Page 36 of Marked Resistance

“Well, it would be if the purpose is to save their own skin by having Sarah admit she’s my sister.”

“Go on.”

“If Sarah admits to Command that she’s my sister, then that would explain why we’re not with them. We turned on them to save Sarah. But, if they bring them only Sarah’s decapitated head, she can’t testify against me dead. Which leads to questions from Command on what happened on the field. Then it becomes your words against theirs, and since you’re lead, their words may have no weight.”

“Good,” Xavier nodded. “Now what?”

“Why do you keep asking me? This isn’t the time for training!”

“You’re always training, Zee. The minute you think there’s nothing left for you to learn is the minute death overtakes you. Always learn. Always grow.”

I blew out a breath. Xavier made sense.

“Now what?” He echoed.

“If I’m constantly training, then I’m preparing to lose.”

Xavier cocked his head. “How’s that?”

I moved till we were within arm's distance of each other. “Because I don’t have all the intel I need to adequately plan. You’re still holding out on me, Xavier. What don’t they know?”

Xavier turned his back to me. “I haven’t been completely honest with you, Zee.”

“What?!”

Chapter sixteen

I cursed myself.

How could I be so stupid?

Right there in front of me stood a vampire, but also a man. A man I had an intense connection with. A man who had set me as the priority even when faced with other, better options. A man who’d respected my differing viewpoint and lifestyle. A man too perfect for me to be true. I fell for the classic blunder every woman from the beginning of time had fallen for.

How could I not have asked the question before I fell into bed with him?

“Are you married?”

Xavier’s shoulders slumped and he sighed, long and deep before he answered. “I was.”

“Was?”

“Yes. Was. Past tense.”

A slow smile built across my face. His back was still to me, so he didn’t see it. I tried to mask the desire in my voice, as I needed to know more. “What happened?”

“A rival vampire.”

“Oh.” That sucked. I hoped for something more definitive. Like she’d died a horrible death and never had the chance to return. I felt horrible for the thoughts in my mind but didn’t push them back.

“She was human,” Xavier continued. “He turned her, and joined her to the Elite.”

“I know how that feels. Losing the human life, you were trying to keep innocent.”

“I know you do.”

“What happened to him?”

Xavier didn’t answer me. He didn’t have to.

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