Page 113 of Saints & Sinners

I approached the canteen kitchen and made my way to the hidden entrance of the armory. My hand skimmed along the familiar groove in the wall, finding the hidden hatch before the stone shifted with a low groan, and I stepped inside.

I was right.

Hewasin the armory all alone as I took the first steps down the stairway. He leaned forward slightly, bracing himself on one of the weapon racks, his shoulders tight.

The first thing that fell from my lips was, “Why did you walk away?”

He slowly looked at me, but the usual warmth in his eyes had turned cold. Just like the first time we had met.

“The competition is dangerous, Grace.” He shook his head, more at himself than me. “You shouldn’t be in it.”

There was a crack in my chest. It was the beginning ofsomething I didn’t like. “I thought... I thought you, of all people, would be proud.”

Hunter’s expression tightened, but he didn’t say anything.

I bit the inside of my cheek. It hurt, but it kept me from blurting out something I’d regret. “Maybe this is a good thing. How things are changing around here. How maybe a human can—”

“The competition isn’t what you think it is, Grace. You might not even make it past the first part without getting hurt.”

The crack in my chest grew.

“Oh.” My voice came out smaller than I wanted. “Wow. And here I thought things had changed. That you... never mind.”

He opened his mouth, like he wanted to explain, but nothing came.

Frustration swelled inside my throat. “What’s the real reason you don’t want me to do the competition? Because it’s clearly not about whether you care if I get hurt or not.”

His eyes flashed with something that resembled anger and fear mixed in one. “Of course, I fucking care if you get hurt—”

“Then what is it!”

Again, silence.

I’ve always excused his lack of words because that was just who Hunter was. A guy who didn’t like explaining things to anyone, who didn’t like sharing his secrets. I respected it to an extent, but now I was confused, hurt and just downright disappointed.

I sighed, defeated. “Why can’t you just talk to me properly?”

His jaw worked back and forth as he looked anywhere but at me.

I pursed my lips, feeling the familiar sting of frustrated tears brimming in my eyes, and nodded. “Tonight was a mistake,” I whispered, and before he could stop me—if he even would—I turned and walked away.

Chapter Fifty-Four

The soft rustle of fabric filled my room as I fumbled with the zipper of my dress. I yanked it down with more force than necessary, letting it pool at my feet. I wanted out of it. I wanted sodesperatelyto get out of it.

My skin felt too itchy, too uncomfortable, as I clawed at my back and stood there in nothing but my underwear.

This was supposed to be a good night.

It had been.

Until my name was called out from that list.

I was chosen. The Council choseme. I should have felt proud and accomplished.

Instead, Hunter’s words replayed in my head over and over.

You won’t even get past the first stage of the competition.

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