the shock and hurt he had put in her eyes.
Suddenly Maion appeared in front of him , glaring white wings – silently mocking him – and a smile on his face that said he already had a few today. Great, exactly what he didn’t need right now.
His brother looked at him, then at Lillian behind him, and Raz had no idea how much Maion really saw there. Maion’s best weapon was being underestimated. Downing a few beers didn’t keep him from doing his job and being good at it.
His gaze was on Lillian as he announced. “The Guard is ready and on its way. They will be awaiting you at the safe house.”
TEN
Back in purgatory the Chevelle pulled to a stop in front of the house. Lillian closed her eyes, which she almost immediately regretted as her brain took her right back to that moment in the woods. Instantly her blood started to boil, as much from desire as anger, and her eyes snapped back open. Right now she couldn’t afford to think about the kiss and Raz and everything that was burning inside of her, and so she forced herself to count to ten inside her head. She needed to calm down for this, for this moment when she would face the people that she would have to train, be responsible for and one day would have to trust with her own life.
Pushing away the white-hot mess that was Raz in her heart and head with all her might, she didn’t so much as glance at him when she announced, “I’ll need some time alone with them.”
From the corner of her eye she saw him nod sharply.
Then she took a deep breath and got out of the car to walk up the stairs to the house.
Stopping in front of the door with her suddenly trembling hand above the knob she faltered as doubt and anxiety swept her. She had just come from her first fight and now she was supposed to train others? Her own training wasn’t even finished. There was still so much to discuss and to learn. How could she be responsible for someone else’s life like that? She wasn’t ready, far from it. But standing here outside on the porch wouldn’t change any of it either, especially considering that they might have heard her coming up the stairs.
Taking another deep breath she reminded herself that she had gotten out of the fight on top today, and that she would simply have to do so again. The shaking hands had come later and were due to something, or rather someone, else. He wouldn’t get to break her down either, she promised herself. She’d come this far. Then, straightening, she opened the door.
“… still think this is a load of cra–”
The voices died as soon as she stepped inside and three gazes fixed on her. The girl’s was on the healthy side of guarded and yet curious. Big – probably chocolate – eyes in a beautiful face that didn’t give away anything, she was the observer of the three. From the two guys one was watching her carefully but couldn’t hide the natural friendly smile in his eyes, while the other looked downright weary. The latter was the one who had been talking.
At first Lillian had resented her dirty clothes and not being able to freshen up before facing them, now she was grateful for the scent of sulfur surrounding her and the black blood splattering across her otherwise sunny blouse. Nothing could hammer home the point better than that.
Unhurriedly m arching over to the sink to wash the black blood off her hands as if it were nothing more than a rather persistent speck of jam, she simply picked up the conversation where they had left off before she came in. “Well, if that’s the case then the make-up artist, or whatever guy, responsible for the gushing arteries should get a major raise.”
Silence greeted her.
Lillian grabbed a towel and, turning to face them, she added, “And not to forget those responsible for the black-and-white. Oh, and the guy who made those wings for you, too, I guess.” She looked pointedly at the wings the three of them sported.
That elicited a chuckle from the girl standing to her right.
Suddenly Maion appeared in front of him , glaring white wings – silently mocking him – and a smile on his face that said he already had a few today. Great, exactly what he didn’t need right now.
His brother looked at him, then at Lillian behind him, and Raz had no idea how much Maion really saw there. Maion’s best weapon was being underestimated. Downing a few beers didn’t keep him from doing his job and being good at it.
His gaze was on Lillian as he announced. “The Guard is ready and on its way. They will be awaiting you at the safe house.”
TEN
Back in purgatory the Chevelle pulled to a stop in front of the house. Lillian closed her eyes, which she almost immediately regretted as her brain took her right back to that moment in the woods. Instantly her blood started to boil, as much from desire as anger, and her eyes snapped back open. Right now she couldn’t afford to think about the kiss and Raz and everything that was burning inside of her, and so she forced herself to count to ten inside her head. She needed to calm down for this, for this moment when she would face the people that she would have to train, be responsible for and one day would have to trust with her own life.
Pushing away the white-hot mess that was Raz in her heart and head with all her might, she didn’t so much as glance at him when she announced, “I’ll need some time alone with them.”
From the corner of her eye she saw him nod sharply.
Then she took a deep breath and got out of the car to walk up the stairs to the house.
Stopping in front of the door with her suddenly trembling hand above the knob she faltered as doubt and anxiety swept her. She had just come from her first fight and now she was supposed to train others? Her own training wasn’t even finished. There was still so much to discuss and to learn. How could she be responsible for someone else’s life like that? She wasn’t ready, far from it. But standing here outside on the porch wouldn’t change any of it either, especially considering that they might have heard her coming up the stairs.
Taking another deep breath she reminded herself that she had gotten out of the fight on top today, and that she would simply have to do so again. The shaking hands had come later and were due to something, or rather someone, else. He wouldn’t get to break her down either, she promised herself. She’d come this far. Then, straightening, she opened the door.
“… still think this is a load of cra–”
The voices died as soon as she stepped inside and three gazes fixed on her. The girl’s was on the healthy side of guarded and yet curious. Big – probably chocolate – eyes in a beautiful face that didn’t give away anything, she was the observer of the three. From the two guys one was watching her carefully but couldn’t hide the natural friendly smile in his eyes, while the other looked downright weary. The latter was the one who had been talking.
At first Lillian had resented her dirty clothes and not being able to freshen up before facing them, now she was grateful for the scent of sulfur surrounding her and the black blood splattering across her otherwise sunny blouse. Nothing could hammer home the point better than that.
Unhurriedly m arching over to the sink to wash the black blood off her hands as if it were nothing more than a rather persistent speck of jam, she simply picked up the conversation where they had left off before she came in. “Well, if that’s the case then the make-up artist, or whatever guy, responsible for the gushing arteries should get a major raise.”
Silence greeted her.
Lillian grabbed a towel and, turning to face them, she added, “And not to forget those responsible for the black-and-white. Oh, and the guy who made those wings for you, too, I guess.” She looked pointedly at the wings the three of them sported.
That elicited a chuckle from the girl standing to her right.
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