Restless (Element Preservers, #4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

his voice, glancing around like a scared rabbit. "Magic disease carriers will come out to ask for their rights."
    "Why do you think that?" I frowned, unsure what to think about Ethan. Was he one of those who hated carriers or who sympathized with them?
    "It's their chance to get what they want. That video you showed was very touching. People are quiet for now because they're waiting to see what the government will do next, but if carriers come out, some will side with them." His dark brown eyes flashed with an emotion I couldn't identify. Why was he so interested in the topic?
    "We'll see about that." I didn't want Ethan to know whose side I was on. While I was the one who had participated in exposing the tortures that carriers went through, no one could say for sure why that particular piece of info had been revealed. I could understand that some people believed the government and the EP had a hidden agenda, but I couldn't exactly reveal that the EP was mostly run by carriers now. "You still didn't answer my question. Who sent you?"
    Ethan sighed and ran his hand through his short dark brown hair. "Like I said, I really liked you, and I only wanted to talk to you, but now I see that was a mistake." He started to get up, but I caught his wrist.
    "Wait," I said, and he sat back down. "I'm sorry. I'm just... under a lot of pressure." I couldn't let him go without finding out the truth, so I had to take a different approach.
    "I won't talk about your job anymore then." His element pulled back and he smiled at me. "I read in the newspaper that you traveled a lot. Are there any places you'd like to visit when you get a chance?"
    "Sure." I wished I had read what the damn newspaper said. "Where would you like to go?"
    "Paris, I guess. Sounds romantic." His hand brushed against my leg under the table, making me jump. I scooted back, but Ethan pretended like nothing had happened.
    "Actually, it's not that romantic unless you go there with the right person." If Alan had sent this guy after me, then he picked the best actor of all. I was clueless about Ethan and his intentions. Maybe Adrian was right and Ethan only wanted to get me into his bed.
    "True." Ethan tilted his head as if a great idea occurred to him. "Isn't your nineteenth birthday coming up?"
    "Umm, yeah." My birthday was in two weeks, but I hoped it would go unnoticed.
    "Do you have any plans for the celebration?"
    "Maybe." The last thing I needed was to spend my birthday with this guy. I was hoping for an awesome party somewhere at one of Lily's secret compounds. Now that the whole world knew about me, I couldn't go to clubs. Besides, it wasn't safe for me to go anywhere near people with elements.
    "You're very mysterious, Ria Milanez." Ethan chuckled. "I like that."
    "Well, you seem to know an awful lot of things about me, but I know almost nothing about you." Why would he be the one to ask all the questions? Lily's techs had run a check on Ethan Marlau, but nothing suspicious popped up. He was one year younger than me, he was a good student, he was interested in history and anthropology, and he had two younger brothers.
    "What would you like to know?" He drummed his fingers on the table.
    "Do you have any hobbies?" At least that was something that wasn't written in Lily's record on him.
    "I like to paint." He lowered his eyes, suddenly shy.
    "Nice." I relaxed a bit. If he wanted to kill me, he'd have tried already. "I'd love to see some of your paintings."
    "I don't have any here with me, unfortunately. Our rooms are too small to keep paintings."
    Of course he couldn't bring his paintings with him to the university. That was exactly what I’d been hoping for. I had no desire to see any of his work.
    "But I do have my colors and brushes. I could paint a portrait of you if you wish." He gave me a devilish grin which made me wonder what kind of paintings we were talking about. Oh, God.
    "I don't think I'd have time to pose for hours." I hoped he wouldn't ask for a