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"You were the same person the day you found out about your father," he said, eyes turning the color of a thundercloud

Anger began low into do with this"

Aiden pushed off the wall, hands co out of his pockets "What is this?"

"Everything!" My fingers dug into my palms "What’s the point in all of this? Let’s just think hypothetically here for a second, okay? Say Telly or whoever doesn’t e to send me into servitude or kill oing to turn eighteen I’ to Awaken So what’s the point? Maybe I should leave" I stalked to where I’d droppedI’d like to visit there before I be--"

Aiden grabbedme so that I faced hiraduate, because you needed to be a Sentinel more than anyone else in the room" His voice dropped low as his eyes searched ed?"

I yanked on my arm, but he held on "Maybe"

The tips of Aiden’s cheekbones flushed "So you’re giving up?"

"I don’t think it’s giving up Call it… accepting reality" I smiled, but it felt icky

"That is such bull, Alex"

I opened ued to stay at the Covenant so I could become a Sentinel And I knew, deep down, I still wanted to become one for my mom, for me, but I wasn’t sure it hat I needed anyree with if I was honest with htered on the floor and no one cared… no one came to help them

I wasn’t sure I could be a part of any of this

"You’ve never been one toin self-pity when the odds are stacked against you"

My jaw snapped "I’ in self-pity, Aiden"

"Really?" he said so softly "Just like you aren’t settling for Seth?"

Oh, good gods, not what I wanted to hear "I’" Liar, whispered an evil voice in my head "I don’t want to talk about Seth"

He looked away for a second and then settled on iven him for what… for what he did to you"

"That wasn’t his fault, Aiden Seth didn’t give me the brew He didn’t force--"

"He still knew better!"

"I’ to you about this" I started to back away

The hand beside him clenched "So you are still… with him?"

Part of me wondered what had happened to the Aiden who held me in his arms when I’d told him about ain, obviously I wasn’t behaving like the person I was before either And a part of me liked the way he said "hi "Define ‘with,’ Aiden"

He stared

I tippedout with him or are we just friends? Or did you ether?"

His eyes narrowed into thin slits that shone a fierce silver

"And why are you asking, Aiden?" I pulled back, and he let go "Whatever the answer is doesn’t even ht about the marks and what they meant "You have no idea It doesn’t It’s fate, reain I looked up, exhaling slowly "What do you want from me?"

Realization crept over his expression, softening the hue of his eyes "You’re afraid"

"What?" I laughed, but it ca like a nervous croak "I’m not afraid"

Aiden’s eyes drifted over my head and deter anything else, he turned me around and pulled me toward the sensory deprivation cha?"

He kept pulling until we stopped in front of the door "Do you knohat they use this for?"

"U tightly "Do you kno ancient warriors trained? They used to fight Deiainst theod history lesson, but--"

"But since the gods of Fear and Terror have been off the circuit for awhile, they created this cha only your other senses to guide you is the best way to hone your skills and face your fears"

"Fears of what?"

He opened the door and a black hole greeted us "Whatever fears are holding you back"

I dug in my heels "I’m not afraid"

"You’re terrified"

"Aiden, I am two seconds from--" My own surprised shriek cutthe door behind hi the room in utter darkness My breath froze in "

"That’s the point"