Read Online Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout - Free Book Online Page A

interrupted, as pale as a daimon. “I beg your pardon.”
    Seth looked pointedly at the other Guards. The female Guard limped forward, apologizing profusely. When I nodded, they filed out of the room, leaving Seth and me alone for a few moments.
    “You didn’t have to make them apologize, Seth. They were just doing their jobs. You didn’t—”
    He stood directly in front of me, moving so fast I hadn’t even registered it. He caught the edge of my chin with the tips of his fingers, looking me over. My cheek felt a little tender, but I doubted it would bruise. “A ‘thank you’ would be nice. I did stop them, you know.”
    I shifted uncomfortably. “Thanks.”
    Seth arched a brow as he tipped my head back. “You could also sound like you mean it.”
    “I do mean it, but you embarrassed them.”
    He dropped my chin, seeming pleased that I didn’t screw up my face. “You beat the Guards up when they were just doing their jobs. I guess we’re even.”
    Dammit. Seth had a point. I sighed. “Did… Lucian really order them not to search me?”
    “Yes, but apparently he wasn’t clear enough.”
    “But what about the other halfs? They shouldn’t have to go through that.” Instead of answering, he reached out and straightened the collar of my shirt. It must have come down during my fight, exposing the tags covering my neck. “Seth, what about them?”
    Dropping his hand, he shrugged. “I don’t know. I only have enough room in my head to be concerned about myself and you.”
    I snickered. “I’m surprised you have any room to think about anyone but yourself.”
    The smug grin was back. “Me too. I don’t think I like it, actually.” He dropped his arm over my shoulders and steered me toward the exit, pass the halfs waiting outside and the cold looks of anger from the pures.
     
     
     
     
    Aiden ended practice early that evening. We didn’t speak much, but I could tell he had heard about what’d happened earlier. The only bright spot of the evening was when I ended up getting to eat dinner with Caleb. The news had already traveled to him and probably the rest of the Covenant.
    “How much trouble did you get in?” Caleb asked.
    I shrugged and dipped a fry into a glob of mayo. “None, actually. Lucian had ordered them not to search me.”
    Caleb cringed as I stuck the mayo-covered fry in my mouth. “You’ve been touched by the gods. I swear.”
    “Touched in more ways than one,” I cracked. “Where’s Olivia?”
    “Can you dip your fries in something normal, like ketchup?”
    I swirled my fry in the mayo gleefully. “And where’s Olivia?”
    Caleb leaned the chair back on two legs, sighing. “She’s mad at me about yesterday. We got into an argument this morning.”
    “Oh. You guys fighting?”
    “I guess so. It’s stupid. Anyway, any news about the daimon?”
    I told him what Seth had said about more half-bloods being attacked and turned. Caleb had the same reaction as I did: disbelief and anger. Sometimes I really, truly believed that the Councils would run better if half-bloods had control. We seemed to have better critical thinking skills and more common sense.
    After a few moments, Caleb spoke. “You know, I think what you did was pretty awesome.”
    I shrugged, thinking about how embarrassed the Guards had seemed. “Thanks. But it doesn’t feel pretty awesome now.”
    Caleb raised his brows. “Well, it’s got everyone talking and thinking. None of us want to go through with this. We think it was brave.”
    “It wasn’t brave. Stupid maybe, but not brave.”
    “No,” he insisted. “It was brave.”
    “Caleb, you know the pures will go crazy if we start really, really pushing them. One half refusing a strip search is one thing, but dozens? That’s treason to them. You know what they do when you’re suspected of treason.”
    The determined look gave his blue eyes an unfamiliar edge. “Like I said, I think things have to change around here.”
    I leaned forward. “Caleb,