Page 26 of Saints & Sinners

Silas turned to me. “She’s been in there for an hour, Cain! I haven’t even had a chance to shower, and I’m five seconds from pissing in one of my drawers if she doesn’t come out.”

Brandon chuckled from his spot against the wall. “Not like you haven’t done so before.”

Silas glared at him. “I’ll piss on you in a second—”

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck and strode toward thebathroom door. “Grace,” I called, knocking on the door. I was too tired for this bullshit. “You’re not the only one who lives here. Get out, or I’m knocking the door down, with or without your permission.”

For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, slowly, the door unlocked, and Grace stood there, hair freshly done up and her Warrior uniform already on.

“All yours,” she said. her voice sounded innocent, but those Bambi eyes lit up with mischief. “You’re out of hot water, by the way.”

Silas gasped dramatically from behind. “You used up all the hot water?”

Grace shrugged, completely unapologetic, and Brandon let out a low laugh. I just stared at her; my expression blank. I didn’t know whether to be mad or amused.

I stepped forward, towering over her, but she didn’t flinch. There was a glimmer of challenge in her eyes as if she wanted to see how I would react. This was her side that I unwillingly admired, and right now, she was making the competitive part of me light up. “You really want to start off the day like this?”

She gave me one of her bright smiles, which infuriated me. “You should probably get a new toothbrush. I stepped on bird poop yesterday and yours was the closest thing nearby to clean it with.” Her smile never faltered as she brushed past me, the scent of strawberries infiltrating my nose. I watched her walk down the hall, and my jaw clenched.

“She’s used up all the hot water, Cain,” Silas kept saying even as my stare lingered from where she had just disappeared off to. “All the hot water! Do you know what this means?”

“That you’ll have to take a cold shower?” Brandon snickered.

“I don’t know what you’re laughing about. You’re the one who’s obsessed with having bubble baths.”

Brandon lifted his palms in self-defense. “Hey, I’m not the onethat put Jerry on her bed.”

“Cain told me to do that!”

I tuned out both of them, my attention fixed on the hallway, hoping—no, definitely dreading—that Grace would reappear. She was a whirlwind of chaos wrapped up in an infuriatingly irresistible package. And the worst part? I hated how much it thrilled me.

“You look happy,” Lucas said, gesturing to the wide grin I couldn’t hide as I wrapped my knuckles in white tape. The sun was still low, casting long shadows across the field, and best of all, Hunter was nowhere in sight.

“I am,” I replied, tying the tape off with a satisfied tug.

“Care to share why?”

I shrugged, trying to play it off. “No reason.”

I loosened my ponytail before gathering it into a plait, and leaving a few loose strands to frame my face. I didn’t expect much to do today—probably just work on technique with Lucas, which would inevitably end in me failing and coming out bruised over nothing.

My eyes soon caught movement, and I couldn’t help but let my smile stretch a little wider. Hunter, Silas and Brandon had finally made it onto the grounds, and from the looks of it, they weren’t exactly in peak condition. Silas, in particular, looked like he’d been dragged through five rounds of combat already, with his long hair a disheveled mess and hardly placed combat boots on.

Hunter, of course, wore his usual scowl, while Brandonappeared equally worn out, though more amused by it all. When he spotted me, he winked, and I chuckled.

Lucas followed my gaze, and the corner of his mouth quirked up. “Now that smile makes sense.”

Yes, it did.

“Care to explain why the three of you are late?” Azrael’s voice was frighteningly calm as he stood at the center.

Silas kicked at the mud as he passed him and muttered something under his breath while Brandon kept up his pace behind him.

Hunter, however, stopped. His nonchalant stance differed from the cold stare he gave me over his shoulder. I could hear Matias laughing with some of his friends on the other side of the field, enjoying this a little more than he should. “No excuse, sir. Won’t happen again,” Hunter said, and Azrael kept silent, which was damning enough. His eyes narrowed on Hunter and my stomach churned at the disapproval. before he brushed past Hunter, undoing his cufflinks as he scanned the gathered students.

“Pair off. We have visitors today.” The group shifted as people began searching for a partner, but Hunter’s voice cut through the conversation before I could turn to Lucas.

“I have a suggestion, sir.”

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