the Victory tour train, he veered toward the only other locomotive stationed on the tracks. It was shorter and smaller. Despite it only having a few cars, it was infinitely more refined. The materials were sleeker, modern, and undoubtedly had better aerodynamics. Customary for a government official of Snow's caliber.

  The train whispered open as they approached without even a word or gesture from Snow.

  The interior was comprised of various shades of deep blue and pearl white. From the walls to the velvet seats to the vases on every table surface. Within them were bunches of roses that matched the snow-kissed cerulean theme. Either blindingly white or gradient blue. After entering the main car, Snow ushered Leo to a set of oak double doors at the back of the room. Golden handles shone from each.

  Two avoxes were statues on either side of the threshold. Perched and likely unmoving from the same place for hours, waiting for the Senators' return.

  Leo's attention snapped to one in particular. The male to the left stood solidified in place, hands folded behind his back. Despite his head being bowed, his eyes wavered with recognition when they settled on the Peacekeeper.

  Leo's steps faltered as he murmured, "Vesper?"

  The avox's lip quivered as his stare dropped to his shoes.

  "Know each other?" Snow questioned, pausing for a moment.

  Leo swallowed as he passed Vesper, who continued to refuse to look up. "Went to school together."

  Snow's scrutiny fell over the avox, who shivered and kept his head bowed. "Vesper just recently joined my staff."

  Snow swirled a finger at the door, and the two avoxes groped for their respective handles.

  Vesper nodded, eyes still trained on his shoes, pushing the door open dutifully. His stare remained fixed on his footwear.

  Leo's features flickered with disgust, but he quickly buried it beneath a rigid veneer.

  "The world is smaller than you think, you know." Snow gestured for Leo to enter his private office.

  Leo withdrew from Vesper and marched dutifully into the room.

  Snow prowled across the navy blue carpeting, waving his hand, and the doors slid shut without another word.

  Leo sent a harried glance at the now enclosed office.

  A massive vase of flowers rested on a presidential-sized desk. Ice white blooms without a thorn in sight. So flawless, they almost appeared to be made of plastic. But the thick rose scent that coated the air suggested otherwise.

  Scattered beneath were piles of binders, notebooks, loose papers, and several maps.

  "It's been a particularly long day. Care for a drink, Drayton? I noticed that you didn't have anything during my meeting with Festus." Snow nodded to a glass floor-to-ceiling cabinet in the corner that was packed with a diverse collection of liquors that were all different colors, viscosities, and proofs.

  "No, thank you." Leo shook his head, "On duty, sir."

  Snow thumbed his watch. "Come now. We both know Bellona is on shift tonight." Tapping his nail against the diamond-coated face. "Though after all that, I might need to make some changes to the schedule."

  Leo traded his weight subtly between his boots, but his lips remained flush together.

  Snow approached the cabinet anyway, withdrawing two lavender-toned quartz glasses. He set them on his desk. In a matching canister, there was a small heap of ice spheres. Slowly, he dropped one at a time into each of the glasses. The sound was obscene against the silence of the room. Finally, he selected a jar with buttery blonde colored alcohol.

  After doling out two hefty portions, he pulled a cup into both of his hands. Traversing the office, he presented the drink more like an expectation than a request.

  Leo analyzed the offering for a moment before finally relenting and accepting it.

  Snow chuckled, twirling his beverage, the ice rattling against the edges.

  An uncomfortable quietude settled between the two, and Leo took a reluctant sip. Snow, in turn, downed a large gulp. Retreating from the guard, he leaned back against the desk. Extricating the cassette player from his pocket, he dropped it on a pile of papers.

  Leo gripped the glass tighter.

  Snow sipped almost leisurely. "Do you remember the day I picked you for this assignment?"

  Leo examined the sunflower-toned liquid once again, "Yes, sir."

  "So you remember what I told you?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Then how did this happen, Drayton?" Snow pointed at the machine.

  "I-" Leo's jaw muscles constricted. "There are no excuses, sir."

  "That we can agree on." Snow sighed, downing the rest of his drink and returning to the cabinet for a refill "I suppose I can't totally blame you." He hurled a steel glance over his shoulder, "I mean, I do hold you responsible, but she doesn't make it easy, does she?"

  Leo hesitated before a brisk answer, "No, sir."

  "Even after everything, I have to admit she continues to surprise me." He began to pace across the office gradually. "Seems her guards are no different. She escaped from under Sable's nose. Even straightlaced Bellona has been influenced by her."

  Leo mashed his lips closed.

  "But it is you. Who seems to be the most..." Snow paused his walk just outside Leo's peripheral vision. "...affected."

  Leo's pulse set a steady rhythm against his uniform collar. Snow circled the guard until they were once again face to face. "So, I'll ask again. Did I not make my expectations clear?"

  Leo's gaze dropped, "You did, sir."

  "Then let's see how thoroughly you failed to follow them."

  Leo's eyes snapped back to the man, but Snow was already turning away. He moved to the desk, set down his glass, and slipped off his coat, draping it neatly over the back of his leather chair.

  With ridiculous slowness, he rolled up his sleeves. Slick twin scars peeked at Leo like eyes.

  Snow collected the player, swiveling it between his hands. Reaching into his desk, he removed a cassette, planting it inside.

  Leo watched on, muscles compressing in his neck and jaw. Even the scar tissue along his head constricted.

  Snow's gloved finger hit a button on the side, and an image sprang to life in a cool-toned hologram floating in the air between them. Sounds rushed out. Wind bleated and rolled through bright green leaves. Something was crunching through the brush.

  A beast of a redwood took shape. Then another. And another.

  As the camera panned out, trunks were overturned and shattered, strewn about like toothpicks.

  With a deafening tap, Snow hit a button, and the images and sounds died down until only the black screen remained.

  Leo's eyes were wider as he met Snow's frozen stare once again. A slight tremble shook the contents of his glass. This time, he took a much longer swig. Squinting as the alcohol forced blood into his cheeks, Leo coughed.

  Snow matched with a lengthy drag. "I thought you told me you disabled it."

  With a disbelieving grunt, Leo stared at the player as if it were a bottomless well. His jaw popped as did the pulse point in his neck. "I did."