“It’s a pretty big garden. You could roam around here and never run into anyone, but that doesn’t mean others aren’t in here.” Colin lifted a hand and ran it through his black hair. He lowered his arm as he glanced around. “Do you come in here a lot?”

Holding my hoodie in my lap, I shrugged. “Sometimes.”

There was a beat of silence. “Like I said, it’s a good place to think.”

“Yeah,” I murmured. Goodness, I was a stellar conversationalist. It was kind of embarrassing, but I was just so . . . so drained—physically, mentally, and definitely emotionally. I mustered up some energy though. “So, you come in here . . . to think?”

Colin nodded and his brows knitted as the balmy breeze stirred the leaves. “I started coming in here a while ago, after Ares first came here.” He paused, glancing at the bench. “May I?”

I nodded.

He sat down beside me, resting his arms on his thighs. “My uncle on the pure side of the family used to be the Dean here. Pretty cool guy. Didn’t go along with all the bullshit politics, and my older brother was one of his personal Guards.” Clapping his hands together, he tilted his head to the side, gaze trained forward. “Ares got into the University disguised as another Covenant Instructor. He killed my uncle and brother in seconds. Literally ended their lives in seconds.”

“Oh my God, I’m sorry.” I blinked as I swallowed hard. “I know it doesn’t change anything, but I really am sorry to hear that.”

“It’s okay.” His lips kicked up in a faint, sad smile. “Sorry works, because you mean it. Anyway,” he said after a moment. “My uncle loved these gardens. Walked every evening in them. Coming in here is like . . . like being close to him, you know?”

“Makes sense,” I whispered. If I was still around anything that reminded me of my grandparents, I’d be there every day.

He straightened as he stared down at his hands. “I never did thank you for that night.”

“Thank me for what?” Genuinely curious, I looked over at him.

Colin grinned again. “You stepped in, stopping things before they could get really ugly. Those pures could’ve done some damage and I would’ve been forced to defend myself. Even though the laws have changed, the mentality that pures can do whatever they want is still there and that they are better than us—that their lives matter more.”

“That’s stupid,” I stated. “And I don’t think Marcus would’ve allowed them to do whatever they want.”

“He might not, but there’s a lot of people here that would’ve protected their asses and hung me out to dry if I’d done something to them. But you scared them off. Had them running.” He laughed. “You scared me a little bit. Wasn’t expecting that.”

My brows rose.

“Anyway, thanks. I figured you all were trying to keep what you are quiet and you risked that. Thank you.”

I didn’t know what to say, so we sat there in silence for a couple of moments.

“So . . .” He bit down on his lip as he stared ahead. “Are you going to tell me to leave now, or would you like the company? I mean, I can be quiet and sit here, stare at some plants.”

A begrudging smile formed on my lips. Honestly, I wasn’t up for much conversation, but what else was I really doing other than staring at some plants and feeling sorry for myself?

So I took a deep breath and said, “You can stay.”

“Huh.” There was a pause and those midnight blue eyes met mine. “Do I have to be quiet and stare at plants?”

I coughed out a laugh. “No. You don’t have to do that.”

“Good,” Colin replied. “Because I have all these questions about you I’ve been dying to ask, you know? I’ve never met a demigod before. You cool with that?”

Was I? I shrugged. I had a feeling Colin was going to be disappointed with my answers considering I’d never met a demigod either, and I really didn’t consider myself one. “Sure. Whatever you want.”

Seth

I was in full creep mode.

Which wasn’t any different from the last four days that I’d been keeping an eye on Josie. Some would probably call it stalking. I would call it making sure she was safe.

The last couple of days, she’d gone to the garden after training with Laadan. Today had been no different. She’d headed straight for the enclosed area and I followed like I had every other time.

Deep down I knew I didn’t need to do this. Wasn’t like she was going to be attacked by a rogue rose bush, but I didn’t like this. Her going to this quiet place, sitting for an hour on a damn bench, staring off into nothing, looking . . . looking so damn sad, it took everything for me not to go to her. Cross the small distance between us and pull her into my arms. Comfort her. I didn’t want this for her.

There was a lot I didn’t want for her. Namely my fucked-up ass.

Staying away from her wasn’t easy. Every night I fought against the draw to go to her, and practically every night ended with my hand on my dick and the image of her branded in my mind.

Sick thing was I wasn’t sure what was constantly drawing me to her more—her, or what was in her. Maybe a mixture of both. It didn’t matter.

Josie didn’t have to be here. She could be with Luke and Deacon. There was no reason for her to be alone.

I passed the ancient caretaker who was probably older than the dirt she was digging around in, my steps soundless as I followed the now familiar path. Josie never knew I was here. It would stay that way. I would remain in the background, waiting until she left, and then I would make sure she got back to the dorm. Then I—