Page 17 of Saints & Sinners

Hunter’s gaze roamed over me, sending a spike through my pulse. “I’m not trying to scare you,” he said, his voice low and deliberate. “Though your Bambi-eyed look makes it seem like you are.” He tilted his chin slightly and a dimple carved into his cheek as his smirk deepened. “Goodnight,Grace.” And with that, he turned and disappeared into the hallway, vanishing just as effortlessly as he had the night we were in the forest.

Chapter Nine

I was late.

Unbelievably late.

I stumbled out of my room, desperately trying to tie the laces of my combat boots while awkwardly hopping around the empty dorm. The boys were long gone, and of course, in their infinite kindness, they’d forgotten to wake me up. Silas and Brandon already knew I was staying here. After last night’s tiff with Hunter, they ended up coming out of the shower to find me in the center of the room, still trying to understand what had happened between Hunter and me.

Two hours later, I was listening to Silas and Brandon list their rules on door locks and leaving girlstuffin the bathroom.

“Fucking great,” I muttered to myself when I opened the fridge and found the carton of orange juice empty. Slamming the fridge door closed, I settled on no breakfast for the second day in a row and left the dorm with my hair in a mess, the map of the academy upside down and my tactical trousers loose on my hips.

The academy grounds were already full of Ascendants walking through pathways and the forest coating each inch of this place. The map crinkled in my hand as I sped up and rounded the corner to where Ascendants clad in blue combat jackets stoodin the middle of the muddy training grounds, either sparring or working out.

I dragged back a sharp inhale and made my way towards everyone. There was no sign of Celestial or the so-called Azrael, as it was written on my timetable, but there was a dozen weapons scattered on the ground. They looked like your standard swords, bows, and arrows, but I knew they were more than that. The silver engraving of wings and ethereal shapes on some of the blades made me believe that they were angelic blades, the ones I would always overhear Joe speak about.

“You look like you’re about to pass out, and we haven’t even started training yet.”

I spun around, startled to find a blonde guy in a Warrior’s uniform, chuckling as his eyes fell on the crumpled map, I was clutching onto like a lifeline. He was a few good feet taller, with classic good looks—sharp features, cropped hair and striking blue eyes that gave him an air of familiarity, though I couldn’t quite place who exactly.

“I—”Was too flustered to form a proper sentence.

“Lucas James,” he introduced himself, extending a hand.

I hesitated, then reluctantly took it. “Grace... Martin.”

His eyes lit up with recognition as he released my hand. “Ah, so you’re the one who left my sister rattled after her class.”

Sister—?

It clicked. I suddenly realized why he looked so familiar, and my eyes widened. “Oh my God—I’m—”

“Relax,” he laughed, waving it off. “My sister finds an excuse to hate on everyone.”

That didn’t make me feel better.

“She’s just thrown off by someone who isn’t an Ascendant being here,” he added with a shrug.

I nodded, feeling the familiar weight of that fact settle on me. It wasn’t just his sister who felt that way—nearly everyone hadmade it clear since I first arrived.

“But don’t let it get to you,” he added quickly, noticing the shift in my expression. “She’ll eventually get over it. They all will.”

“And you?” I asked. “Are you thrown off by it?”

He shook his head. “There are worse things to worry about than a human at Celestia.”

I frowned, mulling over his words. He wasn’t wrong, but I wasn’t so sure everyone else shared his perspective.

Before I could ask another question, someone shouted, “Cain!”

My shoulders tensed, and my gaze snapped towards everyone else, searching for him in the crowd. There he was with his familiar figure in sight as he slapped Brandon on the back of his head, and Silas laughed hysterically alongside them. The air shifted as I swallowed hard, and almost as if he could feel my stare on him, he turned his head, his eyes locking on mine. He froze, and I saw a flicker of anger ignite within him when he noticed I was dressed in the same uniform as him. Without a word, he cut off whatever Brandon was saying and strode toward me.

I thought about running, but what good would that do? It would just paint me as a coward.

Before Lucas could even help me, Hunter was already grabbing my arm as he pulled me to the side and away from everyone else, where no one could hear us.

“What the hell are you doing here?” he growled.

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