by Elle Scott
“It’s a game,” Riley replied with a somber voice. “The Fallen mark people and let them out into the wild and hunt them. It’s all just a heartless thrill.”
The thought made her want to hurl. Sadie wasn’t a toy. “Is there any way to track other Guardians? I mean, you said when I was marked it was like a beacon, what’s that like?”
“It’s exactly that. You saw the light that streamed from your mark when Kiko activated the Imprint… it’s sort of like that, but we can only see it while in half or full-shift. Like a bright neon sign telling us there’s someone waiting to be transitioned.”
“Why couldn’t you see all the Fallen being marked… from Cap?”
“I didn’t go around with my wolf eyes all the time,” Riley said, his tone a little defensive.
Leila stopped pacing. “I didn’t mean it as an accusation.”
“I know,” he said, softer. “I just wish I had done that… you know.”
Leila moved to the window and aligned with her lion. She stared above roof tops to see any beam of light that may show a newly marked human. Seeing nothing but gray clouds, she returned to human form. She turned around and leaned against the window. “Is there any other way of tracking someone who’s already a Guardian?”
Riley leaned his elbows to his knees, dropping his eyes to his feet. “That’s what I want to ask Ren. But he won’t answer his god-damned phone.”
A scratch at the window made Leila jump. She leapt and spun at the same time. As she landed, her eyes fell on a cat. The same one from Riley’s house.
“What is with this cat?” Leila tapped on the glass. “Go away.”
A light chuckle hit her ears. Riley gently placed a hand on Leila’s back and leaned around her to unlatch the window. “It’s harmless.”
The cat bounded through the gap. It landed at Riley’s feet, smooching an infinity symbol around his legs. Seeing the small animal attracted to her boyfriend, softened Leila.
“Look at that,” she teased, kneeling down. “You’ve got a new girlfriend.”
Leila hovered her hand above the cat’s head, but as she went to stroke it the cat swung its paw at her. Claws dug into her skin and Leila jolted back from the scratch. The cat scuttled under the sofa in fright.
“Hey!” Leila said, offended. She half-shifted. “Don’t pick a fight with a lion, Kitty.”
“Whoa!” Riley grabbed her by the shoulder, stopping her from peering under the sofa. “You can’t shift in front of a domestic animal. You’ll traumatize it.”
He bent down and the cat scurried into his arms. He placed it on the windowsill. “You’d better go, pretty one.”
“I bet that’s what you say to all the felines,” Leila teased, rubbing her arm. The scratch had already healed but the rejection was fresh.
“Ha!” Riley guffawed, closing the window. He looked across the lawn and froze. “Oh, my god.”
Leila’s heart bounced at his sudden change in demeanor. She rushed to his side. “What? Is it Sadie?”
Sure enough, three blond girls ran up the pathway.
“Yeah… and…” Riley spun on his heels and swung the door open.
Leila looked down the path, behind Sadie and Summer and Imogen, was one more person. One with red hair. They looked familiar and Leila couldn’t quite get a grasp on how she knew her. Whoever it was, set Riley on edge again.
Sadie
There was a time in Sadie’s life where the worst thing she could imagine happening was showing up to school accidentally naked. Then she learned about Guardians and suddenly bare skin didn’t equate to the fear of being hunted. But the worst thing about them wasn’t their fangs or their eyes or the way their face contorted when they half-shifted; the worst thing was not knowing who was good and who was bad.
The Guardian with red hair clutched Sadie by the elbow and dragged her into the white hatchback. She didn’t say a word as they tore down the road away from Sebastian’s property. Sadie had glanced out the rear window, hoping to see a glimpse of him, but they’d driven around the bend too quickly.
“I’m Tessa,” the Guardian said, glancing in the rear-view mirror. She smiled but it seemed forced. “And you don’t seem surprised that I’m a werewolf. Scared but not surprised.”
Sadie looked around the floor of the back seat, wondering if there was a jack or some kind of weapon she could use to knock this Tessa girl out.
“Your friend,” Tessa continued. “You know he’s a werewolf, too, don’t you?”
“He’s not a werewolf.” Sadie shocked herself with the venom in her normally friendly-to-all-people voice. “He’s a Guardian.”
