Free Awakening by Ella Price Page A

cause.
    “Ok,”
she said as she set the laundry basket down. “Your uncle and Julian are in your
uncle’s office. They have been holed up making plans for a while.”
    “I’ll
drive,” Tanner said quickly.
    My
aunt nodded and looked at me one last time. “I am glad you are alive,” she said
softly.
    I
smiled slightly. “I am too.” I wasn’t about to tell her the truth. I loved my
aunt, but we were never that close. Tanner and my aunt left the room. I waited
by the window until I saw my aunt’s car leave the garage and disappear down the
driveway.
    I
was debating my plan of attack. If I went in guns blazing then a lot of people
would die. My uncle would probably end up dead as well. I told my aunt I wouldn’t
hurt him, so I had to come up with a solid plan. There was no chance Julian was
unarmed, even in the safety of the hunter’s compound.
    I
turned away from the window and cussed when Cornelius appeared in front of me.
“What are you doing?” he asked sounding slightly annoyed.
    “I
am going after Julian. You should get out of here,” I said impatiently as I
went to walk past him.
    He
caught my arm stopping me. “You have not proven that Julian or the hunters are
to blame for the attack on Drake. You are acting irrationally.”
    I
scoffed as I pulled out of his grasp. “Who else would do it?” I asked
impatiently.
    He
watched me for a minute, and I knew he didn’t have an answer. “I am not sure,
but I think we should be sure before we start handing out death sentences.” His
tone wasn’t light and playful like usual, it was serious. I was beginning to
think he really didn’t believe the hunters or Julian was responsible for the
attacks.
    “You
mean wait until someone else gets hurt, or killed?” I asked skeptically.
    “Lillian
everyone is on guard. Whoever it was would be stupid to strike again. I just
think we should all discuss this,” he said firmly.
    “What
changed? You were gathering everyone to come up with a plan to attack my uncle.
Now you are trying to keep him safe, which is it?” I asked starting to get
annoyed.
    He
watched me for a minute like he was debating what to tell me. “I have learned
some new information that indicates Julian was not responsible for harming
Drake.”
    “How
do you know that?” I asked angrily. I sounded a little harsher then I meant to,
but I was starting to get annoyed.
    He
sighed. “I can’t tell you. I have people who trust me, just like you have
people who trust you.”
    “You
expect me to go off your word?” I asked skeptically. I trusted Cornelius to a
degree. Sometimes I wasn’t sure if I should trust him like I did, but I did it
anyway.
    “You
don’t trust me?” he asked sounding slightly offended.
    I
opened my mouth to speak, then I closed it. Maybe I didn’t. If I attempted to
lie he would know. “It’s not that I don’t trust you…” I started, but he cut me
off.
    “I
am a lot of things Lillian, but I am not an idiot,” he said sharply.
    I
scowled. “Fine, I don’t trust you. I don’t know why you are working with my
uncle, and it bothers me. You want me to trust you, but you don’t tell me
anything, and you expect me to blindly follow you. I would be an idiot if I did
that.”
    He
stepped closer to me. “You would be an idiot if you go down there and kill
Julian. That is a sure way to start a war. Be the first to strike. Look like
the ruthless monster we are all accused of being.” He was gone before I could
reply.
    The
way he did that was annoying. I didn’t understand why he didn’t fight harder to
stop me. Now I was full of doubt. What if he was right? What if Julian and the
hunters weren’t to blame? Maybe someone wanted me to strike first and start the
war. I cussed in annoyance. I focused on my bedroom, and within seconds I was
there.
    Drake
was still lying in my bed. He still looked small and weak. His breathing was
steadier, and he wasn’t as pale; which was a good sign. I sat down on the bed
next to him.