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“Tell him,” he commanded with a stern expression. “Tell him what you recounted to Sonia.”

“What is it?” Mr. Amelle asked, his expression slowly fading.

I glared at Alek. “There was another guardian fighting with you, wasn’t there?”

Mr. Amelle looked at me with furrowed eyebrows. “Not that I remember. From my understanding, it was only me, Ms. Eli.”

I quickly shook my head. “Impossible. There were two of you. I don’t know who did what, but one of you threw a baton while the other threw knives. And your movements, there was a difference. No way I just fought you.”

“I wasn’t given any knives.” Mr. Amelle turned his head to Alek. “Who do you think it could be?”

“I’m not sure,” Alek said as he studied me with fire in his gaze. “My brother was behind this entire mess of a scheme, so I expected you to have some sort of knowledge regarding the second intruder.”

“No,” he clarified. “I’m assuming Sonia has already been informed.”

Before Alek could respond, I said, “Yes, I just told her about it. I should’ve mentioned this earlier. I didn’t know it was a bigger problem than it seemed.” I crossed my arms as I shook my head in disbelief. I hadn’t paid attention to it when as a guardian, I’m supposed to double, triple check everything. Especially when overseeing seven lives.

“You’ve known about the intruder for days, yet inform us about it now?” Alek blurted.

“It was my mistake. I didn’t mean to keep quiet on pur—”

“Everything’s a mistake with you,” Alek spat, his face twisting with fury. “You’re dismissed.”

Every single insult rampaged on my tongue, but I bit it away. Without looking over my shoulder, I left.

ChapterTen

ALEK SEPHTIS

“Alek. . .” Tristan eyed me with dismay, a few creases reflecting against his face as his eyebrows met. “I can’t believe I’m asking this, but what did I just witness?”

I couldn’t bring myself to answer Tristan, my jaw clenching while the moment replayed in my mind. Years of honed control were slipping before my heeding. The turmoil in my stomach grew as the new guardian remained stuck in my thoughts.

“That holds no importance,” I quickly stated, brushing the matter away before I could evaluate it. “We have other pressing matters at hand.”

I settled into an available chair next to the bed, Tristan’s lips meeting into a straight line. Although my brothers didn’t roam throughout the vault, it was necessary to maintain a low voice. The walls were known to be soundproof but not entirely earless. “Yes, I suppose so.”

Through Sonia’s approval, tomorrow would mark Tristan’s reinstatement, his fingers itching to return to his duties as if he hadn’t lain with deep wounds yesterday.

“You weren’t notified of a partner?”

Tristan shook his head. “Though it’s expected from your brother. He enjoys the element of surprise every so often.”

“Do you think it was a guardian that’s part of the replacement period tomorrow?”

The heads of snakes remained intact as long as the bodies were conserved. While snakes slithered through the household, they extended to the grounds and beyond.

“Possibly,” Tristan continued with a murmur, “If they were one of Kaleb’s henchmen, the culprit would be obvious to uncover. On the other hand, if they were from either sector, specifically the offensive, since they have no direct link to him, it would be easier to conceal their tracks once they’re gone.”

“Sonia will investigate, but I want nothing to go unremarked,” I said. Although Sonia was the only guardian that had declared her neutral stance since the beginning of her term, it was still a possibility that she could dither to a side that may appeal to her.

“Will do.” Tristan bowed his head and then cleared his throat. “Did you visit your mother like I requested?”

“I did a few days ago. I have to return to replace her vase.”

The guardian’s dimming expression came to mind as the words from that day resonated. In contrast to today, ferocity overtook her demeanor. Huffing in a manner that was livid— almost comical.

“Alek?” Tristan’s voice was akin to a signal that directed me back to the present moment. His index finger circled around the air, near my lips. “You’re smiling.”