Page 156 of A Sin So Pure

As I follow Leo into his room, I hear Josie’s fading snicker. “Looking a little smitten there, Nor.”

I bite my lip, reeling from the little bit of happiness curling in my belly. This morning gave me a small spark of hope, a small taste of a potential future where, if I’m lucky, we can all start a new phase of our lives, together.

38

NORA

“Ineed you to promise me right now that you won’t leave Imogen’s side tonight.”

Leo and Imogen walk a few paces ahead of us, laughing and oh-so-oblivious to the looming threat that we head towards.

“Why?” Josie asks, quietly, as we curl down the spiral staircase.

“I met with Benevolence last night,” I say.

Our eyes lock, and her magic pokes at my mental shields. I let her in, and she shifts through my memories, replaying the conversation with Benevolence.

It’s faster—and safer—than me explaining everything out loud.

“Shit,” she says when she’s done. Her magic pulls away from me, and I shiver; she’s rummaged through my mind a thousand times, but it never gets any more comfortable to feel the slimy prongs probing my mind. “Are you okay?”

“I’ve heard that question too many times this morning already.”

“It’s a valid one for me to ask.”

“Yeah, well. I’m compartmentalizing,” I huff.

“Not well,” Josie says.

“Not at all,” I concur. “But better than last night.”

Josie is quiet as we step onto the ground floor, exiting the stairwell and filing into the grand hall. Her features are pinched, pensive, as we walk shoulder to shoulder.

“I’ll protect her,” she says, finally.

“Thank you.”

Josie scoffs, betraying her carefully concealed frustration with me. “You don’t need to thank me, Nor. I care about her too.”

“Yes, I do,” I double down.

Another tense beat passes between us.

“Are you sure you still want to do this?”

This. Killing Patience. Walking into that ballroom knowing every single pair of Seelie eyes sees right through my facade.

“I had my moment of weakness. It’s passed,” I say, steeling my shoulders. “I refuse to back down.”

“Okay,” Josie says. “Then I’m behind you.”

I stop, Josie’s steps stalling a moment after. Imogen and Leo continue down the hall, but we’ll only be a minute behind. We’ll catch up to them. I need to do this first because I don’t know what will come after we walk through those double doors.

Rushing forward, I tug Josie into a tight hug. She hesitates, shocked at the overt affection, before her arms quickly wrap around me. My heart aches in my chest as our fingers dig into each other’s flesh through layers of fabric.

“Thank you,” I say, and I hope she understands that it’s for more than just today.

“It’s going to be okay,” Josie whispers into my ear.

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