Tessa’s eyebrows shot up. “Humans aren’t supposed to know about Guardians.”
“Well, I do.” Sadie looked at her hands and her bony wrists. Tessa was small too, but she knew how deceivingly strong Guardians were. There’s no way she could attack her and get out of it alive. So, she settled back in the seat and stared at her kidnapper with a scowl. “Where’s Summer?”
Hesitating, Tessa swallowed. “She’s safe. Now.”
Sadie frowned. “What do you mean, now?”
Tessa took a breath and looked at Sadie again as though trying to decide whether or not to answer. She must have decided to tell the truth because the next thing she said was: “Summer and Imogen were taken by a Fallen. The two of them, and you, were on my list.”
“And what are you going to do with us?” Sadie asked, stomach sinking.
“What do you mean?” Tessa asked. Through the rear-vision mirror Sadie saw Tessa’s eyes squint. “I thought you knew what Guardians were?”
“They’re meant to protect humans,” Sadie said with spite.
“Right, so you’re my charge. I’m protecting you.”
Sadie was confused. “I thought you said I was on your hit list?”
“It’s not a hit list. I’m not a Fallen.” Tessa cracked, laughing full and loud. Within a few seconds, her mouth snapped shut and her gaze darted to the mirror again. “Oh my god, are you okay? You must have been so afraid. I didn’t mean to…” She pulled up to the curb on the edge of the main street and turned in her seat to look at Sadie face on. “I’m so sorry if I scared you.”
Sadie glanced at the unlocked door. She considered bursting out of the car and running inside to the Burger Lounge. But Tessa said she had Summer and Imogen. Plus, Sebastian would never forgive her if she bailed now.
In order to get to the girls, Sadie needed to be brave. They depended on her. She looked Tessa square in the eyes and asked, “Where’s my sister and her friend?”
Tessa’s mouth grew into a wide grin. She bit her bottom lip to contain it and tapped the window. “They’re in here.”
Tessa whipped around and threw her door open quickly. She ran to Sadie’s door and held it open. As Sadie stepped onto the footpath, Tessa whispered, “They don’t know I’m a Guardian, I normally don’t mention that kind of thing. Can you keep it a secret?”
Sadie nodded and followed Tessa into the Burger Lounge. At the end booth, two blond haired girls were sitting opposite a guy with denim-blue dreadlocks. Tessa slid in next to him and smiled at the girls, pointing behind them to Sadie.
“Summer?” Sadie rested her hand on the back of the seat and peered into the booth. “Imogen?”
Summer glanced up, dark circles shadowing her eyes. Beside her, Imogen’s own eyes glistened with tears. Their hair was unbrushed and ratty—something neither of them would have been comfortable with. They wore the same clothes as the night of Sadie’s date; the last time she saw them.
Sadie’s heart broke, what kind of trauma had they endured?
Her little sister, once abrasive and vague, lurched off her seat and fell into Sadie’s arms. It was the first hug they’d shared in a while. In fact, Sadie couldn’t quite remember the last time. Summer held on tight, sobbing into Sadie’s hair.
Imogen stood. She crossed her arms across her chest, her eyes scouring the space behind Sadie. “Have you seen Seb?”<
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“Yes,” Sadie replied. She reached for Imogen and dragged her into the huddle. “Your brother has been terrified. He’ll be so happy to see you.”
Tessa cleared her throat. She glanced at her dread-locked friend and back. “Sit down, girls. I’m just going to talk to Sadie for a bit.”
“No,” Sadie declared, letting her hands find Summer’s and Imogen’s hands. “What? Why? I’m not leaving them.”
She stood her ground, staring at the boy. She didn’t know him. For all she knew he was the Fallen who kidnapped them in the first place, and this was all some sick joke to dangle them in her face before whisking them away again.
“It’s not something I wish to say in front of them,” Tessa said through her teeth.
Sadie hesitated. She glanced at Imogen’s tear-stained cheeks, then to Summer.
“It’s okay,” Summer urged, slipping her hand from Sadie’s grasp. She plonked down into the booth. “They saved us. We can trust them.”
