Saven Disclosure (The Saven Series Book 2) by Siobhan Davis Read Free Book Online Page B

from my fingers, falling to the cushiony forest floor.
    Haydn stares at me as if I’m deranged. “Perhaps today wasn’t the best day to suggest this,” he says, retrieving the knife and pocketing it.
    “The thought of killing anyone is …” I can’t even articulate my thoughts.
    “Hey.” He tilts my chin up. “I know it’s not an easy step to take, and I know you don’t want to take a life. But what if someone is pointing a gun in your face or threatening someone you love? Threatening Logan? Don’t you want to know how to defend yourself and those you love in every way possible?”
    “I do,” I answer truthfully, “but I don’t know if I have it within me to do it.”
    He grasps my shoulders fiercely. “I know you can do this. You are stronger than you give yourself credit for.”
    His earnest look nearly kills me. Guilt consumes me. If only he knew the things I’ve been asked to do, the terrible secrets I’m hiding. I don’t think his assessment would stand up to scrutiny then, because in this moment I’ve never felt weaker in my entire life.

    I press my ear to the bathroom door and verify that Haydn is indeed taking a shower. Quick as lightning, I run to my room and dash out a quick D-pad message to Jarod asking him to pick up me up in an hour. I don’t give him any opportunity to refuse.
    I change back into my skintight jeans and soft pink sweater and slip my feet into my patent black ballet pumps. Removing some juice from the refrigerator, I start mentally compiling my explanation. Which is totally ridiculous, because I’m almost eighteen, and after that little run-in with Mom earlier, I’m now completely responsible for myself. So, needing an excuse to leave the apartment for a few hours is absurd. But the last thing I want is a pissed alien bodyguard trailing me today. Or a more pissed alien boyfriend worrying about me. I drain the last of my drink, and I’m at the sink washing my glass when Haydn materializes.
    “What do you want to do this afternoon?”
    I spin around and my jaw slackens. Haydn has traded his standard black tactile pants and shirt combo for jeans and a gray sweater. His clumpy black boots are missing, replaced with a pair of black sneakers. Understated looks good on him. Guilt punches another hole in my gut. He’s obviously making an extra effort on my behalf, because of what went down earlier, and I’m ditching him. Awesome.
    “Oh. You forgot?” I kick start the charade.
    He frowns. “Forgot what?”
    “Remember I told you that I was meeting Jarod for a late lunch today?” I plaster my best innocent look on my face, praying that the acting skills I gleaned during my short sojourn with the Thalassic City Drama Club are working in my favor.
    His brow furrows deeper as he scrubs a hand over his jaw. “No. You never mentioned that to me.”
    “I’m sure I did.” Okay, so now I’m starting to clutch at straws. “Anyway, whether you remember or not, that’s what I’m doing this afternoon. Jarod’s probably already waiting for me outside, so I better go.” I grab my black jacket off the back of the stool and stride toward the door.
    “Not so fast, Sadie. Let me get my jacket, and I’ll come with you.”
    Dammit. This is exactly what I was afraid of. I hate lying to him, but my sister’s life is at stake here. And nothing is more important to me than saving Ella. I manipulate my face into the required expression and turn to face him. “Haydn, I need to be alone with Jarod. No offense or anything, but he understands. He’s a star, like me, and his Mom abandoned him years ago. He gets it.”
    “And I don’t?” A muscle ticks in his jaw.
    Right now, I hate myself. Despise myself. But I do what’s necessary. “When it comes to this, yeah. I know you care, and I truly appreciate that you’re thinking of my needs, but I need some time away from this apartment.”
    “Or from me?” The muscle in his jaw ticks furiously now. I’m definitely pushing his