A shiver inched its way down my spine. A sound came from my door, much like a lock being turned. I glanced at the letter, chewing my bottom lip. Then I looked at the clock beside the bed. I was way late for training with Seth.
The door opened and shut. I grabbed the letter, quickly folding it. I knew the moment he stood in the doorway without looking up. A level of awareness danced over my skin and the air filled with electricity.
What happened today? he asked simply.
There was very little I could hide from Seth. He wouldve sensed my emotions from the moment I read the letter and everything that I had been feeling while Id been with Aiden. He wouldnt know exactly what
was causing my feelings to be all over the placethank the godsbut Seth wasnt stupid. I was a little surprised that hed waited this long to come find me.
I lifted my gaze. He looked like one of those marble statues that adorned the front of every building here, except his skin was a unique golden colorotherworldly perfection. Sometimes he looked cold, impassive. Especially when his shoulder-length blond hair was pulled back, but it hung loose now, softening the lines of his face. His full lips were usually curved in a smug smile, but now they were pressed together in a hard, tight line.
Aiden had suggested that I keep the letter and its contents to myself. Laadan had broken gods know how many rules by telling me about my father, but I trusted Seth. We were, after all, fated to be together. A couple of months ago I wouldve laughed if someone had said that we would be doing whatever it was that we were doing. Itd been a case of mutual dislike when we first met, and we still had some epic moments. It wasnt too long ago that Id threatened to stab him in the eye. And Id seriously meant it.
Silently, I held out the letter.
Seth took it, quickly unfolding it with long, agile fingers. I tucked my legs underneath me, watching him. There was nothing in his expression that gave away what he was thinking. After what seemed like forever, he glanced up. Oh, gods.
Not exactly the response I was shooting for.
Youre going to do something incredibly stupid in response to this.
I threw up my hands. Jeez, does everyone think Im going to Sparta-charge the Catskills?
Seths brows rose.
Whatever, I grumbled. Im not going to attack the Covenant. I have to do something, but it wont be reckless. Happy? Anyway, do you remember the half-blood we passed when we were watching the Council the first day there?
Yes. You were staring at him.
Thats him. I know it. Thats why he looked so familiar to me. His eyes. I bit my lip, looking away. My mom always talked about his eyes.
He sat beside me. What are you going to do?
Im going to send a letter back to Laadan, a letter for my dad. From there, I dont know. I looked at him. Thick strands of hair shielded his face. You know what this means, right? That hes a half-blood. And this I gestured at us. Were the reason why relations of the fun kind are forbidden between halfs and pures. The gods know whatll happen if a pure and half hook up.
Its probably more than that. The gods like the idea of subjugating the halfs. What do you think they did to the mortals during their heyday? The gods subjugated the mortals until it went too far. They still treat the half-bloods like dirt worthy of only being walked upon.
Man, was Seth on a god-hating kick or what? I stared down at my right palm, at the faint rune that only Seth and I could see. It was himmy fatherin the stairwell. I cant explain it, but I know it was.
Seth looked up then, his eyes a strange shade of yellow. Who knows about this?
I shook my head. The Council has to know. Laadan knew because she was friends with my my mom and dad. It wouldnt surprise me if Lucian and Marcus knew, too. I frowned. Do you remember when we overheard Marcus and Telly talking?
I remember dropping you on your butt.
Yeah, you did because you were staring at Boobs.
His eyes widened and he let out a shocked laugh. Boobs? What?
You knowthat girl who was all over you in the Catskills. When his brows rose, I rolled my eyes. So like Seth that hed have trouble remembering which girl. Im talking about the one who had, well, huge boobs.
He stared off into the distance for a moment and then laughed again. Oh. Yeah, that onewait a second. You named her Boobs?
Yeah, and I bet you dont even remember her name.
Ah
Glad were on the same page now. Anyway, Remember how Telly said that they already had one there? That they could keep them together? Do you think he was talking about my father and me? If Marcus and Lucian knew, I wanted to bash their heads together, but confronting them would place Laadan in danger.
Seth glanced down at the letter. That would make sense. Especially considering how badly Telly wanted you to be placed into servitude.
Minister Telly was the Head Minister of all the Councils and hed had it out for me from the get-go. My testimony about the events in Gatlinburg had been a complete ruse to get me in front of the entire Council so they could vote me into servitude. And I truly believed that Telly was behind the compulsion thatd been used on me the night I almost turned into a human popsicle. If Leon hadnt found me, Id have frozen to death. Then there was the night the