The Guardians (The Highest Order, Book One)

CHAPTER 7

The rest of the walk was silent. That doesn't mean I was fully aware of his presence lingering behind me, no, his presence is doing things to my stomach that I can't bring to understand much less explain.

The sun had set, and the sky was darkened, there was something magical about the woods at night. The image brought flashbacks from my dream which would no doubt have me waking up as soon as I closed my eyes. The thought of bed had me almost audible moaning. My legs were aching, all I needed right now was a steaming shower and a nice warm bed. The breeze had picked up on our unnecessarily long journey out of the woods.

Our houses came into view with a pacing Maia standing in front of my seemingly empty house. Surely, mom should be back right now. I didn't know the exact time but she's i don't know any PA who worked after dark in the summer.

'Where the hell have you both been? I've been worried sick.' I looked at her confused, she'd been gone all day, how did she even know I left the house? 'You better not have hurt her, Kaleb' Her voice is threatening and I'm left even more confused. Hurt me?

'Andddd ya lost me' I walk around the pair, who seem to be having some sort of unspoken battle between them.

'She's all in one piece, sis' They both follow behind me, 'Thanks to me'

I turn as I reach my front door, 'Thanks to you? If it wasn't for you i wouldn't have had to knee that asshole in the balls'

'Yeah, you're right, you wouldn't have gotten the chance, princess' He scowls at me, 'if any of them had caught you eavesdropping on them, your wildest imagination couldn't comprehend what he'd have done to you'

I scoff at him, turning to open my front door, 'Screw you, Kaleb, I'm more than capable of holding my own against a guy like him'

'Oh I've got no doubt you actually believe that' He laughs but there was no humour in it.

'You're unbelievable'

'You've got no idea princess'

'Would you quit it with the pet names?'I turn as I walk into the living room, stepping closer to his frame.

'Why don't you make me, princess?' He puts extra emphasis on the nickname.

Not giving me the chance to respond, Maia stood between us, putting a hand on both of our shoulders as an attempt to separate us, 'Okay, time out' She starts, ''he' who?'

'Donovan Sanderson.' Kaleb crosses his arms over his chest once again, eyeing me accusingly.

'You kneed Donovan Sanderson in the balls?' She asked with a snort until it clicked, 'You kneed Donovan Sanderson in the balls?' She presses more urgently, almost panicked.

I looked at the two as if they'd grown a second head, 'What's the big deal, he went down without a fuss?'

'Faith...' Maia starts, 'the sanderson are pretty important around these parts of town, like really important'

'How important are we talking?' I quiz with furrowed brows.

'Nobody messes with DOnovan and gets away with it. He can make people disappear and the cops don't bat an eye at him' Her eyes bore into mine, 'that kind of important'

'Ugh, guys, I've been going to private schools in Miami for as long as I can remember,' I purse my lips, 'that kinda means, you're probably the only two people I know who aren't like that, ya get me?'

'Faith, you're not getting it' Maia says, almost panicked, 'Donovan is dangerous'

'Great.' I say nonchalantly, 'at least I can count on this year not being boring' I shrug with a sarcastic smile.