Bryan threw up his hands, nodding at me. “We were just trying to catch you, but it didn’t work.”
I lifted my hands, too. “Yeah, too bad. We lose.” Admitting defeat was about right after what happened up there.
“Okay, I get it.” Tony’s head bobbed back and forth between us with a gleam in his eyes like he knew the truth. What, did my bright red lips give it away? “You don’t want to pay for the subway, but I say you still have to buy that water and throw it—”
“You mean toss it gently.” Brooke stared him down. “It’s not a baseball game. No one needs to get injured.”
He turned toward her. “Fine, toss it to the bagpipe guy.”
“Deal.” Bryan pumped Tony’s hand, nodding his all-knowing nod. “Now let’s go find some bottled water.”
“Meet you in the lobby.” Brooke grabbed Laura’s arm and walked off with Lenny. She turned, tossing her head long enough to wink at me. Great, now my cheeks burned bright. That girl was good, not to mention subtle.
Bryan led me down a dimly lit hall to a bank of vending machines set back into an alcove. Only the machines gave off any light, almost mood lighting.
He glanced around before he opened his mouth. “Listen, I’m sorry about what happened back there.”
I banged my head back against the Pepsi machine. Anything not to look him in the eye right now. “I’m not sorry. If anyone has to know what I’m going through, I’m glad it’s you. As long as you don’t think I’m crazy.”
Those eyes locked on me, covered in shadows. Machines buzzed, but he didn’t say a word. Anger welled up inside me, balled up my fists.
“You know what? I don’t care if you do, at least it’s out there now.” I couldn’t read his expression in the dark, and it drove me nuts.
“Of course you’re not crazy.” He reached across me to feed a dollar bill into the machine, trapping me against it. When he pressed the water button, his hand grazed my cheek. I searched for something in his eyes, hoping they’d tell me what he was thinking. They flickered and suddenly his hand moved behind my head as his lips melted into mine again.
All of my inner turmoil melted away, and I wrapped my hands around his neck. His arms encircled me, pressing me up against the vending machine. He tasted sweet and minty, his lips soft, his breath hot on my cheeks.
Then he inhaled deeply and pulled away. I rested my hand on his chest. “What did you see?”
He exhaled a low whistle. “You were right about the Noah vision. That was definitely him. Because it was meant for you, that makes this so much more complicated. It looks like your gifts have come early.”
“What?” I reached for his hand, but he stepped back. Cold air filled the gap between us. “I don’t understand.”
“I should’ve figured this out sooner, with the ring and the other strange things.” He wouldn’t meet my eyes. “I wish I could explain it all now. As a Guardian, I’m just a protector. My job is to stop people from being duped by Nexis. But your destiny is so much bigger than mine. If you were only the predecessor to the Seer or a gifted firstborn, we might’ve stood a chance. Now that I know who you are for sure, I can’t risk being a distraction to you. The world would suffer for my selfishness.”
“Me?” My hand flew to my chest. “Who am I? I’m nobody.”
“No. Don’t ever say that.” He pressed his palms on either side of my face, forcing me to look at him. I wanted to look anywhere else, but he waited till my eyes settled on his. “You are the one. You’re the Seer, and a full two years before the prophecy. Your destiny is to stop Nexis and save the world, and that’s the only thing that matters right now. Even if it means we can’t be together.”
“I don’t understand. I can’t save anyone, not even myself. I wouldn’t know where to start.” Tears percolated in my eyelids. How could this be true? “It doesn’t make any sense. I should be able to date whoever I want.”
“If the Watchers know who you are, then Nexis will find out soon enough. When they do, and they figure out you’re dating a Guardian leader, they could lash out. Even call for war.” His expression shifted, his lips set in a line of stone.
“That can’t be true. War?” Now that I wanted someone in my life, I couldn’t have him? More importantly, was I really destined to stop some crazy secret societies all by myself? Not to mention war, or at least rumors of war. It didn’t make any sense. “If that is being the Seer, I don’t want any part of it.”
“But you are the Seer, and you have to remain neutral. For now.” He rubbed my temples with his thumbs, as if that would help. “You see, if the Seer joins one side, any side, the others immediately declares war.”
“For now? What do you mean, for now?” I stared at him, willing him to make eye contact.
He stared down at me, holding his gaze steady. “Unfortunately, war is imminent. The Guardians in Europe are close to declaring war against Nexis. It’s the most active of the four sectors of the three societies, where spies from all sides are actively trying to steal sacred stones. If war breaks out in Europe, America will follow. I’m guessing that why your gifts emerged before your eighteenth birthday—because the world needs the Seer. It’s unprecedented, though.”
“Oh.” The word tasted pathetic on my tongue. “There are Guardians in Europe? Is that where my brother is?”
“I think so, but I’m still trying to find out for sure.” He combed his fingers into my hair, halting as they bumped
