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Because no one born behind the Ward looked like him.

He’d stopped trying after that. He’d stopped thinking about how his hands still looked wrong for the kind of work he did, fine-boned, callused only where they had to be. His eyes, almost colorless gray with a pale ring around the iris, always drew comments.

“First time off-world?” the girl asked.

Here we go. Ryneth groaned inwardly. He nodded and stared outside, hoping she would take the hint.

He caught her smile in the dirty window, followed a second later by a little wave through the reflection.

“I’m Lysa.”

With a sigh, Ryneth looked back and shook her hand.

“I’m going to work at a food distributor,” she continued. “My cousin says Helion streets are so clean they look polished. He says there are trees everywhere. That people go outside just to walk.”

The boy beside her rolled his eyes. “Her cousin also says the Imperials can have you disappear for looking at them wrong. So don’t get too excited about those clean streets.”

Lysa gave a small, uneasy laugh. “They don’t do that. Not really.”

“Your uncle is a wise man.” A middle-aged man with crooked teeth grinned at them over his shoulder. “Smart enough to stay off this route.”

“What do you mean?” Lysa asked.

The boy shrugged. “He means jobs that pay this well usually come with something ugly attached.”

“Go on,” Lysa prompted. “We’re about to leave, so it’s not like we can get out of this place anyway.”

He sighed. “You see? That’s why I didn’t tell you before. You always get dramatic.”

“And you’re being cryptic.” Lysa pressed a finger to his sternum. “What do you mean, something ugly?”

Ryneth watched their conversation with grim amusement and growing dread.

“It’s nothing,” the boy muttered.

Behind them, the man snorted loudly.

“It’s just dock talk, is what I mean. Some routes pay better because fewer people want them.”

Lysa stared at him. “What the hell? You could’ve told me that before convincing me to come.”

The boy shrugged. “Besides, nobody’s wasting trouble on contract workers. We’re just labor.”

Lysa turned back to the window, shoulders stiff. A moment later, she looked back at him. “And what’s up with you? You don’t sound like Outer Ring. You sound—” She broke off, making a rough sound in her throat. “I don’t know. Not like us.”

Ryneth shrugged. “Maybe I’m defective.”

The static flared under the surface of his skin, as if reacting to the words. Maybe that was it. At least it was easier than explaining.

The boy next to Lysa snorted. He had broad shoulders. “Defective, my ass. You’re going to blind Helion with your pretty-boy looks. They’ll think you’re some kind of model.”

Heat crawled up the back of Ryneth’s neck. “Well, I’m going to work, just like you.”

“Work pays better if people like looking at you,” the boy said with a shrug. “Anyway. Hope I didn’t scare you too much. The name’s Karo.”

“Ryneth. And you don’t scare me.” Ryneth shook Karo’s hand as the shuttle doors sealed with a hiss. The lights above them dimmed to a softer white.

A smooth, genderless voice came over the speakers. “Please fasten your seatbelts. This shuttle is preparing for departure.”