Page 75 of A Sin So Pure

“What? Wrath’s hot.” When she realizes we’re all staring as if she’s gone absolutely mental, she has the decency to look embarrassed. “Not that I would pursue someone from another House without explicit permission and enthusiasm from our fearless leader.”

“Uh-huh,” Nora deadpans.

“Wait, what did he mean by ’See you Monday?’” I ask.

Nora winces, pulling her hand away from my neck. She grabs my hand instead, intertwining our fingers.

“Don’t be mad.”

“I feel like that statement does the opposite of what you want it to do…”

Nora scratches her cheek. “I have to go on a research trip with the two of them on Monday. Our kinghas decreed that my magic must be studied.”

“Why would I be mad about that?” I say.

“Because it’s Silas?” Nora says.

Okay. Fair. I don’t want her spending more time with that dangerous asshole than necessary.

“Where is this research taking place?” Leo asks for me, tone laced with suspicion. “I’m assuming somewhere not in the city?”

“I don’t think so. He didn’t say,” she says. Then, with a grimace, she adds, “And I don’t know how long I’ll be gone.”

“Ah.” I’m finally getting a sense of where this conversation is going.

I pull her hand into my lap, cradling it with both of mine. I glance around the table, and with a subtle tilt of my head, our three companions suddenly find themselves all needing to use the restroom.

When we’re alone, I ask, “What is it that you’re worried about?”

Nora chews on her cheek, not meeting my eye, obviously uncomfortable with talking about this here. But the other night she asked me to help. And pushing her to explain her worry is a part of that.

“I don’t enjoy the idea of leaving you for that long after, well, you know.”

After she murdered a Seelie in front of me?

“Do you think I’m incapable of protecting myself?” I ask pointedly.

“Of course not. But there are larger threats at play?—”

“Things are no different today than they were two weeks ago.”

She glares at me, but there’s no ire in those gemstone irises, only concern. “I would argue differently.”

I tilt my head, tracing over her pointed features. “Are you nervous?”

“Why would I be nervous?”

“It’s just strange that Silas is doing this now, rather than when you were younger.” I don’t need to add the rest of thecontext—why do this after he had me spying on her?—she knows. “And let me be clear, I don’t like it. But after everything, I know you wouldn’t agree to spend time with him without a good reason.”

Nora nods. “He’s being cagey about it, but I’m curious about what information they have on my magic. It could change things human-side.”

It could help her protect her House.

“Okay,” I say.

“And it seems he didn’t trust me before.” Nora runs her finger over the rim of her crystal glass.

“But you think he does now?”

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