Free Book One: The Girl (The Sanctum) by Madhuri Blaylock Page A

nonetheless.
    She was as talented as Wyatt and Ryker, and definitely more cold-blooded and deadlier than either boy, making their constant deification an even bigger thorn in her side. But she wasn’t here at five fifteen in the morning to rile herself up about petty slights and irritations. Jools was standing in front of Ryker’s door to do something she had never done before but something that felt suddenly necessary.
    “Hey.”
    Jools swung around in shock, not expecting anyone to see her outside Ryker’s room.
    “What’s up?” Wyatt asked.
    “Um...,” Jools paused, not really wanting to explain herself.
    “Jools?” Wyatt used that tone of voice she hated, speaking to her like she was a child.
    “Wyatt.” She retorted, using the same tone, knowing it would drive her brother nuts.
    But instead of engaging in his usual behavior and lecturing her about being places she wasn’t supposed to be, Wyatt slipped past her and started to unlock his suite. Apparently, she wasn’t the only person up to something this morning.
    “The better question,” Jools spoke to her brother’s back, “is what exactly are you doing, big brother?”
    “Nothing. I’m doing nothing, Jools.” Wyatt leaned his head against the door and sighed with exhaustion, “for once in your life just mind your own business.”
    Jools observed Wyatt’s tense neck and shoulders and a rawness in his voice she had never before heard. Her brother was always tightly wound, but this was something altogether different. This was beyond the stress of his training sessions or his duties as a warrior serving The Sanctum.
    “What’s wrong, Wyatt?”
    Wyatt took a deep breath, sensing Jools wasn’t going to let this chance encounter go by without comment. He plastered a smile on his face and turned around to face her, ready to tell whatever lie necessary to divert her attention from him and onto something else.
    “Nothing’s wrong. Why?”
    Jools studied Wyatt’s face again. One second he seemed brittle and tense, the next, he was smiling and relaxed.
    “I don’t know,” she continued staring at Wyatt, knowing he was hiding something but not sure what or why, “you just seemed so stressed.”
    “Nah, Jools. I’m good.” Wyatt smiled tiredly and then turned to head into his room, wanting only to hit his bed for a bit.
    “Really? You’re good?” Jools asked incredulously, not appreciating being lied to, her temper getting the better of her. “That’s why you’re wandering, god knows where in the middle of the night?”
    Wyatt turned around and shushed his sister.
    “Keep it down, Jools. Are you trying to wake up the entire hall?”
    “No, Wyatt. I’m trying to figure out what the hell is going on with you,” Jools hissed, doing her best to keep her voice down. “I catch you sneaking back into your room at five in the morning, looking like pure hell and then you lie to me, probably hoping to distract me from this very fact.”
    Wyatt didn’t have the energy for a battle this morning. He turned away from Jools for the last time, determined to meet his mattress for some much-needed rest.
    “Two Clayworths for the price of one,” Ryker’s voice caught the bickering siblings off-guard, “must be my lucky day.”
    The sarcasm in Ryker’s voice stung, but Jools didn’t let on.
    Ryker crossed his arms and leaned in his doorway, annoyed at being awoken so early on the one day of the week he could actually sleep in late.
    “What are you guys doing out here, yelling at each other no less, at five in the morning?”
    Wyatt knew an opportunity when he saw one.
    “Sorry, Ry. I heard her out here, standing outside your door and told her to keep it moving but this is Jools we’re talking about,” Wyatt trailed off, allowing Ryker to finish the thought however he chose.
    Wyatt then walked into his room, closed the door behind him and left Jools in the hall with her jaw on the ground, amazed her brother had just played her like that.
    “That