How could I explain it without giving away any secrets? “Helping people become better versions ofthemselves.”
He squeezed one of his eyes a little shut. “You were born to become asaint?”
“Saintly.”
“WellMamanhoped I’d be a cobbler, but I chosedifferently.”
I had a brief flash of Tristan shaping stiff hide into shoes but blinked it away. “In my case, there’s nothing I’d ratherdo.”
“Are your parentsmissionaries?”
“I suppose you could call themthat.”
“So they’re imposing their way of life onyou?”
“No.” I said this so quickly it made his slightly closed eye reopen. “It’s achoice.”
“Are you sure about that,Leigh?”
“Of course, I’msure.”
He made a sound like he wasn’tconvinced.
“What?”
“A choice is when you have more than one option. Do you have otheroptions?”
My other option was becoming mortal and useless. “I’m not interested in anotheroption.”
“Then it isn’t achoice.”
“Geez, you really are a pit bull,” Igrumbled.
He grinned, clearly proud even though I hadn’t meant it as acompliment.
“I’d love to explain my life to you, but I can’t. Besides, after today, we’ll never see each otheragain.”
“Never saynever.”
“Let me rephrase myself then. It istremendouslyunlikely that we’ll run into each other again because I’ll be leaving this city before the end of the day, and I won’t seek you or Jarod out to sayadieu.”
The corners of his mouth kicked up higher. “I’ve heard that speech a thousand times, and yet women find their way back to meallthetime.”
I rolled my eyes. “Bye,Tristan.”
I turned and started down the street. This time, he didn’t follow, but I sensed him watching me until I disappeared inside my world of quartz andfeathers.
Chapter 11
As I navigatedthrough the Atrium toward the dormitory section, I crossed paths with two early risers. I said hi. After cocking their eyebrows, they returned my greeting. I didn’t bother with introductions since I was about to pack up and leave. It dawned on me that before the day was out, I’d be another two feathers lighter.Ugh.
Pushing into my bedroom, I muttered, “Worst. Decision.Ever.”
“Whatis?”
I screeched a little. “Celeste? What are you doinghere?”
She folded a T-shirt, then rolled it up, and stashed it away inside a drawer. “Turns out, there are a lot of sinners in this town, and one of them needed somesaving.”