The boy with dreadlocks winked at Summer, and Tessa said, “See? Please?”
“Two minutes.” Sadie conceded. She pointed out the window. “Outside. I want to see them the whole time.”
They moved to the footpath right outside the booth’s window. Summer sipped on a milkshake and gave Sadie a gleeful wave. She looked so happy and it was the first real genuine smile she’d gotten from her in years. Maybe Tessa was a good Guardian after all.
Still, Sadie knew she needed to be careful. Cap was the nicest guy in school and look at how that turned out. She tore her eyes from Summer and glared at Tessa. “What is it?”
“Okay,” Tessa started, “So, Jamal and I got the charge for Imogen, and… you.”
Sadie felt her hard gaze waver. “What does that mean? Charge?”
Sighing, Tessa explained, “Guardians… True Guardians report to the Veil. We are given jobs, people to watch over. Sometimes that means we hide in the shadows and keep an eye on things. Sometimes that means we intervene, like...” She waved her hand to the girls. “And we stay until we know they are safe from that which threatened them.”
“And… what’s threatening them.” Sadie wasn’t too sure she wanted to know, but it was too late, she’d already asked.
“That’s the thing. Our charge was for Imogen and you, not Summer. Somehow, we’ve ended up being caught in two threats.”
Sadie couldn’t comprehend what Tessa meant. “Two threats?”
Tessa clutched Sadie’s shoulder. “Listen, your sister and Imogen were captured by a Fallen, they’ve been targeted. Either someone thinks they’d make good warriors or they’re being used as bait. That wasn’t my assignment, something else is going on in this town. My assignment was to protect you and Imogen.”
Sadie took a step back, away from Tessa’s touch. “Against what?”
A sad look shot across Tessa’s face, almost as if she was sorry to say it. “Her brother. Sebastian Weir. He’s what threatens her. He’s what threatens you.”
Shaking her head, Sadie fought the urge to laugh. “That’s ridiculous. Sebastian loves her, he’d never do anything to harm her. Not a single hair on her head.”
Tessa’s eyes turned to slits. “He’s a Fallen… you don’t know that?”
“Of course I know that,” Sadie hissed. “But he’s not bad.”
“Ha!” Tessa guffawed. “All Fallen are bad.”
“He saved my life once, you know? I would have been killed if it wasn’t for him. He killed his Alpha just to keep me alive. And, he was trying to protect me from you.”
Sadie wanted to add: “and he’s protective. And thoughtful. And caring. And… gorgeous.” She bit her lip, embarrassed at the last thought.
“He killed a Fallen Alpha?” Tessa’s brows dropped. She shook her head. “Regardless, that was the assignment. And I’m sorry but Imogen can’t return to her brother. We can’t risk it.”
Sadie’s mind whirred. Sebastian won’t allow that. He’d tear through everyone to get her back. And that would only prove their point of his Fallen nature. She had to think of something.
“Listen, I appreciate you looking after us. But there are True Imprints here in town. One of them is my best-friend. They can take it from here.”
“Imprints? I’ve heard about them,” Tessa said. A wave of concern washed over her face. “Are you sure they’re True Guardians? I don’t want to go near them if they’re Fallen—”
“They’re True,” Sadie interrupted. “The Truest of True. So True you’ll want to puke.”
Tessa jerked her head to Jamal and tapped on the glass. Emotionless, she commanded, “Take me to them.”
Sitting in the back seat of the car, Sadie stretched her hand over Tessa’s shoulder and pointed to Leila’s house. As Jamal pulled up to the curb, it took all of her inner strength not to leap out of the car and run for the door. The day had seen her frightened for Summer, frightened for herself, relieved for Summer, and then… unsure of everything. She didn’t know if she was doing the right thing by brushing off Tessa’s concerns about Sebastian. But there was one thing she did know, Leila’s clarity could defuse any situation.
Tessa stepped out first, heading quickly through the front gate. Sadie waited for Summer and Imogen to get out of the car and climbed out. As the three girls followed, a tabby cat bounced across the front lawn.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Tessa chided, stopping in her tracks. She swung her head around and glared at Jamal.
