Free Conspiracy Boy (Angel Academy) by Cecily White Page A

fulfillment of Gabriel’s prophecy. I’d like to remind you this is neither a hearing nor a disciplinary action. It is merely an attempt to find a solution to a growing problem in the Immortal and Guardian community. If everyone would please take their seats.”
    At the sound of my name, blood I didn’t know I had flooded my face. “Convening on the matter of what now?”
    “Sir?” Jack took a step toward me, igniting a snap of bond energy. He inched away before it could explode. “I thought this was a peace summit.”
    “Yes, that’s right.”
    “Then why is Amelie—Guardian Bennett—involved?”
    With a sharp scrape of chair legs on wood, a small Asian woman stood at the far end of the table, across from Henry. She couldn’t have been more than five feet tall—five-one on a good day. But as soon as she stood, her presence filled the room. Gray-black hair framed her wrinkled oval face, and her dark eyes sparked with a cavernous intensity that seemed to absorb light.
    Like a black hole. A gut-clenching, queasiness-inspiring, happiness-sucking black hole.
    “Good morning, Elder Akira.”
    “Guardian Bennett. Agent Smith-Hailey.” An icy shiver trickled down my spine as our High Elder bowed to my boyfriend. “Forgive me, it’s Guardian Smith-Hailey now, is it?”
    Jack nodded.
    “We were surprised to hear of the career shift,” she said. “We rather thought you enjoyed the Enforcement Guild.”
    “I’m needed here.”
    “I see,” she said, and her eyes flicked over me. “A disappointing circumstance. You could, of course, request reassignment. I’m quite certain the Enforcement Guild would welcome your return and grant you a more appropriate assignment.”
    My teeth made a grinding sound as I struggled to remain silent. It didn’t seem a huge reach to assume she was talking about me. Specifically about the Graymason issue that predicted I’d brutally murder Jack and trigger the downfall of a whole bloodline.
    At the mention of it, a hush stilled over the room, and I suddenly got the impression everyone was looking at me. Which might’ve had something to do with the fact that, you know, everyone was looking at me . Even Jack seemed uncomfortable.
    Before I could say anything, an albino guy in a red robe stood and put up his hand. Immortal Synod, I would guess, given the pallor and striking bone structure.
    “Intriguing as this is, I’m afraid the fledgling will need to wait outside. The rules are clear,” he said in a melodic yet clipped voice.
    “Correct, Lenaeus,” Akira agreed. “Children of Lucifer are not permitted in deliberations. Guardian Bennett, please take a seat in the hallway until a verdict has been reached.”
    “But—”
    “ Dismissed, ” she repeated.
    Then Akira nailed me with that dark, penetrating gaze. The air went cold, and my mouth didn’t work anymore. I don’t know if it was some evil mojo or just pure intimidation, but it sent hella-gnarly images through my head. All at once, the five-foot-nothing woman seemed about as harmless as a hormonal dragon.
    “I’ll stay with her, ma’am,” Jack offered, physically herding me toward the door.
    But Akira cut him off with a single finger twitch. “We require you here. Headmaster McFarland will send a faculty member to attend the girl.”
    The girl , huh? So I wasn’t even Guardian Bennett anymore? I was just the girl ?
    This was so ridiculously inappropriate, I had no words. I’d been killing demons on my own for over ten years. I had taken down hell beasts no one else would touch. I’d conducted dozens of stakeouts and spirit cleanses.
    This just sucked. In so many ways.
    Any other year, on the last days before Christmas break, Matt, Katie, and I would have been sitting around Lisa’s back patio, gabbing about our plans for the holidays. Then we’d head in for the annual holiday Tofurky while Matt and I stared at Lisa’s cat, Brutus, wondering if it was true everything tastes like chicken.
    Not anymore.
    Now,