Page 4 (1/2)

Should I tell her ets out? I can’t be the reason he’s sent back to wherever they took hi was a risk my heart couldn’t bear to take

"No He has no idea"

Mila’s expression filled with disappoint to nap, but when I wake up, we should really discuss things about you and Gabriel"

Mila nodded before getting couess she wanted a nap as well

I forgot all about this ’s dra repairwith my liver and kidneys When I woke up, I needed to speak to the one ive me advice on how to help Mila, andus both

Secrets

"Ruby wake up We’re late for lunch"

"Hmm?"

"We overslept C’uardians down here to get et me back in the house"

I clio back to being alone in a roo a roole panic attack andto fix your hair?"

I didn’t need to look in a mirror, I could tell by her face that it must have looked wild I pulled the black band that was holding lossy and long, like the hair you see on those sha that I looked like I was trying to ‘style messy’

"Not bad" Mila chuckled "If I have my hair tied up and I pull it out I have to re-brush it My hair is so thin it tangles easily"

It was hard for led hair, it always seemed so perfect, even more perfect than my ‘sha hall, ere stopped by a group of guardian angels Mila shot me a ‘told you so’ look

"Miss Aleksandrov Your uncle wants to speak with you, iels work, they were so quick and professional Guardians on duty wore an all-black ar they wanted Guardians were always so stern and serious; it was unusual to see theo and be seen before anyone suspects you are up to so and the tone he used annoyed uardians still resented er it will last, but for nohat I did was still fresh in their minds I nodded and entered the hall The usual lively chatter circled the room and I spotted Eli almost immediately, and saw him exhale in relief as I entered I suppose everyone would be relieved I’e Sanctu people to be killed

I sat doith a garden salad at the end of a table It was nice to eat alone for a change, and since er dominated my brain, I was able to think properly

"Can I sit down?" Rylan asked

There wenta juicy cherry tomato into my mouth

"So Raina --"

"Rylan, please tell me you didn’t come here to chat about Raina I neither care for her, or your love life"

"No, it involves Eli --"

"Everything does, apparently"

"… and Hunter"

Iht hard to co about earlier, when he said I shouldn’t trust Hunter, then I needed to soak up every word

"Well done Now I’hed

A bitter expression crossed Rylan’s face He didn’t like that Hunter’s naroup of airheaded followers that she talked Hunter into filing a stateher power"

"Wait What?"

"She said that Hunter orried there was so on between you and Mr De Luca, and she convinced hiet Eli out of the picture Hunter then filed an inappropriate relations statement That’s not all Mr Aleksandrov had taken the fall for Tay’s death, but Hunter thought he’d do double the dauardians"

"Wh- why are you telling ardless of the short period of time he served you, there would still be some kind of bond between you and he saved your life, many times As for Hunter, I just don’t like him"

"How do I know Raina didn’t put you up to this? Orto dinner with Hunter tonight"

"I -- You’re going to dinner with hi people you care about He’s ruining their lives because if they’re around, it ht where he wants you"

Rylan stood up and left me at the table with too many questions He crossed the hall and joined Raina She shot lances It was guilty, like she felt sorry forrooust and disbelief

"You excited for dinner?" Hunter sang as he slid in next to me

My eyes met Eli’s, but as quickly as theywith a fellow guardian angel

"Yeah … I, uh, I’et some water"

I slid off my seat and went over to water cooler to fill up a cup

"I’ and he’s fine now," Mila cheered happily

I guzzled rabbed a garden salad fro Hunter was still there

"Are you two excited for dinner?"

Hunter’s toothpick went to the corner of hisa fake smile

"See you at six" He winked at hout my stomach I wanted to find out the truth, but I couldn’t be certain What if this was all part of Raina’s plan? What if she wanted e my relationship with Hunter? And Rylan had his ownit out thoroughly made it seem even more ridiculous, but I couldn’t shake Eli’s words from earlier out of my head: ‘don’t put all your trust into hi about it or at least told ht

"Yeah, yeah, I’ about e discussed earlier," I lied

"Shhh," she hushed as she glanced over her shoulder cautiously

I rolledthat sentence Who would hear what I said as ‘Mila loves Gabriel’?