Page 111 of Saints & Sinners

The room quieted, and out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Veronica standing alone, her expression distant and almost sad.

I thought about Lucas, and my throat tightened.

She must be missing him so much.

I nudged Marnie. “Come on.”

Marnie shot me a look the moment she realized where I was heading, but she followed anyway—albeit reluctantly. She knew just as well as I did, that when no one else, not even our own roommates, had come to her womanly defense... Veronica had.

We sidled up next to her. She didn’t look at us, but the slight shift in her posture told me she didn’t mind the company.

Nadael then cleared her throat. “As you all know, the Ascension Competition tests our finest Ascendants’ strength, skill, and intelligence. For a Healer, this is their chance to show their Ascendant’s motto:Restoration, Life, Purity.”She took her time, looking at each and every person around her. “For a Messenger, their ability to useCommunication, Speed, Telepathy.You all have a role, and now is the time to prove that.”

Marnie squeezed my arm, her excitement palpable compared to how my stomach was in knots.

“...This year’s competitors have been carefully selected by the Council after weeks of preparation and assessing your performances.” Nadael began to unroll the parchment she had in her hands with dramatic slowness. “First, theHealers.”

She then spoke carefully as she listed names until—

“Marnie Lewis.”

Marnie gasped beside me, clutching my hand until I was sure it’d fall off. “Did she just...”

I grinned, nodding for her to go on, and she looked at me as if she might faint. I nudged her forward and felt immense pride as I watched her walk up to Nadael, shake her hand and stand beside other Healers.

Marnie looked at the crowd, finding me beside Veronica, and waved so enthusiastically that I laughed.

Nadael then continued blurting out names from other sectors, five from each group, before she moved on to the final one.

“For the Warriors... Hunter Cain.”

I glanced toward Hunter, who didn’t react as applause broke out. Everyone knew he would make it. It was a given.

“Silas Dunn.”

Silas let out a sharp breath, and Veronica tensed beside me.

“Sarah Danvers,” Nadael continued to call out.

“Brandon Tucker.”

He grinned, puffing out his chest and I smiled, clapping as he walked past me. Silas patted his back as he joined them, and once the crowd had settled again, Nadael rolled the parchment lower.

She paused.

Her eyes skimmed the piece of paper again, but the hesitation stretched too long.

The room murmured, whispers rippling through the Ascendants, wondering what was taking her so long to say the last name.

I frowned and glanced at Veronica, who seemed to care less about this moment than everyone else inside the room.

As I looked back at Nadael, her fair skin had turned an even lighter shade of white before she uttered, “Grace Martin.”

Silence.

The name barely registered.

Wait.

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