Page 127 of The Art of Exiley

“Sires tend to be quite amorous,” she’d said. “Our bodies, like our minds, are primed for creativity.”

Learning about the birds and bees from a fourteen-year-old was… an experience.

“I guess I don’t really have a basis for comparison” is what I say to Kor now, suddenly wishing New York was on a fault line so the chances of an earthquake interrupting this conversation would be higher.

Our cozy sitting arrangement takes on a whole new meaning now that the spill-my-guts-about-how-horny-I-get line has been crossed. I pull my hand away, which backfires when Kor moves his hand to my thigh.

“Isn’t it a rush?” Kor asks, his other hand flaring with the glow of Ha’i. “Knowing your own power?”

But I can’t help thinking about what he’s done to get that power. I wonder whose blood it was this time. Even knowing he needs it to keep himself alive and that it might have been given to him willingly, bile rises in my throat.

He feels me stiffen and sighs. “Ada, I know you’re still mad at me, but can’t you see that it was all worth it? We’re going to change the world. Together.”

Together.

I remember the years of watching him and Izzy go off to train without me. Of watching his concerts and his interviews and the way he leveraged his platform to make other people care. I was never more than a bystander, wishing I could have a fraction of his talents. Now he’s telling me I can have everything I’ve ever wanted. I can make adifferencein this worldwithhim.

But I’m starting to realize that I can make a difference on my own.

He’s looking at me like the two of us are the only people in the world in that way that used to make me feel so special and so confused. He does this sexy half-bite, half-lick thing with his lip that definitely has me starting to feelamorous. Classic Kor, trying to play mind games with me. Or maybe this time he actually thinks he wants this to go somewhere. The way his eyes are fixated on my mouth sure makes it seem like he does. Suddenly my heart is pounding, and Kor’s hand is moving higher on my thigh as he leans in.

I’d wanted this for so long.

But I don’t want it anymore.

I push his hand off my leg and shift away from him.

His face falls. “Ada, don’t shut me out. You’re my best friend.”

“You were mine.”

He flinches.

“Sorry, I… That’s not what I meant.”

“It’s fine. I get it.” He stands up. “I have to go and prepare for tomorrow anyway.” His eyes, so intent on me a moment ago, could not be more distant.

“What’s tomorrow?” I ask as he zips the guitar into its case.

“We’re moving forward with the next phase of Operation Genesis.”

“What?” All my muscles tense. I knew that my recent interviews were in preparation for sending a small team to Arcadia. But not yet. Not before I had time to make sure the planchanged. “I thought you said that was scheduled for the fall?” This is bad. Really bad. I rise cautiously.

“Prometheus was pleased with the return of the girl and reciprocated with information that means we no longer have to wait,” Kor explains.

“But this all so fast, and the military is on alert—”

“This may seem fast to you, but I’ve been working with Prometheus for two years. The Oculus has been waiting for a chance like this for generations.We’re hoping to avoid a confrontation, but we’re prepared to deal with the military if we must.”

“You mean, like, fight them?” I can’t keep the horror from my voice.

“Ada, your handful of school friends and whatever pretty face you have a crush on today are not representative of these people. Not all of them are so innocent. Do you understand what’s at stake for our world here? We need access to the scrolls you told us about, and we need to get the Ha’i stone, or at least instructions for how to make one.”

He’s right that I’m unfamiliar with the majority of Maker society. I know things run differently in Avant, and I’ve seen how resistant even the most caring of the Makers are to sharing their knowledge. Access to a Ha’i stone would mean Kor could stop drinking blood and still be well. We could help so many others to be well. Are the millions of people on this planet worth sacrificing a few?

These are not the kinds of decisions I’m equipped to make.

“Besides”—Kor reaches up to grip the silver crucifix at his neck—“we’ve found another universal blood donor, but, let’s be honest, I don’t know how much longer I’ll be around. This has to happen sooner rather than later.”

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