Read Online Phoenix by Elizabeth Richards - Free Book Online Page B

“You did everything you could.”
    Sebastian smirks as he walks over to us. I can’t believe I ever kissed those toxic
     lips. He fixes his gaze on Ash.
    “So you voted no?” Sebastian shakes his head. “I honestly thought you cared for Natalie
     more than that. Guess I was wrong.”
    What does Sebastian mean?
    Ash takes a protective step toward me. “If you touch her, I’ll—”
    “What?” Sebastian quirks a brow.
    Ash doesn’t say anything.
    “I didn’t think so,” Sebastian says, then turns to me. “Just know it could have been
     prevented.”
    I watch Sebastian walk away, my head spinning.
    “What was that all about, bro?” Beetle asks.
    Ash shoots me a worried look, and my stomach knots as it dawns on me why he’s been
     acting so weird lately.
    “They got to you, didn’t they?” I say to him.
    Ash rubs the back of his neck.
    Beetle’s mouth hangs open. “Mate?”
    “Rose told me if I didn’t vote in favor of his law, he’d . . .” Ash looks at me. His
     black eyes are filled with shame.
    My heart cramps. He doesn’t need to say it.
    “Natalie, I’m so sorry,” he says in a rush. “What could I do? So many people were
     relying on me; I had to do it. I—”
    I gently kiss him. “It’s okay, I understand.”
    My life isn’t worth more than millions of others. If the roles were reversed, I would’ve
     done the same thing. It’s a testament to how much he loves me that he even considered
     voting in favor of Rose’s Law to protect me.
    “Why didn’t you tell me what was going on?” I say gently. “I would’ve told you to
     vote no. I’m not afraid of Purian Rose.” That last bit is a lie, but I don’t want
     Ash to know how scared I am right now. What does Rose have planned for me?
    Ash pulls me toward him, holding me tight. “I won’t let him hurt you. I’ll die before
     I allow that to happen.”
    I look over his shoulder at the three crosses near the Boundary Wall. I don’t doubt
     his words. I know he’d die to save me—he’s done it before.
    The rest of our families join us.
    “We should go home before it gets dark,” Sumrina says.
    Beetle and Roach head to the Legion to discuss defensive strategies with Sigur, while
     Amy glumly helps Juno and Stuart pack up the equipment on stage.
    Ash glances toward the Boundary Wall.
    “You should go with Beetle,” I say.
    “I don’t want to leave you,” he says. “Will you come with me? It’ll be safer for you
     there.”
    “If the Sentry wants me, they’ll get me no matter where I am,” I say. “Besides, I
     want to check on Polly and make sure she’s all right.”
    If my sister is having one of her bad days, like Day said she was, then she needs
     me.
    Ash flicks another look at the ghetto.
    “It’s okay. Go,” I say. “I know there’s going to be a lot of business to discuss.”
    “Roach can deal with it,” he says. “I’m not leaving your side.”
    I smile, secretly grateful he’s staying with me.
    The town square is almost entirely deserted, since the majority of people hurried
     home when it was clear the vote wasn’t going in our favor. All around the city, doors
     have been locked and shutters closed as people wait for the Sentry government’s retaliation
     for our public defiance of Purian Rose.
    The streets are swarming with Sentry guards, and I doubt they’ll leave again. They’re
     setting up roadblocks, which is alarming. They obviously don’t want people to leave
     the city. What do they have planned for us? Ash keeps me close to him, while Harold
     and Michael flank us as we hurry back to the Rise, sticking to the back alleys to
     avoid the guards. Even so, I keep glancing nervously about me, worried one of Purian
     Rose’s men will appear out of the shadows and snatch me.
    My heart races when something to my right catches my eye—a flash of a golden-brown
     tail disappearing over the rooftop.
A cat.
I really am getting spooked. The sooner I’m home, the better.
    The Rise is