Page 140 of A Sin So Pure

Bennie’s eyes narrow on the bug.

“Hold on a second,” he murmurs, standing and leaning forward with both hands planted on the table. Recognition flares in the form of a snarl. “Alexander.”

Bennie throws his hand out, quicker than you’d think he could move with his bulk, snatching the bug straight from the air. He cups the insect between his hands and shakes. The four of us stare on, wide-eyed at the strange behavior.

He then chucks the bug; it hurtles through the air before transforming into a Seelie man.

The Seelie has the same coloring as Bennie, but is leaner in stature, his limbs gangly and uncoordinated, like he hasn’t fully grown into manhood yet. Stumbling a few steps before righting himself, he runs a hand through his wavy brown hair, letting it fall messy over his brows.

“Anyone ever tell you eavesdropping isn’t nice?” Bennie growls.

“Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.” He doesn’t sound sorry at all. “Father had me doing paperwork back in our rooms, but I wanted to sneak a peek at the soul-stealer.” Alexander cocks his head at me with pursed lips. “I pictured you smaller.”

“You would have met her tomorrow at the banquet,” Bennie grinds out between clenched teeth.

It strikes me that there’s a clear divide between the brothers.

Maybe he isn’t in league with his father.

“I’m flattered that my presence is in such high demand.” I interrupt the brother’s bickering. “But wejustfinished up our game of cards, otherwise I’d invite you to sit.”

I spread back into my chair. Men always hate it when I take up more space than I need. But all I’m doing is mimicking them.

“Though, maybe that would be ill advised, considering it seems your family has a strange obsession with me.” I turn to Imogen. “Lust, do you think I should be concerned?”

Imogen’s lips quirk, sensing my playful show of dominance. “I don’t think so—at least not for this one. What is he going to do? Shift back to a bee and sting you?”

“What elsecanyou shift into, Alexander?” I ask. “I’ve always wanted to pet a dragon.”

Alexander scoffs. “You can’t shift into things that aren’treal.”

He’s young, hot-headed. I want to see what he’ll do when provoked. Play along.I broadcast to Josie in my head. I trust that she’s listening.

“Actually, I read once that a powerful Seelie, about two millennia ago, was able to transform himself into a wyvern. Little different from a dragon, but close enough,” Josie adds, not missing a beat.

“It’s okay if you’re not that powerful,” I say, waving a hand in the air nonchalantly.

Bennie snorts and Alexander glares at us all as he puffs out his chest.

“I’ll have you know that—” Alexander yelps as Bennie flicks his forehead.

“You need to leave. Or I’ll be telling father that you snuck out,” Bennie says, all humor and snark gone from his tone. It’s clear that this is him pulling rank on his brother. “Now.”

Alexander bristles but doesn’t challenge his older brother.

As quickly as he appeared, he shifts in a flash of white light; a dragonfly hums where his body once stood. It pauses, hovering in the air, before zooming off towards an open window above us.

I click my tongue, standing from the table and pulling on my suit jacket.

“Nobody likes secrets, Bennie,” I tut, buttoning the jacket over my vest. “Except for those that keep them.”

Bennie scratches the back of his neck. “Alexander isn’t so much a secret as he is a liability.”

I hum.

Imogen, Josie, and Leo follow my lead as we extract ourselves from the table. The metal chairs scrape against the garden stone as we push them back into place.

Bennie’s quiet as we clean up, but when I pass him, he grabs my arm, pulling me to a stop. My heart pounds in my chest at the contact, so strong that my pulse throbs all the way down to my fingertips.

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