Page 26 of Twisted Truths

She was a good person.

She didn’t deserve this.

Why do bad things keep happening to good people?

I don’t know how much time has passed when heavy footsteps fall outside my bedroom, and I fight to get my emotions under control. I can’t afford to fall apart. Zara made me promise to keep him safe, and I can’t let her down. Somehow, I need to find a way to get us both out of here.

A brief knock is the only warning I get before the door is pushed open and Gabriel’s imposing presence fills the space.

“What are you doing?” I gasp as he steps inside, closing the door behind him.

“Checking on you,” is his gruff reply.

My heart races as my eyes dart to the only escape from this room, which he is effectively blocking.

“I—Y-you shouldn’t be in here, it’s not proper. We?—”

“Need to talk,” Gabriel finishes for me. He doesn’t move, remaining still as his heavy gaze washes over me.

I drop mine to my lap. “I have n-nothing to say, Guardian.”

“Why are you lying to me?” There’s no anger in his voice, only a resigned curiosity mixed with a tinge of … sadness? But that can’t be right. This is Gabriel, the fiercest of Guardian Solomon’s four sons.

“I’m not,” I whisper. “Please, I must ask you to leave. We cannot be alone. If?—”

“If what?” he barks, and I flinch. “What will happen if we’re found alone, Hadley? Please, enlighten me.”

“I—I’m of age,” I stutter, swallowing down the loneliness I felt turning twenty-one without my sister or even Zara to share it with. “Please, this isn’t right. I don’t want to be cast out by?—”

“By who?” He strides forward until his legs are brushing my bed.

I cower from him, my body trembling.

I cannot tell him.

“Please.” I’m not even sure the word is audible.

He releases a deep sigh and takes a couple of steps back.

“You’re related to Madeline,” he murmurs, but it’s not a question. He shakes his head. “Her sister. All this time, I thought I was catching glimpses of her ghost haunting me, blaming me for not being able to save her and our child. But it was you.”

I draw in a sharp breath. “I can’t—I didn’t—Please, you have to go. We can’t be alone like this.”

“How did you know Zara?” he presses, ignoring my pleas.

The mention of her name causes my heart to clench and the feeling of loss and hopelessness hits me all over again. Zara is gone. She’s not coming back. Silent tears stream down my cheeks.

Gabriel grunts out a sound of frustration. “I’m trying to understand the connection, Hadley. Zara was told to keep to herself while she was here. Tell me how you knew her.”

I shake my head. “I c-can’t.”

“We don’t have much time. What did she tell you?”

Keep him safe.

Zara’s last words cause me to press my lips together.

“Nothing.” Swallowing down my fear, I straighten my spine, but I can’t bring myself to look at him. “I don’t know anything, so if you don’t mind, I’d like you to leave. Please, Guardian.”