Broken Wings (Cruel and Beautiful World, Book One 1) by L. Stoddard Hancock Page B

his finger.
    "No," she said honestly. In all her years reliving the same nightmare, not once had Xander made an appearance. It was always President Saevus, Elvira and Atticus, with her other former owners occasionally sprinkled in. A shiver ran through her. "Why do you ask?"
    Xander shrugged. "I don't know. I suppose it's the way you look at me every time I wake you. Like you're ready to kill."
    The smallest of smiles crept onto Deryn's lips. "Sorry."
    "It's probably my fault for even attempting to wake you. I wouldn't bother at all if your damn screams weren't loud enough to alert the whole fucking neighborhood."
    Deryn frowned. "Well, maybe if you put a soundproof shield around my room, like I ask every day after you bring one of your women over, we wouldn't have that problem."
    "You know I can't do that. It connects to my wristband and the president has all technology used by his guards and Guardians checked every morning, and he knows I live in an area that's basically deserted. It's his way of keeping us under his iron thumb. Then he has us check everyone else's homes so they're under our iron thumb."
    "But you put one up every time I'm out on the balcony."
    "Yes, because I can use it once and say I have loud or nosy neighbors downstairs." Which he did. "It's either a soundproof shield at night or your balcony privileges. I'll let you make the call."
    Deryn's frown deepened. She looked down at her tea and quietly said, "Balcony."
    "What was that?" he said, leaning his left ear towards her. "I couldn't quite hear your mumbling. Speak up."
    "Balcony," she said slightly louder as she looked up and scowled at him.
    Xander smirked. "I knew it. I knew you secretly enjoyed hearing me fuck."
    Deryn's cheeks flushed. "N-no -"
    "Don't deny it. I can see it written all over your face."
    "Stop it."
    "Come on, Leon. I might actually believe you if you weren't blushing."
    Now her whole face was red. "I said, stop it."
    "Not until you -"
    "I need to go out on the balcony so I don't suffocate in here!"
    Xander's eyebrows rose high into his hairline as he gave her a look of surprise. His face stayed frozen like that for a few seconds, unblinking. Until, eventually, that signature smirk of his returned. "If you'd like, I can give you a few pointers."
    Deryn gazed at him, heavy breaths coming out steadily through her nose. Then she rolled her eyes. "You repulse me."
    Xander's smirk widened. "Ah, now there's the Leon I remember. We'll have you cursing at me in no time."
    The corner of her mouth twitched upwards. "Ass."
    Chapter Nine
     
     
    "Shit!"
    Deryn popped awake at the suddenness of Xander's shouts.
    "I'm fucking late!"
    A bit disoriented, she looked around to see that she was still in the living room. A flash of blond hair ran by.
    "I work for a sadistic psychopath and I'm late. Fuck!"
    His door slammed and, a few seconds later, she heard the water running in his personal shower.
    Deryn waited a few more seconds for the shower door to open and then close. Once she heard the click, she got up from the couch and tiptoed over to his bedroom door. She opened it just enough to slip in and went over to his bed, thoroughly searching the pillows for any stray hairs belonging to whomever he'd brought home the previous night.
    This was Deryn's only chance to do this, since Xander always tossed his sheets in the washer downstairs on his way out, to rid them of last night's conquest. She was, of course, absolutely repulsed by this task, constantly fearing that she would accidently come across a different kind of hair, but it was necessary. She had been there eleven days now and her body was finally starting to feel normal again. It was time to prepare.
    Her time spent in guard training was not all about Element usage and fighting. Upon entry, everyone was tested and the most intelligent of applicants were also used to help develop the ever-growing technology of Utopia. She had actually been chosen to start working in the Government Lab the day