To protect us? I gaped at him. Because all I heard today were rules limiting what we can do. I didnt hear anything about the pures having to submit to embarrassing exams or being told they couldnt even visit the main island.
You werent in the assembly when they laid down the new rules for the pures, were you? A bit of frustration began to seep through, furrowing his dark brows.
Well no, but I havent heard any pures bitching about anything.
Aiden took a deep breath. Then you havent been listening. They arent allowed to go anywhere unless theyre in groups. They cant leave the island unless theyre with a Guard or a Sentinel
Whoa. I laughed harshly. Those poor pures have to have babysitters? At least they dont need to get permission to leave. We dont even have that option.
Arent you grounded from doing anything anyway? And preventing the halfs from leaving the island is to keep them safe.
I clenched the dagger, squeezing it so hard I thought it would shatter. The new rules arent fair, Aiden. You have to see that. I know youre a pure, but you can drop the act around me. You dont have to say you agree with it because youre expected to.
This isnt an act, Alex. And this has nothing to do with me being a pure. I agree that drastic measures need to be taken. If the half-bloods have to sacrifice a couple of weeks of partying and jumping dorms to ensure
Sacrifice a couple of weeks of partying? Are you serious? Do you think thats why were upset?
Aiden stalked toward me. Youre upset because youre being irrational and stubborn. Youre letting your emotions rule your logic, Alex. If youd stop and think for five seconds, youd see that these rules need to be in place.
I jerked back a step, unable to remember the last time hed spoken to me like
that. An icky feeling started in my chest and spread.
So let me get this straight. My voice shook. You think its okay for them to restrict where we can go and what we can do? That they can search our rooms at any time? You think its acceptable for them to subject us to full body searches? And its just okay for them to launch a witch hunt the moment they think theres another daimon?
No ones starting a witch hunt, Alex! I agree that certain measures have to be taken, but I dont agree with
Anger pounded through my blood. I threw the practice blade to the floor. My gods, youre just another pure, Aiden! Youre no different than the rest of them. How irrational of me to think otherwise.
Aiden flinched as if Id hit him. Im no different than the rest? Do you hear yourself?
Whatever. Who cares, right? Im just a half-blood. I pushed past him before I did do something irrational, like cry in front of him. Turns out, I didnt make it very far. I kept forgetting how fast Aiden could move.
He blocked me, eyes flashing silver. How can you even say Im like the other pures? Answer me, Alex.
Because because you should know that those rules arent fair to us!
This isnt about the damn rules, Alex. Im like the other pures? He gave a low, sharp laugh. You really believe that?
But you think
Aiden grabbed my arm, pulling me right against his chest. The unexpected contact fried my brain. If I was like every other pure-blood, I would have had you by now, without even thinking about the consequences for you. Every day is a struggle not to be like them.
I stared up at him, shocked to hear him put it out there so bluntly. Wordsand I always had wordstotally escaped me. I would have had you by now. I was pretty sure I knew what he meant.
So dont tell me Im like other pures.
AidenIm
Forget it. He released me, a cool mask slipping onto his face. Practice is over.
Aiden left the room, and I stood there for several minutes. Id never really argued
with him before. Not like that. Sure, we disagreed on things all the timelike favorite TV shows. He liked the golden oldiesthe kind they showed in black and white. I hated them. Wed come close to knocking each other out over that, but wed never argued over who we were.
To add insult to injury, Guards were searching my room when I returned to the dorm. I dont know what they were looking for. Did I have a daimon hidden in my sock drawer, or evidence I was going to pounce on the next pure and suck up their aether stashed away with my undies? I stood bypowerless to stop themand when they were done my stuff was a mess. It took me a better part of the evening to clean my room.
After Id showered and slipped on my pajamas, I paced the room. I kept revisiting the lovely conversation Id had with Aiden, and my stomach did the twisting thing again. I needed to apologize, because Id been out of line. And to hear him say what he had? That if hed wanted to be like other pureshe would have had me?
So caught up in my thoughts, I banged the sensitive part of my elbow into the doorframe. I cursed and bent over, gasping. Standing there, with sharp pain shooting through my arm, I thought of Mom. About whether or not she really did look relieved the instant before she simply crumbled away. Had I seen the glimmer of relief in her eyes because Id wanted to see it? Because Id wanted to believe Id done the right thing by killing her?