Pure

“No!” screamed Kelia. “Stop this, Hector! Please!”

The pure reached Hector before he could send another lightning bolt. A horrified scream rose in my throat, muffled by Seth’s hand. The pure-blood Guard—the only one out of all them who could strike down another pure—shoved the titanium blade into Hector’s back and twisted. A sucking sound shot through the building and the ominous cloud fizzled out.

Seth jerked me from the railing. “You can’t scream, okay? I doubt they’re going to be thrilled if they find us here. Promise me you won’t scream.” He eased off after I nodded. “We need to get out of here.”

I barely heard Seth. Horror and anger slammed through my heart and my fingers dug into his arm. Kelia’s screams filled the air until they were abruptly cut off. All of this was impossible, cruel, and horrifying.

Seth gave a weary sigh “I guess it’s a good thing Aiden came to his senses.”

Ice drenched my veins, stealing the very air from my lungs. I twisted around, facing him. “You knew this was going to happen. You brought me here on purpose!”

The tawny hue of his eyes glowed. “I didn’t know it would go this far.”

“I don’t believe you.” I pushed against his chest, feeling sick. “You knew what they were going to do!”

Seth looked away, the hollow of his cheeks flushed. “I only know what Aiden’s future would’ve held if you two had continued with that insanity.”

I pushed again, and this time, Seth let go.

I spent the rest of my first day in New York holed up in the dingy room. I didn’t want to be here—or anywhere near here. Raw knots formed in my stomach, and I was furious with Seth.

But I was also furious with myself.

I plopped down on the edge of the hard mattress. I only know what Aiden’s future would’ve held if you two had continued with that insanity.

As much as I hated to admit it, Seth had been right.

Aiden was the kind of man who would’ve done exactly what Hector had done. If Aiden had loved me and I’d ended up in Kelia’s position, he would’ve fought an army of Guards and received a dagger in the back.

I lowered my head to my hands and drew in a strangled breath. My heart yearned for Aiden like he was the very air I needed to breathe, but at the same time I understood—really understood—that, even if Aiden had loved me in return, we could never be together.

What had he said to me that day in the gym? That if he loved me he’d take everything from me. What I’d seen proved that I’d also take everything from him—even his life.

A soft knock drew me out of my troubled thoughts. I crossed the two feet to the door and opened it.

Seth stood there, arms folded across his chest. “Alex—”

I shut the door and locked it. Seth may’ve been right, but I still didn’t want to see him. If I had to deal with his gloating face, I’d really punch him. I sat back on the bed and scowled at the door.

A minute passed, and then the knob turned, first left then right. Squinting, I leaned forward. There was the unmistakable sound of the door unlocking.

“What the hell?” I sprang to my feet.

The door swung open. Seth stepped into the little room. “I fried your lock.”

My mouth dropped open. “You arrogant son of—”

“Shush.” He shut the door behind him and surveyed the room with another disgusted look. “I still can’t believe they stuck you in this craphole. I’m going to have to talk to Lucian about this.”

“Why would Lucian care?”

He strode past me and bent at the waist, pressing his open palm into the mattress. “Lucian cares more about you than you realize.” He straightened and smiled. “You should come to my room. You’d like it.”

I rolled my eyes. “Not going to happen.”

Seth looked disappointed, and then his eyes fell on my skeevy bathroom. “I have a Jacuzzi tub in my bathroom.”

“Seriously?”

“Yep.”

The idea of a nice long bath teased me. I shook my head, dispelling the dream. “Seth, I really don’t want to talk to you right now.”

He dropped down on the bed and winced. “Well, we need to talk.”

I tipped my head back, groaning. “Does what I want ever matter to you?”

“What you want always matters to me.” His face was serious. “By the way, I liked the other jammies you wore that one night. The thermal and fla

My gaze narrowed on him. “It’s freezing in this room and this,” I marched over to the bed and tugged on the itchy blanket, “is not touching me. It probably has fleas.” I turned back to him. “What do you want, Seth?”

He cast his eyes down. “I’m sorry you had to see that today.”

That wasn’t what I expected.

“But you needed to see it,” he continued, his gaze flicking up, meeting mine. “I know you… love him. Don’t deny it, Alex, I know you do. And I know that no matter what Aiden says to you, he still cares for you more than he should.”

I opened my mouth to deny that, because Aiden had told me in many different ways that he didn’t, but I stopped. Did it matter if Aiden really did care for me? I whirled around and sat beside Seth, staring at the frayed carpet.

“I think you know that, Alex,” he said softly. “I’ve said it before. Eventually you two would’ve gotten caught. No one—not even me—would’ve been able to stop the Council. You know what Aiden would have done.”

“I know.” I rubbed my palm over my thigh. “He would have done exactly what Hector did. I just didn’t think they’d do that to their own kind.”

“This place is a different world. I’ve been here a couple of times. It’s straight Old School. It doesn’t take much to insult Minister Telly and he’s no fan of half-bloods… even the Apollyon.”

I lifted my head, looking at him. “What do you mean?”

Seth’s lips thi

“Is he going to be the one questioning me during my testimony?”

“I don’t know.” Seth smiled then. “He’s nothing to worry about.”

I really didn’t believe him, but I was too tired to poke further. “I hate this place.”

He leaned over, brushing my hair back off my neck, exposing my scars. “You’ve only been here a day, Alex.”

“I don’t need more than a day to know.” I turned my head, startled to find our faces mere inches apart. “Do… you like it here?”

Seth’s eyelids lowered, fa

I blinked tightly and turned away. I suddenly wanted to cry, because it was true. “I guess that fills you with some sick sense of satisfaction, doesn’t it?”

“I’m not a terrible person, Alex.”

His sharp tone brought me back to him. “I didn’t say you were a terrible person.”

Seth smiled tightly. “Then why would you think I’d like to see you hurt? And I know you’re hurting.”

Now I felt guilty. “Look, I’m sorry. I’m just out of it.”

He relaxed. “That’s the second time you’ve apologized to me. Wow.”

“It’ll be the last.”

“Maybe.” He scooted back, lying down on his side. He patted the tiny spot left. “This bed really sucks. You sure you don’t want an upgrade?”

I sighed. “Seth, you can’t stay here.”

He shrugged. “I don’t see why not.”

“My uncle is right next door.”

“So?” He patted the bed again. “He’s not even in his room. He’s downstairs with the rest of the pures. They’re having their opening party fest.”

“It doesn’t matter.” I climbed over his legs and sat beside him. “This bed sharing thing has to stop.”

Seth looked up at me, his face the picture of i

A retort died on my lips. Damn him.

“You haven’t had one in a while. What did I tell you about needing—?”