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"You do not touch anyone at Sage Sanctu aboutto have nervous breakdown Lastly, you give oodbye to el," Eli added

"No" I panicked

"I’ you do this alone"

Everyone else in the roo attention to the now

"I won’t put your life at risk again, please," I begged

"I’h clenched teeth

His eyes were filled with frustration, a pleading frustration I couldn’t leave without hiuardian angel," I er across his top lip in thought

"I ainst Guardian Angel and God-slash-Goddess relationships"

"There is no relationship between Mr De Luca and I"

"Please," Ludiia scoffed "The sexual tension is suffocating ht It’s painfully obvious the feelings you have for each other Your actions speak louder than your words It’s disgusting"

"I have a boyfriend His naaze to the floor I hoped it would better our chances and take the scrutiny off Eli and I I was stillhis name helped, it was the least he could do for me

"Hunter Reeves?"

I didn’t know Hunter’s last nalanced up at Lucian, as rubbing his chin, pondering my conditions

"Fine You have a deal I expect you back here on Friday You have six days to get your shit together"

I exhaled, but I wasn’t relieved, although I should celebrate every set over a va Ihe really wants

"If you breathe a word about this to anyone, I will destroy your school and everyone you know"

In entered the uns that escorted us in earlier

"Oh, can’t I keep him?" Ludiia complained

"Not anymore" Lucian replied

I turned and er slared at me, her jaw clenched

Out in the open the trees rustled loudly against the cool night breeze, giving an eerie feel For a ot where ere The tent seemed like a permanent structure, not a temporary one set up just outsideleaves beneath our feet were sending shivers down lanced overEli and I alone in the bush The tress cast freaky shadows on the clear path I tried to force the unwanted i et to the safety of h with anxiety

Was I okay? Well, it wasn’t the first thing I expected hi I was so positive I’d receive from him? "I-I’ain I could see the school in the distance So close, yet so far away

"I have to adht a gliap in the trees ht His lips quirked up into half a s

"There’s no need for ot out of there alive, for now, anyway"

He felt so distant I resisted the urge to cling to hi to die?"

"There’s a high possibility, I suppose" He was polite, as if he were barely interested

His words hurt, not literally, of course It was just difficult forI’d never seen hi the annoying questions I wanted to ask back down my throat I should be mad at him, shouldn’t I? As far as Lucian was concerned, Eli and Aleksandrov lied to me There was another reason why I hadn’t fully turned, why Hank wanted me so badly

"Will you tellabout

"Why not? It’s my life, I deserve to know"

"You said you didn’t want to hear any more information"

"Not from him I want to hear it from you"

"I can’t tell you"

"Why not?"

Eli exhaled in annoyance Why couldn’t he tell me? Why couldn’t Mr Aleksandrov tellto tell o bad, then it will destroy everything You already have such a hard tiets out… there’s no hope," he replied cryptically

I gave up as we approached the border of the school Its tall stone wall cast long shadows over the ground, sing Eli and I as we got closer The only light was the ate open for ht illu the ate was sealed It was a beautiful thing to witness

I don’t knohat it was, the school seemed so alien toto me with the exception for a select few

In the short tirown to love it It has become my home, my future Without it, I’d still be a vampire, alone and hunted by Hank Maybe this secret hy they were so eager to bring ht me all the way to my dorm room Eli watched me curiously as I pulled a key fro his curious stare with a nervous one

"Why did you agree?"

"I didn’t have a choice He would have forced me anyway and he would have killed you"