Inside the car, Jamal reached across the car and clicked the passenger door open. The cat leapt inside. Sadie stared for a moment, watching as the cat transformed into a girl.
The front door swung open and footsteps echoed on Leila’s porch. Sadie spun around to see Riley. He stared at Tessa, fists clenching and mouth agape.
The tiniest peep flew through Tessa’s lips.
Leila peered around Riley’s shoulder and Sadie’s instincts took over. She couldn’t help herself. She tore past Summer and Imogen, muddy shoes thumping awkwardly along the path. Riley stepped to one side as she ran up the steps and burst inside. Clutching Leila’s wrist, Sadie glanced back to make sure her sister and Imogen were close behind her.
“Oh my god, Sadie!” Leila said, pulling her in close. “We’ve been so worried. Are you okay?”
After a short hug, Leila lurched back. She pulled Sadie’s sleeve up and inspected her arms. Next, she tugged at her collar, peeking at her neck and shoulder. Leila pressed the back of her hand onto Sadie’s forehead as she asked, “Are you itchy? Do you have a fever?”
Trying not to laugh, Sadie grabbed Leila’s hands and lowered them. “I’m fine. Not marked.”
At the same time Leila visibly relaxed, Riley croaked, “Tessa?”
Leila tensed again, her head whipping to the door. She squawked, “Tessa?”
“Wait?” Sadie said, leaning around to get a better view of Riley. “You know her?”
Tessa stopped on the porch, eyes low and piercing. “Hello, brother.”
Riley
Seeing Tessa sent Riley’s heart into overdrive. It was hard for him to look at his sister and not see the one who had comforted him in times of sadness… to not see the one who had teased him endlessly for his love of science fiction… the one who knew his fears and his hopes.
The Tessa Riley grew up with was kind and thoughtful. Even though she had two years on him, she’d never make him feel like he was her annoying kid brother. She’d go out of her way to make him feel wanted, especially the times their dad canceled visits. Growing up, everything she did seemed to be made of pure gold.
But that Tessa disappeared the moment she became a Guardian. She’d almost killed their mother, she’d destroyed their home, she’d run them out of town. The girl he once knew and loved had changed.
He reminded himself of that as he stared at her, standing barely a yard away. His sister was gone. And a monster was living in her body.
With all the girls inside, he placed his hands on either side of the doorwa
y, blocking Tessa out. “What did you do with them?”
“Me? I saved them, Will—”
“It’s Riley,” he scowled. “My name is Riley now.”
“Okay,” Tessa said, unimpressed. She took a long breath and smiled to herself. “So, you’re the famed Imprint. You can’t say fate doesn’t have a sense of humor.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” None of it seemed funny to Riley. A cruel Fallen was hiding behind his sweet sister’s face, taunting him with every sound of her voice.
Tessa’s head dropped. Her hands clenched together in front of her. When she looked back up, her eyes glassy with tears.
The sadness in her eyes gave him pause. But only for a moment. His biceps contracted, forcing himself to clutch the door frame harder. Half-shifting, he curled his lips to display his fangs. He couldn’t let her deceive him.
Tessa’s lips trembled as she asked, “Why did you do this to yourself?”
Riley felt Leila’s gentle hand press between his shoulder blades. She seemed to know the answer before he even said it. “To protect our family… from you.”
“But them?” Tessa’s tear-filled eyes rose to the sky, her nose flaring. “You chose them to turn you?”
Riley frowned. “If by them, you mean the good guys, then yes. I chose them. Better than becoming someone who would almost kill their own mother.”
Tessa snapped her gaze to Riley. “What? You’re really gonna play that game?”
How ironic, Riley thought, that she was accusing him of playing a game. He rolled his shoulders and spat, “You started it.”
A single tear rolled down her cheek. It damn near broke his heart. Part of him wanted to wrap her in his arms and tell her that he loved her, that he forgave her. But he knew the tears were fake. The Fallen were great at deception. And loyalty was a dangerous game when someone he used to trust was after blood.
He wondered if he and Leila did the surge right then and there, if she’d return to human form. There was only one way to find out. He threw his arm back and Leila’s hand fell onto his palm.
