The Guardian (Callista Ryan Series) by Alexandra Weiss

deaths were what lead her to the drink.”
                  Callie snapped, “Sometimes what you hear isn’t any of your business.”
                  “Touché,” Emeric replied, lifting his glass towards her in a mock toast. But then his lips twisted downwards, and his face became serious. “Callista, there has been something bothering me all day.”
                  “And what’s that?” Callie asked, sounding even to her own ears less than friendly.
                  “Your parents’ car accident. You told me this morning that you wouldn’t talk about it, I am aware, but I’m afraid I have to ask you to tell me something. After the accident, did you ever try to inflict injury upon yourself?” he asked hesitantly.
                  “What?” Callie said indignantly. “No, of course not. Why?”
                  “It is the only reason I can think of which might explain your…odd predicament,” Emeric said.
                  “My odd predicament? What, you mean the fact that I’ve been kidnapped and am being held against my will in the canopy of some rainforest?” she asked.
                  “The timing is the strange thing,” Emeric continued as though he hadn’t heard her. “You were, how old, thirteen at the time?”
                  Callie hesitated, resenting that he was speaking about this, but nodded.
                  Emeric shook his head. “That’s the age,” he murmured.
                  “For what?” Callie asked.
                  Emeric sighed and then set down his glass. “And you’re sure that nothing happened to you? No serious injuries, illnesses that year?”
                  “Yeah,” Callie said. “I mean, I think I’d remember. Look, I don’t speak Cryptic. If you have something to ask me, just ask me.”
                  Emeric drew a breath, about to speak. But then he held it for a second, and, after another thought, exhaled and shook his head. He looked down at the floor and stepped towards her. “Well, I think we’ve finished. Are you ready to go?”
                  Callie raised her eyebrows. “That’s it?” she asked. “Why did you have to tell them to leave, if you were just going to ask me questions that I’d already answered in front of them?”
                  “I assumed that you might be more comfortable, more willing to share new details, if we were not in his company,” Emeric replied.
                  “Whose company?” Callie asked.
                  “Alexander’s.”
                  Callie frowned, unsure why she should have been more comfortable now that Alex wasn’t around. She was about to ask what he meant, but before she could open her mouth, he had stepped closer to her and laid one hand upon her shoulder, looking seriously into her eyes.
                  “Callista, I would like you to be aware: whatever you need while you are here, do not hesitate to ask. You are doing us a favor, and we truly appreciate it,” he said, his words saturated with sincerity.             
                  As he was speaking, Callie got a weird feeling. She couldn’t explain it, even if she’d tried. It was as though her stomach had tied into knots. She’d had the same feeling when she had walked into a math test that she wasn’t prepared for. The best thing she could compare it to was feeling nervous, or afraid. Unable to speak, she swallowed, and then nodded.
                  Emeric stepped backwards, and then extended his arms. She couldn’t understand what he wanted her to do for a moment, but then she realized he wanted her to step into his arms so he could carry her home. She hesitated, feeling awkward about approaching him like that. It suddenly seemed too