Betrayed by Ednah Walters Read Free Book Online Page A

could be next.
    “Mrs. D, I want to help,” I said.
    “No, honey. You’ve done enough.” Her voice gentled as she continued. “Go back to school. We’l let you know what’s happening once we send off the let you know what’s happening once we send off the trainees.”
    “I can’t leave. I won’t be able to concentrate without knowing Bran is okay.”
    Mrs. D pursed her lips then waved toward the visitor’s lounge. “Then take a seat and stay out of the way.”
    “What is going on here?” A sharp voice asked from the doorway.
    Master Haziel. Maybe he could help. I turned to explain, but he wasn’t looking at me. He pinned poor Mrs. D with his sharp onyx eyes.
    “Get ready while we wait for the others,” he ordered and waved me over when she finished explaining.
    I blinked, not sure I heard right. “You want me to go too?”
    “Yes. You keep claiming that you are ready to hunt. Now is the time to prove it. Your friends wil need your help with the Lazari.”
    Mrs. D’s eyes narrowed at the trainer’s words. She and Leather Face glared at each other then she humphed and went to work with Celeste. I sighed with relief.
    Mrs. D and Haziel had never gotten along from day one. I didn’t know whether it was simply due to rivalry over who was the superior trainer or something more. Mrs. D had been my psi coach before Haziel arrived in the val ey while her boyfriend, daisensei Kenta, taught me martial arts.
    Mrs. D and Haziel’s methods of teaching were as different as night and day, yet neither ever openly criticized the other. At times, I’d catch her watching us while I trained with Haziel. Whenever she did, he’d push me beyond my limit. The few times she found me close to tears after a brutal session, she offered kind words, a hug or an encouraging smile.
    “Hurry up, Lil!” Haziel snapped.
    Racing out of the room, I headed along the east hal way. The weapons room was hidden down a short passage with no visible doors. I stopped and pressed my palms against the east wal . It dissolved with a gust of cold air to reveal a doorway. Stepping inside the room, I laughed and did a quick dance.
    I’m back…I’m back…I’m really, really back.
    The timing sucked, but I was once more a hunter.
    Yel ow fluorescent crystals il uminated the myriad of weapons—ninja stars and knives, gloves with retractable blades, bows and arrows, cross-bows, daggers and swords of different sizes, styles, and period. Taking up half a wal were replicas of the Kris Dagger, their signature wavy blades with ancient texts written in green glowing under the light.
    Hidden among them was the real Kris, the Guardian’s most powerful weapon. My dagger. It was impossible to tel it apart from the others and no one would dare steal it because it didn’t respond to anyone but me.
    A row of closets lined the back room—the Cardinals’ then the trainees’ section. Humming under my breath, I pushed open the door with my name and entered. Even the mundane task of pul ing on a pair of black pants, a matching tee, and a trench coat was exciting. I pul ed my hair back in a ponytail then reached for the calf-length boots. Last was the special black leather belt for the Kris. The ancient writings on the sheath glowed under the luminous light.
    Back in the main room, I raised my hand toward the wal with the daggers. Come.
    The Kris drifted from the wal and floated down to me. Lifting one side of my coat, I let the dagger slide into its sheath. I doubted that I’d need other weapons, but it never hurt to be prepared. A wave of my hand and a shurikens belt lifted from a hook and snaked around my waist. I added the ninja stars and pushed a couple of throwing knives into the special pockets inside my boots.
    The door opened with a gentle whoosh and in walked my friends.
    “Hey, little sis.” Izzy sashayed over to give me a hug. Her curly black hair was up in a high ponytail, her smooth, gorgeous chocolate brown skin glowing as she smiled. “Nice