Authors: Ednah Walters
I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. “You lay a finger on Bran, or his sister or brother, and I’l make it my mission to hunt you down and destroy you.”
“Stop
being
melodramatic,
Lilith,”
he
snapped. “You fancy yourself in love with the Llyr boy and are too blinded to see what’s right under your nose. Gavyn is untrustworthy. He’d sel your whereabouts to the highest bidder if it could get him what he wants—a powerful position in any house.
His kind is expendable.”
“He’s not,” I shouted into the phone. Once again, I forced myself to calm down before continuing. “Bran and Celeste are already under the protection of the Guardians. Gavyn wil be too once he’s healed. If you ever want to have a relationship with me,” my voice shook so much I paused to clear my throat, “you’l leave them alone.” There was silence as though Valafar was mul ing over my words. “Okay, Lilith. I know the Llyr girl and the younger boy already live with the Guardians. If you think you can convince the older one to do the same, then he wil be spared. I’l even send a healer to fix him up.”
Wasn’t there anything he didn’t know about us? I must talk to Grampa about the traitor among us. He or she wasn’t just acting as a guide between Valafar and the medium. He was feeding him information about us. Who could it be? The only Guardians who knew about Gavyn’s condition were the Cardinals, our team, and the Psi security team.
As for Bran, he’d never let any of Valafar’s people near Gavyn after what Solange did.
“I can’t make that decision, but I’l ask Bran,” I fibbed. I remembered our plan to find the medium. “If you give me your phone number—”
“Not yet,” he said curtly. “Find the presents I sent. Find the identity of the person who hid them.
Whoever did this is someone you can’t trust. You Whoever did this is someone you can’t trust. You must choose your friends and al ies careful y, Lilith.
As you grow older, you’l learn that Guardians are users. They don’t care about you. Al they want is you fighting for them, sacrificing your life for their cause.
Ask yourself why you must put yourself in harm’s way for hundreds of years so some Nephilim can get their redemption? Why aren’t they here on Earth fighting, too?”
I swal owed, every word a barb on my psyche, each question planting a tiny doubt in my mind.
Shaking my head, I pushed aside the suspicions. I couldn’t afford to listen to Valafar’s lies.
I’m a Guardian…I save human souls and
bring redemption to my people…
“I’l cal you on this phone later in the week,” Valafar said, cutting into my thoughts. “Since your grandfather doesn’t seem to care about your safety, I’l take charge of it. There are forces out here that wil destroy you, but I won’t let that happen. Do not leave the val ey until I tel you it is safe. Understand?” I frowned. Valafar might claim he cared about my safety, but he was a ruthless, power-hungry demon and couldn’t be trusted. On the other hand, I had no choice but to fake interest in anything he said. He could stil use my friend as a medium, or worse, storm the val ey. He knew where we lived.
“Do you understand, Lilith?” He enunciated his words.
“Yes,” I fibbed.
“Good. Remember, this is for your own safety.
And don’t forget what I said. Find the person who betrayed you,” Valafar repeated, but it sounded more like a warning.
Dread snaked up my spine. We were already looking for the presents, though not for the reasons he stated.
They don’t care about you… They want you
fighting for them… Sacrificing your life for their
cause.
His words, haunting and poisonous, crept into my thoughts.
Feeling like crap for letting him get to me, I shook my head again. Lies. Everything that came out of his mouth was a lie designed to mess with my head. I wasn’t in any more danger than usual. The way the Lazari tried to get their hands on the dagger in Seattle was typical of their behavior.
Grampa’s warning about the demons’ plan to choose a new leader flashed in my head. Maybe this historic event was bringing out the worst in them, Valafar included. From his words, he expected me to hide until the event was over, to distrust my friends and superiors. There was only one problem with his reasoning. My grandfather and the Cardinals would never do anything to hurt me, and I was part of a wonderful team of teen Cardinal Guardians. They could never betray me. If they went demon hunting, I’d go too.
11. Good News and Bad News
Kim and Izzy stil waited for me outside the classroom, but they weren’t alone. Along the opposite wal , Remy, Sykes, and Bran argued in low tones. They al looked up, concern and sympathy etched on their faces. My gaze lingered on Bran’s and I shook my head. I couldn’t deal with any of them.
