Page 45 of Saints & Sinners

“It doesn’t.” Silas grunted, still rubbing the side of his head.

My gaze went to him, and I wondered why he was here with Brandon in the first place. “I thought you still didn’t trust me?” At least that is what I overheard from his conversation with Brandon the other night.

“Look.” He rubbed a hand down his face. “Just because I still find you somewhat guilty, I also trust in Cain. If he says you didn’t do it, then maybe you didn’t.”

I nodded in suspicion. That didn’t sound like Silas to be reasonable.

“And also, I was threatened by both of these numpties into protecting you, so—ow!” he shouted as Brandon kicked him.

I chuckled for the first time this week, but I couldn’t help but wonder where Hunter was. It was definitely insanity taking over my mind if I was questioning why he wasn’t here once again.

A knock at the door interrupted the strange encounter with the boys, and they pushed me back into the room in a ridiculous protective stance.

I rolled my eyes, squeezing past them. “Relax, it’s Marnie. Itexted her to try and sneak out so she could come over.”

“Marnie?” I heard Brandon ask from behind before I opened the door.

Marnie shot past me, wearing earmuffs over her copper hair and a fluffy white coat. “You will not believe the looks I’ve been getting just by coming up here. They all looked like they either wanted to punch me in the face or stab me in the stomach!” She faced me as I closed the door behind me. “I swear, since everyone knows I’m your friend, they think I’m your minion or something.”

I cleared my throat, looking past her shoulder.

She turned and almost jumped when she saw a shirtless Brandon and a partially nude Silas standing there. “Oh.” Her voice took on a timid tone. “Hi.”

Brandon raised his hand to the back of his neck, equally looking just as shy. “Hey.”

She instantly spun around again and mouthed the wordWOWat me.

I held back a chuckle before grabbing her hand and whizzing past the boys into my bedroom. Shutting the door, I let Marnie take her coat and earmuffs off as she stared at the lack of decoration I had in there. After a minute or two, she turned around and smacked her lips. “You know, when you messaged me to come round, I didn’t expect to see Brandon and Silas. I thought they’d be out training.”

“It’s a Sunday,” I deadpanned. “Besides, no one is allowed to leave Celestia’s grounds until the matter is resolved.” Not that I could leave, even if itwasresolved.

“And? Have you not seen them? They look like they’re always training with all those muscles; also, let’s not forget the abs on Silas. I mean, did you see them?”

I’ve seen a lot more, unfortunately.

I passed her, pulling the blinds open and letting what little sunwe had into my room. “They said they’reprotectingme.”

“Really?” she mused. “Wow, who would have thought, huh?”

Not me, apparently.

Huffing out a breath, I turned to see she was already sitting on my bed. She patted the free space beside her, and I came over and settled onto the springy mattress.

“So...” she said. “Is everything okay? Well, I know it probably isn’t; I mean, I’ve hardly been able to sleep since it happened.”

“Me neither.” I sighed, resting my head on her shoulder. The only other thing I had resorted to was researching and wallowing. Otherwise, I would picture Lucas on the floor, lifeless, every time I even so much as blinked.

Marnie’s head tipped against mine, and we stayed like that for a few minutes before I couldn’t hold it any longer.

“Marnie?”

She hummed.

“What do you know about the Grand War?”

She straightened and looked at me like I had gone insane. I basically had. “The Grand War? Grace, why—”

“Just enlighten me, will you?”

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