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closed my eyes and searched, but all I saw was Bran s psi energy and the other Guardians in the distance. I don t see anything.
I think I should walk you home.
Something in his voice had me jumping up. Bran grabbed my arm and steered me toward the side door. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye.
He wore an uneasy expression. I just needed to know one thing before we parted ways. What is it you were saying you ve started to do? You know,
to make up for the past.
He shrugged. Let s just say that I did things I regret, and I m making amends.
Some say confession is good for the soul. But what if you don t have a soul? a voice with a familiar lilt mocked from behind us.
Before I could turn and find the speaker, Bran, in one smooth motion, whipped around and pushed me behind him, blocking my line of vision.
I peeked from behind him anyway and then gaped at three of the most gorgeous men I d ever seen. They stood at the other end of the pool, their
black leather pants, black shirts and long black coats, making them look like they might have stepped from the movie The Matrix. The leader was
tall and blond, his hair so pale. Flanking him were two blue-eyed, dark-haired guys who looked like identical twins. They all wore their hair long.
They teleported closer, so only half the width of the pool separated us. Bran s back went rigid, and his hands balled into fists. The air was thick with
chilling menace and dread snaked around me, causing goose bumps to erupt on my arms. Who were these guys?
So this is where you ve been disappearing to? the blond said. Did you think I wouldn t know you ve stopped scouting?
Leave this place, Gavyn. You can t enter the Cardinals hideaway without consequences. Bran s voice was strong, confident, though I could feel
his unease.
Gavyn? Bran s brother? The blond hair had thrown me off, but he had the same melodic lilt in his voice like Bran did and the same facial bone
structure. But Gavyn s eyes were gray and cold, unlike Bran s warm emeralds.
Gavyn dismissed Bran s comments with a wave of his hand. Just like you, little brother, we can camouflage our psi energy from the Guardians. I m
here to take you home where you belong.
As Gavyn s words rang around the swimming pool, a tug on my necklace drew my attention to my chest. I pulled out the pendent dangling from its
chain. The green in the jadeite appeared to swirl and ebb, causing it to vibrate. I wrapped my hand around the stone. It was warm.
I was just about to leave, Bran said, reaching behind him to grab my hand in a reassuring grip, which didn t work because his apprehension
flowed into me. Why don t you go on ahead? I ll be right behind you.
His brother laughed. It s taken me hours to find you, and I m not about to let you out of my sight, little brother. We re going to have that talk.
Bran shrugged. I thought your people made your feelings clear last night when they threw me out.
The people responsible have been punished. But I want you to listen to me because I m going to say this only once. You belong with us.
Bran s grip tightened, then he let go of my hand. Teleport out of here now, Lil.
Dread gripped my throat. I had no idea how to teleport.
7. THE FIRST BATTLE
Don t even think about it, Gavyn s voice whipped out. In fact, I d advise you against doing anything to tick me off, Guardian. That means no
teleporting anywhere or communicating with anyone outside this room.
Oh, no, he d heard Bran s thoughts. My knees grew weak, and I swallowed a lump of panic. This was the result of not listening to Grampa. I should
have stayed away from Bran.
If all you want to do is talk, why bring the Goetz brothers? Bran asked, shifting his gaze to the twins.
I needed trackers to follow your erratic teleporting energy, and they re the best at finding telegates and mimicking energy. And like you said, one
shouldn t enter the Cardinals lair without being prepared. As nature-benders, they know how to destroy the Guardian jadeite.
Nature-benders? My hand tensed around the amulet. The stone was warmer. I glanced down. My eyes widened at the eerie green light radiating
from it. How would it protect me when Gavyn s men could destroy it?
Besides, I couldn t trust my regular guards not to go behind my back and report to Coronis or her people that my little brother has gone crazy,
Gavyn said, interrupting my thoughts. First you tried to join the Outcasts, now this. A demon searching for redemption isn t just pathetic, Bran. He
brings shame to his family. Have you any idea how Mom is going to react once she finds out about your latest escapade?
She doesn t understand.
Oh, she understands all right. She understands you re just like father. Weak and pathetic, incapable of seeing the big pic
Don t talk about him like that, Bran snapped.
Touched a nerve, did I? Gavyn laughed. Dad could have united our race and started a new order in this human infested world. That s all humans
need, inspired leadership.
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