Not yet.
I closed the door on their pity and teleported home. Resisting the urge to throw the cel phone, I dropped it on my dresser, curled up on my bed, and covered my head with a pil ow. The humiliation. The look on the faces of the students when they realized I was Lilith. No, I was never, ever going back to school again. Never.
Grampa home-schooled me until I was ten.
He could plan my lessons again for the rest of high school. What did a Cardinal Guardian need with a high school diploma anyway? We were demon hunters.
The room buzzed with Bran’s energy the moment he materialized. His psi energy brushed mine, gentle and soothing. My grip tightened on the pil ow, not wanting him around yet lacking the wil to send him away. I hated depending on anyone, even him. One word out of him, just one word of sympathy, and I’d kick him out.
The mattress dipped. His warmth and piney scent drift to my senses. More movements behind me, then his long body curled against my back. I stayed stiff even as his arm wound around my mid-section and his hand covered mine. He didn’t speak, just held me, his warmth seeping into my numb limbs until my hand opened and welcomed his.
“Lil…,” Bran started
“No,” I said, stil not wanting to talk.
“I wanted to say lunch period wil be over soon. Are you going—?”
“I’m never going back.” I burrowed deep under the pil ow.
“Your grandfather—”
“Wil understand,” I finished, but inside I knew Grampa wouldn’t. He didn’t raise me to be a quitter, to run when things got tough or painful. Or humiliating.
Bran became silent. After a while, he said,
“talk to me, Sunshine.”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” I mumbled.
He slipped his head under the pil ow and whispered, “You know you’l tel me eventual y. We don’t keep secrets from each other.”
“Don’t be too sure about that,” I mumbled.
“Damn, you’re stubborn.” He sat up. “Are you hungry?”
“No.”
“Too bad. I got us sandwiches. I’l be back in a second.” He teleported, taking his vibrant presence with him.
How could he think of food at a time like this?
The whole school probably knew the cal was for me.
Then there was the nonsense Valafar spewed about not trusting the Guardians. I hated the fact that for a brief moment I’d actual y
listened
and wondered if there was some truth to them.
Bran returned and the scrumptious aroma of teriyaki chicken drifted to my nose. My stomach growled. There was the rustling of a plastic bag as though he was setting it down.
“So? How long are you going to feel sorry for yourself?” he asked.
Anger
slammed
through
me
at
his
Anger
slammed
through
me
at
his
indifference. He knew I was hurting. Felt it, too, I was sure. I pul ed down the pil ow and glare at him.
He stood with a bowl of strawberries cradled in his left arm. Casual y, he picked one and took his time bringing it to his mouth then ate it with exaggerated enjoyment.
He knew how much I loved strawberries. I wasn’t going to ask him for one. “I’m not feeling sorry for myself. I’m pissed.”
“At who?”
“Valafar. Me. Kylie.” I sat up and drooled as he picked another strawberry and popped it in his mouth.
“Oh yeah, Izzy mentioned you had a fight with Kylie in the cafeteria before the cal ,” he said in a casual tone.
“Hardly a fight,” I said, wondering if he was going to offer me a strawberry. I swear he was getting a kick watching me fol ow his hand every time he picked one up. “I don’t want to talk about her either.”
Bran sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze intent. “I don’t understand why you’re mad at yourself.
You didn’t ask Valafar to cal you or Kylie to react to your powers the way she did.”
“I let Valafar get to me. As for Kylie, she’s being a hypocrite. If she turns out to be the medium, serves her right.”
Bran scowled, eating another strawberry.
“You don’t mean that.”
No, I didn’t. “Yes, I do.”
“How is she a hypocrite?” he asked.
“She reads vampire and werewolf books, and loves animè of people with powers. Yet now she can’t look at me without seeing that stupid frozen bowl. She ignored me in the cafeteria,” I picked up speed the more I talked. “I mean, she hid behind Cade’s stupid iPod and lied about a sick aunt. She has one aunt around here, Aries…Arianna or A-something. A sanctimonious tri-athlete who believes anyone who doesn’t exercise deserves whatever health problems they get. Kylie can’t stand her.” My stomach complained again. “Do you know how many times she used me to get out of visiting her aunt?” He squinted. “No.”
