Im okay.
Aiden placed his hand on my shoulder. Alex?
My heart thundered in response to his touch. Im fine.
You keep saying that. His gaze flickered across my face. You always say that.
I say it because there isnt anything wrong with me! I swatted at his hand, but he dropped his other one on my shoulder, effectively trapping me in front of him. Theres nothing wrong with me, I said again, but much quieter. Im okay. Completely a hundred percent fine with everything.
Aiden opened his mouth, probably to say something ridiculously supportive, but he didnt say anything. He just stared at me and then his grip on my shoulders tightened. He knew I was lying.
Everything wasnt fine.
Nightmares of those horrifying hours in Gatlinburg kept me up at night. Nearly everyone at school hated me, believing Id been the reason for the daimon attack at Lake Lure during the summer. Seths constant stalking only added to their suspicions. Out of all the halfs, only Caleb knew I was fated to be the second Apollyonand fated to complete Seth as his supernatural supercharger or something. His continuing attentions didnt win me any fans among the female halfs. All the girls wanted Seth, while I just wanted to be rid of him.
But when Aiden looked at me like he did now, I forgot about the world. I couldnt read much of anything from Aidens expression, but his eyes well, his eyes told me he wasnt doing so great with the whole pretending-we-hadnt-almost-hooked-up charade. Aiden still thought about it; hell, he was thinking about it right now. Maybe he imagined what wouldve happened if Leon hadnt interruptedmaybe even as much as I did. Maybe hed lie awake and remember how our bodies had felt together.
I know I did.
The tension racked up several degrees and my body warmed deliciously. These were the kind of moments I lived for. I wondered what hed do if I stepped forward and closed the distance between us. It wouldnt take much for me to do it. Would he think I just wanted comfort? Because he would comfort mehe was that kind of guy. And then, if I tipped my head back, would he kiss me? Because he looked like he wanted to do both. Hold me, kiss me, and do all sorts of wonderful, forbidden things.
I stepped forward.
His hands jerked against my shoulders, indecision crawled over his features. For a secondjust as secondI think he seriously considered it. Then his hands flattened, like a barrier
meant to keep me back.
The doors opened behind us, and Aiden dropped his hands. I twisted around, wanting to punch whoever it was in the face. Id come this close to getting what Id wanted.
Leons bulky mass filled the door, dressed in his typical, all-black Sentinel garb. Im sorry to interrupt, but this cannot wait.
Leon always had something important to tell Aiden. The last time hed interrupted us had been two seconds after Id given Aiden the green light to go all the way.
Leon had the worst timing ever.
Of course, the last time hed interrupted, things had been pretty serious. Theyd found Kain alive. Once a half-blood Sentinel, Kain had helped Aiden train me. A weekend trip to nearby Lake Lure had proved fatal for everyone involved. Hed survived the daimon attack but had come back to the Covenant as something wed thought was impossiblea half-blood daimon.
Now Kain was dead, and Id seen it happen. Id liked and missed Kain, even after hed killed a bunch of pures and knocked me around the room. That hadnt been the Kain Id known. Like Mom, hed turned into a terrible version of who hed really been.
Leon moved his massive body forward, looking like the poster child for steroids. Theres been a daimon attack.
Aiden tensed. Where?
Here at the Covenant.
CHAPTER 2
PRACTICE WAS OFFICIALLY CANCELLED.
Go straight to your dorm, Alex, and stay there, Aiden said before leaving the training arena.
I went to the cafeteria instead.
There was no way I was going to hang out in my dorm while there was a daimon running amuck. Id considered following the two for a moment, but my ninja stealth skills were subpar.
By the time Id cut across the quad, the sky had darkened and turned ominous. I picked up my pace, because when the sky got this way, one had to pay attention. September was hurricane season around this place. Or it could just mean Seth was pissed off somewhere nearby; his moodiness had a startling effect on the weather.
In the cafeteria, everyone huddled together in little groups, their faces animated. I grabbed an apple and a soda, noting there wasnt a single pure in the lunchroom. I dropped into the seat beside Caleb.
He looked up, eyes bright. You heard?
Yeah, I was practicing when Leon came to get Aiden. I glanced at Olivia. Do you have any details?
All Ive heard is one of the younger studentsMelissa Callaodidnt show up for classes today. Her friends were concerned and checked her dorm. They found her in bed, the window open.
I sat back, squelching the unease shifting through me. Is she alive?
Olivia stabbed a fork into her pizza. Her pure-blood mother worked closely with the Council. Lucky for us, she kept her daughter well informed. She was practically drained, but shes alive. I dont know how her roommate didnt know, or why she wasnt attacked, too.