Entangled (Guardian Academy Book 2) by Jessica Sorensen Read Free Book Online Page B

trees.
    Everything seems so quiet now.
    “Alana?” my mom’s voice fills the line.
    “Oh, sorry.” I sink down onto a step, prop my elbow on my knee, and rest my chin in my hand. Hearing her voice brings an instant comfort to me, and the tension in my body mildly reduces. “I thought you were Jax.”
    “Oh … Do you talk to him a lot?” Her tone is mixed with concern and curiosity. I can already see where her thoughts are heading.
    “Kind of, but only because he’s training me. And that’s the only reason.”
    “Okay.” She doesn’t sound too convinced. “But if you ever want to talk to me about anything, even a guy you like or maybe you’re dating, you can talk to me.”
    “Thanks, but I don’t like anyone at the moment, and I am definitely not dating anyone.” Especially since no one at this school can stand the sight of me.
    Ever since my grandpa died and was accused of horrible things, no one wants to associate with me. I’ve gotten into multiple fights and gotten detention for fighting, even though I never started the fights and was only trying to defend myself.
    “Is everything okay, sweetie?” my mom asks. “You sound upset.”
    “I’m fine.” I’m not about to tell her the truth about what’s going on. She’s been through too much over the last week. “I’m just tired.”
    “You should get some more rest, then. I’m actually surprised you answered the phone. You usually don’t get up this early.”
    “Jax and I got called in to a case, or else I would be in bed.”
    “A case? Wow. I didn’t know they let first years do that.”
    “They usually don’t, but Jax wanted to take me with him this time. I guess he thought it’d be a good learning experience.” Another lie, but the last thing I want to do is bring her into this mess. The more in the dark she is, the better.
    “Well, good. I hope you’re having fun or at least aren’t as upset as you were when you first got your mark.” Worry creeps into her tone. “I just hope you aren’t overworking yourself.”
    “I’m not. I promise.” I rise to my feet as I spot Jax’s blue and black striped 1967 Pontiac GTO turning into the driveway. “Hey, Mom, I have to go. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
    “Okay, sweetie. I just wanted to call and make sure you were okay,” she says. “And to let you know that, if you ever need to talk, I’m here.”
    I pause mid-step. “Is everything okay with you? You sound—I don’t know—worried.”
    “I’m fine,” she insists. “There’s just a lot going on with this whole water fey ordeal. I swear to God, faeries can be such a pain in the ass sometimes.”
    “Yeah, I know.” Dammit, I wish I could tell her about last night! “Maybe after you and Dad save the world this time, you should take a vacation.”
    “Yeah, that sounds nice,” she agrees. “Maybe one on the beach out on some remote island.”
    “You two definitely deserve it.” I trot down the rest of the steps as Jax parks at the curb in front of the stairway. “Okay, I’ve really got to go this time. I’ll call you later.”
    “Okay,” she says. “I love you. And Dad says he loves you, too.”
    “Tell him I love him, too.” I reach for the car door handle. “Love you, Mom. Bye.”
    When she says good-bye back, I cast one final glance at the seemingly peaceful forest before climbing into the car. The smell of coffee, cologne, and vanilla air fresher instantly graces my nostrils.
    “I didn’t peg you for being a late kind of guy,” I joke as I fasten my seatbelt and settle back in the leather seat.
    He has changed into another black T-shirt and matching combat boots, and his hair is styled messily. He seems irritated, too—well, more irritated than normal.
    “I had a couple of errands to run that took longer than I expected.” He shifts into drive, pulls out onto the highway that weaves through the woodsy mountains, and then nods at two thermoses in the open middle console. “I brought you