Page 53 of Saints & Sinners

Veronica scoffed, cutting me off. “You think people are still blaming you?”

I frowned. “They are, aren’t they?”

She let out a short laugh, shaking her head. “Not after Hunter got involved.”

I blinked. “What?”

Veronica leaned her back against the bed frame, her expression torn between exasperation and amusement. “You seriously don’t know? Hunter’s been shutting down anyone who even thinks about blaming you for Lucas. And I don’t mean withkind words.”

My stomach flipped. “What do you mean?”

She tilted her head. “You think the whispers just... stopped? That people just decided to let it go?” She let out a dry laugh.“No. Cain made them.”

My mouth suddenly went dry.

She pushed off the bed and began ticking things off her fingers. “Elias? Got cornered outside the canteen last week and hasn’t spoken a word about you since. Chris? Nearly got thrown off the roof—allegedly. And don’t even me started on Leon, because I heard Cain grabbed him by the collar so hard, the guy could barely breathe before he got the message.”

I swallowed hard. “He—wouldn’t—”

“Wouldn’t he?”

I had no words. No defense. I was utterly speechless.

Veronica sighed and shook her head. “Don’t forget to close the door on your way out.”

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out as she turned her back to me and flipped through some of her sketchbooks.

I stood there, staring at her while my pulse thudded in my ears. Hunter had been threatening people for me? Silencing them? I should have been furious. I should have been storming to our dorm, demanding answers. But all I could think about was—why wouldn’t he tell me?

Veronica didn’t say anything else so, I left the dorm, closing the door softly behind me. Marnie was waiting outside, eyes wide and full of questions, but I waved her off with a slight smile. There was still so much to figure out, so much left unresolved, but for now, I felt a spark light up in my chest, thinking about what Hunter had done.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

The following few days, I was nonstop training. Except I was making no improvements. I should’ve been focusing on bettering myself, but my mind was elsewhere. Hunter had barely spent time in the dorm and when he did, he’d lock himself in his room. I had contemplated whether to tell him I knew about him threatening others for me, but things were still tense between us, and I was too stubborn to apologize.

Sighing, I threw a weak punch at the padded dummy in front of me.

“Hey, Grace.” Matias sauntered past, his smug grin making my skin crawl. “How’s Lucas? Oh—wait. I forgot. He’s no longer here. My bad.”

My heart twisted in my chest, and he may as well have driven one of the angelic weapons into me. I turned toward him, my fists clenched. “What did you just say?”

Matias chuckled, along with a few others beside him. “Nothing. Just stating facts. Must be strange for you, though. Your friend is dead, and his twin sister is probably wishing it was you instead.”

Rage surged through me like an electric current, and I stepped forward. Matias’s eyes dipped to where my fists were turningwhite, and smirked.

“Woah, careful, guys.” He glanced at his friends. “I think we might have angered the little beast.”

Obnoxious laughter broke out between the group, and I practically growled as I raised my fist to hit him. But before I could, a strong hand gripped my wrist, pulling me back.

I glanced up into a set of piercing grey eyes.

“Trying to be the next Rocky, Bambi?”

I shot him a glare, yanking my arm free from his grip. He barely seemed to notice as his focus shifted entirely to Matias, and the moment their eyes met, Matias stiffened. His face drained of color, his confidence withering under the weight of Hunter’s stare. Without a word he took a cautious step back, grabbing his friends and pulling them along with him.

Had Hunterthreatenedhim too?

I wanted to ask, but I didn’t get the chance to when I noticed a group approaching from afar. A few familiar Celestial faces arrived alongside Council members, with Eden, Joe, and Nadael walking in the front. Her usual serene expression was in place as the attention of everyone in the training grounds turned toward them.

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