Messenger (Guardian Trilogy Prequel 1) by Laury Falter

pace and my hand on the back of my neck stopped its shaking.
    “Better?” Eran asked, his entire focus seemingly on me.
    I smiled, grimly.
    His hand dropped from my stomach.
    “You should go back,” he insisted.
    I noticed how he mentioned only me…
    In response I furiously shook my head and he sighed irritably.
    The guard, who had been watching my episode with lip curled in disgust, interrupted then. “Get on now. Go before I force you back out the wall. I don’t want her leaving anything behind,” he added, the repugnant expression never departing his face.
    We started in the direction of our destination, slower now.
    “How…,” I said and paused to shove back the fear still clawing at me from the inside. “How did you know that breathing would help me?”
    “I’ve seen men twice your size go through what you just did, and I’ve seen it often. Breathing from the stomach tells the nerves in this body…in your body that there’s nothing to fear.”
    “Thank you,” I said, humbly.
    He kept his head up and eyes alert as he replied. “You’re welcome.”
    He surveyed the house we were now passing with remarkable vigilance, in only the way someone who had been in similar situations knew how, and a sense of peace washed over me. This home was again within a densely populated, walled city. There were plenty of places to hide, yet Eran’s diligence made me feel protected, as much as I opposed it.
    When we reached the home we had come for, Eran placed a palm on the door, blocking me from knocking.
    “Remember, breathe… It might be the only way to get you through the night.” His lips turned down in a frown before he muttered to himself, “Since you seem to insist on going through it.”
    Before I could argue my reasoning, he swung open the door and entered without waiting for the hosts to greet us.
    This shook everyone in the packed room, including the three with blindingly white hair, which I instinctively knew was Eran’s intention.
    As I saw them, the panic did rush back to its most intense level, but as I took a deep breath Eran’s hand came to my lower back and instantly calmed me. He escorted me to the only vacant chair and slid it back in the direction of the door before allowing me to sit in it. From then on, he stood at my right side. I couldn’t see his eyes as the guests began filing toward me, but I knew they were pinned on the three who caused me so much terror.
    As I took messages from each guest, the crowd circulated back to their spots along the wall until only the three were left. They hesitated, eyeing me with suspicion. The girl was wringing her hands; one boy was twitching his shoulders, the other was flexing his neck. All of them appeared to be in pain.
    An uneasy standoff commenced with Eran and me watching them as warily as they were us. It lasted several tense seconds, long enough for others in the room to begin to notice. Before it could go any farther, Eran drew in a breath, apparently to end the evening but one of them found the courage to step forward.
    She looped a strand of her bright hair behind a delicately small ear and then tucked both quivering hands under her armpits before moving to stand before me, outside arm’s reach.
    “I didn’t think this was a good idea,” she began stiffly. “My brothers insisted on coming. They are…inquisitive. They’re the ones who heard about the other messenger and thought it would be entertaining to meet her.” She narrowed her eyes at me before commenting with an eerily flat tone, “We no longer find it entertaining. If it was up to me, I’d end this pain right now.” At her veiled threat, Eran’s hand slipped inside his cloak. He didn’t withdraw it but waited with alert patience to see what she would do next.
    “What’s your name?” I asked.
    My question seemed to startle Eran, who I’m guessing didn’t think an amicable conversation was the best approach at this moment.
    “I am Kaila. The tall one,” she said