AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Gabriel snorted and flung the ball at the center of the pentagram. “Like it would matter.”
She bit at her lip. “But that doesn’t make any sense.”
“They’ve been threatening this for a while.”
“No,” she said, rotating to face them both. Her fists clenched at her sides. “It doesn’t make any sense because there’s one on my door.”
They both stared at her for the longest moment.
Becca didn’t like the way they were looking at her—a little too intensely. “My dad painted over it this morning. Aren’t the Guides the ones who kill people? Who take out the accused and the accusers?”
Gabriel shoved Chris on the shoulder. “I see you held nothing back.”
Chris ignored him. “When did you find it? This morning?”
She nodded. “So ... does that mean Tyler put it there?” That would make sense, since Tyler clearly thought she was involved. It would make her feel better somehow, as if she could extricate herself from this mess with a simple explanation or a written note.
To whom it may concern: I’m not involved. Honest. Hugs, Becca
“It doesn’t have to be Tyler. It could be any one of them.” Chris shrugged. “The Guides come to town in secret, just to observe.”
“Then,” said Gabriel, emphasizing his words with another three-pointer, “they judge.”
“How are you so calm about this?” she demanded. “They’re going to kill me, and you’re—”
“Shh.” Gabriel put a finger over her lips. Her eyes widened.
“First,” he said quietly, “anger is not our friend right now. You get me?”
His hand was warm against her face. She stared up into his eyes and remembered the coil of flame on his palm last night.
Or Tyler’s grip on her arm in the pet store.
She swallowed and nodded.
“They’re not going to kill you,” he said. “Because you don’t matter.”
He didn’t mean it the way it sounded. She knew that. But the words still made her flinch, just a little.
Chris grabbed his brother’s hand and shoved him away. “Leave her alone. She doesn’t know.”
“You should have kept it that way,” said Gabriel. “The more naïve she is, the better off she’d be.”
“She is standing right here,” said Becca.
“The Guides won’t bother you,” said Chris. “Sure, they might be watching you—”
“Watching me?”
“—but you aren’t one of us. They’ll realize that you aren’t an Elemental.” Chris leaned in, and she heard the strain behind his voice. “When I said they’re judge, jury, and executioner, I meant they don’t f**k around. But they aren’t stupid.”
Her breathing felt too quick, matching his.
“What about you?” she finally said.
His blue eyes hardened, and his voice was flat. “If they’re watching you, you should probably stay away from me.”
A phone started ringing, and it took Becca a minute to realize it was in her pocket. She looked at the display of her new phone and recognized Quinn’s number.
