Page 10 of Saints & Sinners

I looked up to see someone with copper hair sauntering over, slipping between Marnie and me as if personal space didn’t matter to him.

“Grace, right?” he asked, his tone dripping with casual arrogance. I nodded reluctantly. “I saw you with Eden earlier.Never thought I’d see the day when someone without the Ascendant label joined us.”

Oh, right. Now I remembered him—it was the guy who had been lurking around the hallways earlier.

“Matias,” he said, pointing both thumbs at himself when I didn’t respond.

“Please don’t be annoying—” Marnie began, but he cut her off with a dismissive shush, his eyes fixed on me.

“Hey, let her—” I started, but he interrupted me without a second thought, laughing as he shoved his hands into his pockets.

“So, what’s your plan then? Since, you know, you don’t exactly have a...gift.”

My eyes narrowed. “And what exactly do you mean by that?”

Of course, I knew what he meant, but it was clear he wasn’t picking up on my irritation.

“Well,” he said with a smirk, “we’ve got Healers who are pretty straightforward—unless you’re already dead, of course—Messengers who are telepathic. Guardians who can see all. And finally, Warriors—the ones considered greater than the rest.” He tilted his head, giving me a smug smile. “So, which category do you fit into?”

He was obviously trying to rub it in that I didn’t have enhanced combat skills or some type of Celestial wisdom that made me a Messenger. That I couldn’t communicate telepathically or heal someone with a touch. It was like being back in secondary school, except worse—because this time, the guy in front of me clearly had a god complex.

Marnie opened her mouth, probably to defend me, but I knew if I let that happen, I’d be seen as someone who couldn’t stand up for herself. Just like before.

“Areyoua Warrior?” I asked.

He grinned, clearly pleased that I assumed so. “You didn’tanswer my question.”

“No.” I hummed thoughtfully. “But you perfectly answered mine.”Cocky prick.

The grin slid off his face almost instantaneously, replaced by a look of confused annoyance.

Marnie let out a half-laugh, half-snort, trying—and failing—to cover it with her hand. I smiled as I reached for a skittle, and she handed me the entire bag, still chuckling.

Matias looked even more baffled, as if the whole exchange had short-circuited his brain. “Wait, hold on, I—”

“Matias.”

Oh, for God’s sake.

Both Marnie and Matias turned to see Hunter standing behind them with his hood down, hair tousled and catching the light from the flickering flames around us. The firelight made the golden strands even more striking than usual against the darker brown.

“Leave.” Hunter’s voice was calm, but it had an edge that left no room for argument. Matias stiffened, and after a tense moment, he stalked off, muttering something under his breath.

A nervous smile played on Marnie’s lips before Hunter turned his attention to her and blankly stared at her.

She cleared her throat, glancing back and forth between us before walking away, saying, “I’m just—yeah—” She spun around right as I was about to tell her not to leave, but it was too late. She was already lost amongst the crowd of Ascendants.

My hands immediately became clammy, and I tried to look anywhere but at Hunter. It was impossible because my gaze kept wandering towards him and his intense stare.

I swallowed slowly and carefully. “A shame to see that you can still walk.”

His eyes fell to my throat before he tipped his head to the side, not giving me enough emotion to know what was passingthrough his mind. “And much to my disappointment, you’re still here.”

Oh. I should have known it would have to do with me not running away from this place.

Clearing my throat, I said, “Surprised?”

He shrugged, now looking bored. “I give it a week.”

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