Page 112 of Saints & Sinners

What?

Every head turned to look at me.

Marnie slapped a hand over her mouth while Eden’s face lit up from the other side of the hall. But Joe... Joe was storming toward Nadael, his voice low as he leaned in and whispered something to her.

I looked at Hunter only to see he had gone pale. His hands curled into fists at his sides, his eyes darkening, refusing to even look in my direction.

Nadael cleared her throat and forced a brittle smile that Joe—not even Hunter—could fake. “Grace Martin, if you could please join the others.”

My legs moved, but they didn’t feel like mine. Each step forward felt heavy, like I was wading through water. The silence in the room pressed in from all sides, thick with judgment. Eyes followed my every move, and by the time I reached the others, I was nearly gasping for air.

I wanted to turn and run away but couldn’t as I climbed the steps to stand beside the others. I glanced toward Hunter, silently begging him to look at me.

But he didn’t.

My stomach clenched, and I forced my watery gaze on everyone else as Nadael’s voice rose again.

“Congratulations to all of you who have been chosen for the Ascension competition!”

Scattered applause followed, the noise feeling distant as everything blurred, and my legs trembled.

I couldn’t concentrate. I was barely hanging on by a thread as Nadael began to speak about what would proceed next. We would receive a letter through our dorms ranging from instructions to informing us of a time we had to appear for thecompetition. She did not specify when that would be; she just said to be prepared at all times.

I moved to step down the moment it was over, but Eden was suddenly in front of me, beaming. “Grace! I knew you could do it! Ascendant or not, the Council clearly saw potential.”

They didn’t at first, I wanted to say, but my eyes just scanned the hall for Hunter instead.

I barely mumbled a thank you before Joe was in front of me, his expression hard.

“You need to give up your spot,” he snapped.

I blinked. “What?”

“This competition isn’t for humans. The Council clearly weren’t thinking straight when they put you on that list.” He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I’ll have to speak with them—”

“If she was chosen, then that means she was worthy in the Council’s eyes,” Eden defended, and Joe’s glare sharpened.

I stepped between them, thankful that Eden saw enough potential in me to argue. But I didn’t want her to get in trouble with Joe—not when he was like this. “Isn’t this what you wanted?” I said to him. “To prove that a non-Ascendant could be one without the title?”

He didn’t answer.

This was more about Joe still wanting to protect me even after telling me he knew he couldn’t. He was afraid. He was always afraid for me.

Still, I pushed past him, knowing that I no longer wanted to hear it. Ever since coming here, it was always the excuse he’d give me.

What I needed to do was find Hunter.

I glanced around the hall, spotting as people swarmed around Marnie, congratulating her and other Ascendants. But when Marnie’s eyes found mine, the joy on her face faltered. Her brows knitted together in concern, and she tilted her head as ifsilently asking,are you okay?

I shook my head quickly, but I didn’t wait to see her reaction as I turned on my heel, and my legs moved before my mind could catch up, half walking, half running toward the exit.

The cool air of the hallway hit me as I came out through the doors. I paused for a split second at the threshold, my heart pulsing against my chest as I scanned the corridor.

I took a left.

It wasn’t a decision so much as a pull, an instinct deep in my chest guiding me forward. My heels clattered loudly against the marble floor, and I didn’t care. I didn’t even care when the sharp stone walls scraped against the delicate fabric of my dress, snagging and ripping at the threads. I didn’t care that the noise of the ballroom faded behind me, and I was swallowed by the cold silence of empty hallways and an even emptier canteen.

Call it intuition, but I knew if Hunter had gone anywhere, it wouldn’t be back to his dorm or the training grounds, and especially not anywhere crowded.

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