“Gazil ion times.”
“Hr aunt might actual y be sick,” he said
“I guess so.” I sighed. “Stil , Kylie could visit her and stil have time to make it to my party, right? I just wish she hadn’t told McKenzie. Why am I the only one who can keep a secret? I didn’t tel anyone she went with another guy to the corn maze during Hal oween and that they kissed…how did you do that?”
“Do what?” His innocent look didn’t fool me.
“Get me to talk about Kylie.”
“My charming personality,” he bragged, grinning.
I narrowed my eyes. It wasn’t the first time he made me open up about something after I said I wouldn’t. “Yeah, sure. You know what I think?” I didn’t wait for his response. “I think I should have made Kylie forget the whole thing. Cade, too. Celeste suggested it, but—”
Bran placed a red, succulent strawberry between my lips and stopped me from uttering another word. I bit into the juicy, sweet fruit, chewed, and swal owed. Before I could continue talking, he derailed my plans again with another strawberry then another. He had the gal to chuckle when I glared at him.
Celeste suggested I tell them everything
then erase their memories,
I telepathed him as I ate.
I should have done it. Then I wouldn’t have this
mess.
Bran shook his head, laughing.
I smiled. “You think I’m making a big deal out of this.”
“Finish them.” Bran handed me the bowl, straddled the computer chair and scooted it closer to my bed then sat. His expression serious, he watched me demolish the rest of the fruit without speaking, as though he was contemplating his next words.
“I think we have more important things to worry about right now,” he said slowly. “If she’s the medium, she’s in for a lot more heartache than a friend who can freeze things. Read more on mediums, and you’l see what I mean. If she’s not, give her time to adjust to what she saw and how she feels about it and you.”
“I told you I don’t care anymore,” I insisted.
He just smiled, seeing through the lie. “Tel me what Valafar said. No matter how bad it is, we’l deal with it just like we dealt with our problems before.”
before.”
Put that way, it was hard not to share.
“But first, we need to eat. I’m starved.” He removed the bowl from my lap and replaced it with a foot long sandwich wrapped in paper. He spread the rest of lunch on my dresser, pushing aside lotions and make-up. “I bought turkey and teriyaki with your favorite veggies.”
I scooted to the edge of the bed and kissed him on the cheek. “You’re the best boyfriend ever.”
“I know.” He winked, grabbed half of the teriyaki and took a big bite.
“You might try being modest, too,” I scolded him, starting on half of my sandwich.
Why? I’m the best. You said so.
I rol ed my eyes.
Note to self, fewer
compliments will make a humble boyfriend.
He chuckled. We kept up the telepathic banter as we ate. Bran knew exactly what to do and say to keep my mind off my problems. When he finished his teriyaki, I offered him the second half of my sandwich after removing the olives. He hated olives.
When we finished lunch, he crossed his arms along the back of the chair and waited.
I threw the sandwich wrapper into the trash can then reached for a can of pop and asked, “What do you want to know?”
“Everything,” Bran answered.
Where to begin? “He’s so domineering and arrogant, like he’s a law unto himself, like he’s never wrong.” I hated Valafar for fil ing my head with nonsense. Bran reached for my hand and squeezed.
“He went on and on about my safety again. ‘There are demons after you, and you must not leave the val ey until I say so,’” I imitated Valafar’s arrogant tone and rol ed my eyes. “Who died and made him my boss? And listen to this, to make sure they can’t find me, anyone who knows where I live must be eliminated. Isn’t that extreme?”
“No, it’s not,” Bran said in a firm voice.
I scowled, not liking that he agreed with Valafar. “I think it is. You know, in some cases.” Bran shook his head. “Either it is or it isn’t.
You can’t have it both ways.”
Oh yes, I can.
When it came to Bran, I was wil ing to bend rules. “He got rid of the Goetz brothers. I’m okay with that,” I added quickly.
Bran grinned, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. “Good. They were slime bal s. What else?” I hesitated.
He threw me a glance. “What?”
“Your family came up.”
Bran’s grip tightened around mine, his eyes darkening.