Page 22 of Saints & Sinners

“Because that’s all you seem to be doing.” He pushed himself off the wall, allowing me to run past him, but I didn’t. I just stood frozen in place as his presence suddenly became suffocating. “You’re not fighting. You’re not trying to win. You’re just waiting for that angel of yours to come save you.”

The truth of those words hit me like a punch to the gut and before I knew it, I was stepping forward, closing the space between us until I was staring up into those cold, unreadable eyes of his.

“I don’t need anyone to save me,” I hissed, my voice low and trembling with barely contained anger. “Least of all, Joe.”

Hunter let out a dry laugh. “Right. Because you’ve done such a great job on your own so far.”

I felt my chest squeeze, and for a moment, the hallway was silent as I refused to say anything else. The air between us cracked with a current of electricity, and I could hear my pulse pounding in my ears. Each beat was louder than the last, and ourproximity became suffocating.

“Whatever you’re trying to prove by joining the Warriors,” he said quietly, though his voice was low and rough, heating my skin. “You’re going about it the wrong way.”

“I don’t need your help,” I whispered, though even I could hear the uncertainty in my voice.

Hunter’s gaze flickered to my lips and then back to my eyes. “I’m not offering it.”

“Then what is your problem with me!”

I was frustrated. I was practically shaking from it.

Hunter’s eyes darkened, and something dangerous flickered behind the storm in them. He leaned down, his lips dangerously close to my ear as he whispered, “You. You’re my problem.”

The sharpness of his voice twisted something inside me. I turned my head to look at him, our noses almost touching.

“Why?” I whispered, my head spinning at how intoxicating having him this close felt. When he pulled back slightly, my chest heaved as I stared at him.

His stare was empty yet cold. He looked down at me and spoke monotonically as if repeating a phrase someone had told him to say: “Because humans are useless to us in this place.”

We stood there for what felt like forever, neither of us moving nor daring to speak another word. I feared if I said something, I would crack, and it would give him every reason as to why Iwasuseless.

Forcing myself to find some semblance of strength, I pushed my legs forward and stormed past him without looking back.

If being human was my biggest flaw, then what was his?

Chapter Twelve

“I really don’t get why you joined the Warriors; even my mum was shocked when I told her,” Marnie said, popping a chip into her mouth as I groaned, rubbing my temples. The dull ache from the hit I took earlier in Azrael’s class still lingered. No thanks to everyone finally insisting that, human or not, I should be trained the same as the Ascendants. Azrael ended up listening to them, and ever since, I’d been tossed around like a ragdoll by a girl named Norah.

“At least I’ll get to visit you often in the Healers Sector,” I said, injecting a little optimism.

Marnie shot me an unimpressed look. Well, it was worth a try.

“How’s Joe taking it?” Lucas asked as he sat down beside me in the canteen. He’d become my closest friend within the Warriors Sector and the only one who didn’t treat me like some fragile outsider.

I made a face, my appetite fading as I pushed away the plate of shared chips. “He’s not yelling anymore, if that’s what you mean.”

When Joe found out I’d joined the Warriors, he had marched into the middle of a training session and humiliated me in front of everyone, making it painfully clear that the Warriors Sectorwasn’t for me.

Marnie chuckled, shaking her head. “Oh, Grace, you’ve really got a rebellious streak under that cute, innocent exterior, don’t you? First, you room with three guys—including Brandon, of all people—and then you decide you want to join the Warriors. What’s next? You’re hoping to get picked for the competition?”

I let out a dry laugh. “Pretty sure Joe would have a heart attack if I did that.”

Marnie grinned, waving a ketchup-stained finger at me. “Celestials can’t have heart attacks, Grace, so you’re in the clear.”

I smiled, and for a brief moment, my appetite started to return. That was until Hunter walked through the double doors of the canteen with Silas trailing behind him. My body tensed instinctively, and my muscles—what little I had—tightened as I shrank back into the bench, trying to disappear.

Living with them hadn’t been the nightmare I initially imagined, but it hadn’t exactly been great either. Hunter ignored me entirely after I bumped into him that evening in the hallways, and Silas only occasionally threw me a glance. Brandon, at least, seemed to feel bad for me, though it didn’t make things any less awkward.

Lucas nudged my shoulder. “You’re staring.”

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