“I know we can’t continue as if nothing has happened, but that doesn’t mean the pures have a right to punish every single half-blood.”

“We aren’t punishing the half-bloods. These rules were put into place to protect the half-bloods also.”

“To protect us?” I gaped at him. “Because all I heard today were rules limiting what we can do. I didn’t hear anything about the pures having to submit to embarrassing exams or being told they couldn’t even visit the main island.”

“You weren’t 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 haven’t heard any pures bitching about anything.”

Aiden took a deep breath. “Then you haven’t been listening. They aren’t allowed to go anywhere unless they’re in groups. They can’t leave the island unless they’re with a Guard or a Sentinel—”

“Whoa.” I laughed harshly. “Those poor pures have to have babysitters? At least they don’t need to get permission to leave. We don’t even have that option.”

“Aren’t 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 aren’t fair, Aiden. You have to see that. I know you’re a pure, but you can drop the act around me. You don’t have to say you agree with it because you’re expected to.”

“This isn’t 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 that’s why we’re upset?”

Aiden stalked toward me. “You’re upset because you’re being irrational and stubborn. You’re letting your emotions rule your logic, Alex. If you’d stop and thinkfor five seconds, you’d see that these rules need to be in place.”

I jerked back a step, unable to remember the last time he’d 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 it’s 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 it’s acceptable for them to subject us to full bodysearches? And it’s just okay for them to launch a witch hunt the moment they think there’s another daimon?”

“No one’s starting a witch hunt, Alex! I agree that certain measures have to be taken, but I don’t agree with—”

Anger pounded through my blood. I threw the practice blade to the floor. “My gods, you’re just another pure, Aiden! You’re no different than the rest of them. How irrationalof me to think otherwise.”

Aiden flinched as if I’d hit him. “I’m no different than the rest? Do you hear yourself?”

“Whatever. Who cares, right? I’m just a half-blood.” I pushed past him before I did do something irrational, like cry in front of him. Turns out, I didn’t make it very far. I kept forgetting how fast Aiden could move.

He blocked me, eyes flashing silver. “How can you even say I’m like the other pures? Answer me, Alex.”

“Because… because you should know that those rules aren’t fair to us!”

“This isn’t about the damn rules, Alex. I’m 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. Words—and I always had words—totally escaped me. I would have had you by now.I was pretty sure I knew what he meant.

“So don’t tell me I’m like other pures.”

“Aiden—I’m—”

“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. I’d never really argued

with him before. Not like that. Sure, we disagreed on things all the time—like favorite TV shows. He liked the golden oldies—the kind they showed in black and white. I hated them. We’d come close to knocking each other out over that, but we’d never argued over whowe were.

To add insult to injury, Guards were searching my room when I returned to the dorm. I don’t 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 by—powerless to stop them—and when they were done my stuff was a mess. It took me a better part of the evening to clean my room.

After I’d showered and slipped on my pajamas, I paced the room. I kept revisiting the lovely conversation I’d had with Aiden, and my stomach did the twisting thing again. I needed to apologize, because I’d been out of line. And to hear him say what he had? That if he’d wanted to be like other pures—he would have hadme?

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 I’d wanted to see it? Because I’d wanted to believe I’d done the right thing by killing her?

Aiden believed that I’d done the right thing. And I… well, I wasn’t so sure anymore.

A soft knock sounded, then it came again, and there was no denying that someone had knocked on the window in my bedroom.

Caleb? Maybe he’d changed his mind and brought some movies over. Thrilled over the prospect of hanging out with him, I went to the window and drew the blind up.

“Crap.” I recognized the back of the blond head. “Seth.”

CHAPTER 4

SETH SPUN, POINTING TO THE LOCK ON THE WINDOW. “OPEN,” HE mouthed.

I planted my hands on my hips. “Why?”

His stare became dangerous. “Now.”

Against my better judgment, I unlocked the window and pushed it up. I had about a second to step back before he jumped through the window like a damn alley cat. My room was dark, but I could make out the eerie glow to his eyes.

“What do you want? Hey! Don’t shut that window. You’re not staying.”

“Do you want me to leave it open so the next Guard who makes his rounds looks in here and sees me in your bedroom?” He shut the window and pulled the rope on the blinds. They clattered against the windowsill.

“I’ll tell them you forced your way in here.” I walked over to the lamp and switched it on. Hanging out in a dark bedroom with Seth wasn’t on my list of things to do at the moment.

Seth smiled. “I wanted to apologize for not being at training today.”

I watched him with a general sense of wariness. He tossed a few loose strands out of his eyes as he surveyed me with almost the same look. “Apology accepted. You can now leave.”

“Do something to your arm?”

“Huh?”

He leaned over, brushing his fingers over the elbow I’d just cracked. “This.”

There was a small, barely visible red spot. “How in the world can you see that? I hit it on the door a few minutes ago.”

A grin slipped over Seth’s lips. “You’re so unbelievably graceful. Should I kiss it and make it better for you?”

I could tell he was only half joking. His presence around the Covenant had created quite the stir. So had his… extracurricular activities. If bed-hopping ever became a major sport, Seth would go pro. Or so I’d heard. I stepped around him. “Thanks, but I’ll pass.”