Page 40 of Resurrection
“April?” Andrei’s musical voice is like nails in my brain at the moment. “Are you okay, bella? What’s the matter?” His concerned face pops up in my line of sight, hiding the pretty colors.
“Get away from me.” Lashing out, I push him away, sending him flying into the wall next to the stairs. “Don’t you ever touch me again.”
Plaster and wallpaper rains down on him when he lifts up on all fours, shaking his head to clear it. Very slowly, those blue eyes lift to mine, sending fear pinging in my chest. Usually calm, and always ready to smile, Andrei doesn’t look like himself when his muscles bunch around his broad shoulders, coiled up to pounce in a split second if needed. Snarling, his fangs lengthen before my eyes, and to my horror, mine match it.
“Who are you running away from?” Cocking his head in an animalistic way, he is unnaturally still. His long fingers are splayed wide, holding his weight when he leans slightly forward, sweeping the lobby with his gaze. “Who got in the building?”
“No one.” Embarrassment burns my cheeks when I realize he is worried more about my safety than my crappy attitude towards him. Pushing off the floor, I sit cross-legged on the tiles. “I needed to clear my head. That apartment is driving me insane.”
“Sebastian.” Dropping down on his butt, Andrei tousles his hair, sending dust and plaster over his shoulders, and his black t-shirt stretching over his chest. “I should’ve known you’ll only run like that from him.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Affronted, I glare at him.
The jerk grins.
“Nothing, bella.” When my eyes narrow at him, he chuckles. “No one but him can ruffle your feathers like this. I should’ve known.”
After searching his face for long moments, I puff out a breath. “He wants to teach me control tonight.” Looking everywhere but at him, I still watch him from the corner of my eye.
Whistling low, Andrei shakes his head. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. I’ll go talk to him about it. You need a bit more time.”
“Time for what? To be a better monster?” When he glowers at me, I lift my chin up, sneering. “I’ll never be like the rest of you. Not now, not in a thousand years.”
The silence stretches between us, and I do my best to ignore his acute stare. What feels like an eternity passes before his lips start pulling up at the corners knowingly. I want to grab the splinters from the broken chairs that are scattered around me and stab him in the eye with one of them. Like reading my mind, he throws his head back and laughs, a deep belly laugh that makes me want to scream and punch something.
“No, bella. You’ll never be like the rest of us.”
Lifting himself up, he dusts his shoulders and pants off before walking to the elevator doors. I stare at his back until the doors open and he steps inside, facing me. Our eyes lock, and the intent focus I see on his face makes me want to run again and hide. Before I can do precisely that, he speaks.
“You were never meant to be like the rest of us, April. As a matter of fact, we were all hoping you wouldn’t be.” He winks at me with a cocky smile before the doors slide closed, hiding him from my ire.
With a scream, I pound my fists on the tiled floor in outrage.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
SEBASTIAN
“April seemed upset.” Andrei’s words proceed him through the door.
“That’s an understatement if I’ve ever heard one.” Not looking away from my task, I continue moving things around the living room.
“I can see why…” Drawling, he comes to stand next to me. “Is this really necessary?” After looking around the room, his gaze settles on my face.
“I wouldn’t waste my time if I thought otherwise.” Dismissing his meddling, I pick up one candle to move it further away from the cleared-out center.
“I keep telling him he needs to get his strength back before facing her on his own.” Marcus strides in, stopping next to us. “The woman is unpredictable.” At my glare, he shrugs a shoulder, unconcerned that he is within striking distance. “I barely got out with my head intact last night, thanks to Andrei.” Nodding at Andrei in gratitude, he looks at me unflinching. “You do what you want, I simply think I needed to warn you.”
“What news do you have?” If I don’t change the subject, I might strangle them both. “Or are both of you here to share your opinion on my life choices?”
“The Guardians found three humans trying to infiltrate our nest.” With a frustrated sigh, Andrei walks up to one of the sofas, throwing himself on it. “The Council either thinks we are idiots or fledglings.”
“I doubt they think we are idiots or fledglings, as you say. It’s more along the lines of the fact that we are too preoccupied with a certain new vampire that we won’t pay as close attention to a few mortals.” I point out the obvious. “The Council knows better than to underestimate us after they lost two of their own.”
“Let’s hope that’s the case.” Marcus sounds doubtful. “I sent two of my own humans in hopes to get a message across to our inside help. I haven’t heard from them yet, but I should be getting word any day now.”
Finally satisfied with everything being out of reach so April can’t use it against me, I walk up to the corner bar, pulling out the whiskey and three glasses. The tension in the room is palpable, setting my nerves on edge. Apart from the few inutile humans, the old bastards have been quiet. Too quiet for my liking.
“We cannot take action until April is ready.” Handing a glass to Marcus who has followed behind me, I fill up the second one. “With the rate we are going, she won’t be ready for a decade.”
