"Look at the top. That's not the start of a conversation, no introductions, just right to gabbing about Zenith, Meridian, the Book of Wisdom and me."
"Oh." Jax replied quietly as the words sunk in, he peered at Eliana, face ashen. "Why didn't you tell us, Eli?"
"She asked me not to tell Xaiden, and I didn't want to put you in a tough spot either Jaxon." Eliana replied pleadingly, locking eyes with Jax as she spoke. She looked away at his somber expression and added. "Or you either, Ewen. It wasn't like I was trying to hurt you guys, I just wanted to find out as much as I could before she got spooked again!"
"So just because this stranger on the radio asked you to keep this from me, you did?" Xaiden asked angrily. "We're supposed to be friends, or at the very least, a team! It's not like she'd know if you told me or not. We're supposed to be doing this together!" Xaiden ranted, then continued resignedly. "I can't believe I included you in all this, I knew I shouldn't have trusted you."
Eliana's eyes watered. "Look, I know you're upset, and I know you won't believe me, but I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to be hurt either." She sighed, "I read your transcripts and I know you really tried with her, but she really didn't want to talk to you anymore, and she wouldn't talk to me either unless I promised not to tell you. I figured I could get as much information as I could and then I could tell you guys what I found out!"
"And how were you going to explain all this additional information? More lies?" Xaiden replied. "Plus, it's just a dumb book making my family out to be monsters, sure we had fun in the beginning trying to find out more about it, but that's old news by now. I don't care about the book or even the fact that you were talking to Nivra, who seems to believe I'm trying to destroy her 'planet', by the way! It's about the fact that you went behind our backs on purpose." Xaiden spat out, his heart pounding in his ears. As expected, an alert popped up to take some deep breaths, so after one steadying inhale, he continued. "You know what? I'm just done. I'm going home. See you guys if I see you."
"Xai, what? Calm down for a second before you say something you don't mean." Jax said calmingly, placing a hand on Xaiden's shoulder. "I get why you're upset, I am too, but let's just give it a minute so try to cool off."
Xaiden shrugged his hand off, and replied evenly. "I am calm, I just can't be out here risking my life with someone I can't trust." He tilted his head towards Eliana who had started sobbing. "This was all a mistake, a big one."