Page 23 of A Shadow of Betrayal

“Thank you,” I whisper, knowing he can't hear me or know how much that small gesture of kindness means to me. Besides Grandpa and Mags, I never really had anyone close enough to me to care if I was taken care of or not, and the impulse to get up and hug Theo’s friend is almost too much to bear as I blink back yet another wave of tears.

“Don’t let them win. You are stronger than that. Not everyone here is bad,” I whisper to myself, looking at Jordan again as I inhale the small bar faster than I should before I turn to face the window. There is so much I still don’t know, so many questions I need answers to, and my head throbs.

It can wait, I remind myself as I settle into bed. Sleep now, and get answers in the morning when your head doesn't feel like it's about to crack open.

The white glow of the moon and the flickering shadows of falling snow outside have a calming effect on me as I pull the blanket up around my shoulders. Letting my eyes fall shut, I welcome the blackness and momentary escape that sleep provides.

TWELVE

Meyer

I blink my tired eyes as I move down the long hall Lennox carried me through last night, trailing after Jordan, who keeps throwing concerned glances over his shoulder at me as we follow Billy to the stairs. Morning came much too soon for my liking, and I can't help but glare at Billy as he leads the ten of us from our somewhat warm rooms through the cold halls of the cabin.

“Stop glaring at everyone. You’re going to isolate yourself,” Jordan whispers, making my frown deepen before I sigh and slap a fake smile on my face. “That's worse,” he mutters in exasperation, and I smirk a little in response.

Jordan had stuck next to me once we rolled out of bed, not saying much as we took up the rear of the group before he offered me another protein bar, which I greedily accepted. I cram the first bite of chocolaty goodness into my mouth, my stomach still empty from the night before. The protein bar that I got from Jordan before bed only helped so much before my stomach was complaining again. I’m not watching where I’m going, and curse when I trip over my feet, almost falling into Jordan as we walk, earning myself another concerned glance.

“I’m fine,” I grumble when his green eyes flicker to my face again, and he arches a brow in response.

“Don’t take this the wrong way,” Jordan starts as I take a large bite of my chocolate chip protein bar, looking up at him with full cheeks. “But, why are you so unsure on your feet? My three-year-old brother doesn't fall as much as you have this morning. You shouldn't be falling like this…. Unless you’re injured. Crap, is that it? Are you hurt?” he whispers, his eyes flickering with worry when I shoot a glare at him.

I roll my shoulders back, ignoring the sharp pain in the one I injured last night, and shake my head. It's not like I can blame my clumsiness on a hurt shoulder. No, it’s most likely caused by exhaustion and stress.

“I’m fine, and I haven't fallen that much,” I defend myself, my cheeks heating when he rolls his eyes and grins, moving down the stairs in front of me. “And it’s been a long few days. Besides, I’m pretty sure I'm the one who saved your ass the other day,” I point out, making Jordan snort in amusement.

“Theo did that,” he counters, making me roll my eyes. I found out this morning while we were rushing to get ready that Jordan is younger than Theo, having turned eighteen only a week ago. Theo had come down to bring him up to the Castle for his trial training, and they happened upon the Demon on their way back up to Canada.

The Umbra Unit Theo was traveling with had been called over to Eastern Washington for a possible sighting of Demons and sent the untrained Ranger to collect Jordan, thinking he would be safer away from them. Little did they know the Demon was actually in Idaho, and the two Rangers had to fight it on their own.

“And we totally took down that Demon by ourselves. You just helped… you know, push it off me,” he mutters, and I scowl at him.

“I'm starting to regret that choice. Should have let it pancake you,” I say blandly, making Jordan grin and throw a charming smile over his shoulder. I spot a dimple on his left cheek, and I can’t help but smile back, knowing I’m in trouble. The guy is way too cute for his own good, almost like a lost puppy that you can't help but love even when it’s naughty.

“Nah, then you wouldn’t have any protein bars to eat. You would have to butter up Sabrina for some, and she hordes them like an angry dragon,” he whispers, nodding at the raven-haired girl striding through the door into the snow without a care in the world. She’s not particularly beautiful, but damn if she doesn’t have a commanding air about her.

Her shoulders are square, and her head is held high. The black onyx of her earrings glimmers from the glow cast by the fire, and the tiny braids in her ponytail swish as she walks with purpose. When I said hello to her this morning, she only looked me up and down and then walked away with no response.

I purse my lips as I watch her walk, wondering how I can appear as confident as she does, then shake my head. Yeah, I definitely don’t like the idea of asking her for help. She would probably look at me weirdly and then walk away, and I can’t say that I blame her.

Looking down at my sweats and old sneakers, I try not to blush. Everyone is dressed in these weird black outfits. Their shirts are loose-fitting, with what I can only describe as leather armor strapped to their shoulders and thighs. Sabrina even has a corset-looking piece strapped around her, making her boobs look phenomenal, and I sigh in annoyance.

Where is my bad-ass-looking outfit? If Lennox didn't want me sticking out like a sore thumb, he should have done something about it rather than instructing Billy to give me sweats.

“I don’t think she likes me,” I admit, watching Sabrina as she walks, and trying to mimic the girl, standing a little straighter as I walk, and Jordan chuckles.

“Sabrina doesn't like anyone. Well… besides Lennox,” he adds, and I frown, my eyes moving to the girl again, shivering when I get to the cabin door and snow blows through, pelting me in the face. “She's had her sights on being the fourth member of the Regalis Umbra Unit since year nine at the academy. Claiming that since she’s over fifty percent Regalis, she’s the perfect member for them,” he adds with a roll of his eyes.

“Wait.. how does that work? Aren’t we all Regalis?” I ask in confusion, my brows furrowing. Jordan nods as he fiddles with his belt.

“Yeah, but some of us more than others. It is rare to have more than thirty percent of a single bloodline. You can tell the ones that are more Regalis than the others. Green eyes are the most common feature, but the ones with more of the bloodline magic have darker coloring to their skin and hair.” I finger a piece of my ash blonde hair and frown, wondering how much Regalis magic I have. Obviously, not much since I have the palest coloring out of the ten of us.

“Jennings, Smith! Hurry your asses up!” Billy yells from outside, making Jordan curse, and hurry out of the cabin, listening to the command immediately. Grabbing the overly large jacket Jordan gave me as we left the Regalis bunkroom, I wrap the black leather around me, then throw myself out the door and into the blizzard outside. My sneakers sink into the wet snow, the water soaking into my socks in a matter of seconds as I slam the cabin door behind me and trudge after Jordan, cursing my damn lousy luck for getting dragged into whatever frigid hell this is.

* * *

“You’re late,” Lennox snaps as we file into a large room where he waits with Monroe and another man. There are a few other men standing in the corner who glance up when our group arrives but look away when they see who it is, obviously waiting for other people.

I try not to let my mouth drop open in awe as I walk into the large indoor training room, attempting to take in everything while keeping up with Jordan and the rest of our group. My eyes move from the big track that wraps around the room's perimeter to the exercise equipment and what I think might be boxing rings on the other side. And in the center, where Lennox stands, looking at us all with a scowl on his handsome brow, is a large mat with several white lines and areas marked on it.

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