Free Broken Wings (Cruel and Beautiful World, Book One 1) by L. Stoddard Hancock Page B

oversized bite but there was no time to swallow.
    He relocked the door, turned and looked a bit surprised to see her standing there with chipmunk cheeks. "What are you doing?"
    Deryn shrugged, thankful that he didn't pay her large cheeks any mind.
    "You're fucking weird, you know that?"
    Xander walked past her to his room, his eyes slightly shifting to look at the blue box on the counter. She could swear she saw a faint smile when he noticed it was empty.
    As soon as he was gone, she tried to finish chewing, but he was back not even ten seconds later with a pack of cigarettes in hand. He headed for the balcony and, when his back was turned, she tried to chew again.
    When Xander reached the door he paused, noticing it was open a crack. "Were you out here, Leon?" he asked, turning back around.
    Deryn shook her head.
    "Are you sure?"
    She nodded.
    Xander stared at her curiously. "Say something."
    She said nothing.
    "Did you hear me talking to Bronson and Quigley downstairs?"
    She shook her head again.
    "Are you lying?"
    Another shake.
    Xander took several steps towards her. "What's that you have in your mouth?"
    Her eyes widened.
    "Is it the cupcake?"
    Giving in, Deryn gulped, almost choking on her bite.
    Xander grunted. "Just swallow the fucking thing, will you?"
    She did. "Sorry, I -"
    "Not necessary," he said, walking back to the balcony. "But, if you're going to go outside, you better be damn careful." He shut the door behind him.
    Deryn remained in the kitchen for a few moments before clutching her blanket tighter around her shoulders and following him outside. She crawled again, making sure to stay low as she settled herself in the same spot, giving her the perfect view of Xander smoking a cigarette in an old chair.
    They sat there in silence, both of them gazing out at the street, Deryn through a crack in the stone barrier. While watching what looked like a cat running across the deserted street, she accidentally let the blanket slip off of her shoulder.
    "How's that sweater working out for you?" asked Xander, eyeing it with a smile.
    Deryn fixed the blanket. "Yeah, it's ... it's really quite comfortable," she answered honestly. Then she sighed. "Look, Ruby, I don't want you to think I'm not grateful, because I am. This is the most at ease I've felt in -"
    "Five years?" Xander cocked an eyebrow.
    "And one day," said Deryn with a dim smile. "But you have to understand why I'm hesitant about you. Since the day I was taken prisoner, I haven't been around one person I can trust. And you ... well, I know you're already aware of this, but we have a history."
    "Yes, we do," he said, taking a drag of his cigarette. "And I'm sure my profession doesn't help."
    "It really doesn't," she said. "And, it's just ... I find it odd that, in all this time, I never saw you. Not once. I saw every other Guardian there is but never you. Why?"
    Xander sighed and glanced sideways at her. "I almost always knew where you were, Leon. And I made a point to never be there."
    "You kept track of me?"
    Xander nodded.
    "So you could avoid me?"
    He nodded again. "I've heard stories about you over the years, and I had no interest in seeing you like that. The way you looked just yesterday, I never wanted to witness that."
    "Why?"
    "Guilt," he said slowly. "For some reason I have it when it comes to you."
    "Gee, I wonder why?"
    Xander glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "Before you go jumping to conclusions, I'm not sorry I didn't try and attack Elvira once she and my father had you in their clutches. If I had then I would be dead, and you would be one step closer to execution."
    "That's not -"
    "You're lucky I was there last night. You were mere moments away from getting caught and you know it."
    Deryn took a deep and agitated breath. Her damn pride was really getting a beating. "Fine. I admit it. You saved me last night."
    "About time," he said, looking amused.
    "Well, if that's not the reason you have guilt when it comes to me, then what is?"
    Xander