Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Agapi … a couple of times. It sounds beautiful.”
    “Oh. I… I didn’t realize I had.” He pulled his hand free. “It’s the old language. It doesn’t really mean anything.”
    That was kind of disappointing. Reluctantly, I climbed to my feet. I drew in a deep breath and watched Aiden stand. “I feel okay—”
    The gym doors flew open, banging against the wall. Seth strode in like he owned the place. “What’s going on?”
    I glared at him. “What does it look like?”
    Aiden swiped the blades off the mats. “I really need to find a way to bar those doors.”
    Seth shot Aiden a look. “I really wish you’d try.”
    Aiden lowered his arms, his fingers inching over the hilt of the blades. “Don’t you have something you should be doing? I cannot believe your sole purpose of being here is to help Alex a few days a week and prowl the halls of the female dorm.”
    “Actually, that is my sole purpose. Didn’t you know? I’m here—”
    “Uh, is practice over, Aiden?” I cut in before the two choke-slammed one another.
    “Yeah.” His eyes stayed on Seth.
    I felt there was a good chance he might stab Seth. There was also a good possibility Seth might zap Aiden. “Okay. Thanks for the practice… and everything.”
    Seth smirked and raised his brows at Aiden.
    “No problem,” replied Aiden.
    Groaning inwardly, I hurried over to my bag. On the way out, I grabbed a fistful of Seth’s shirt. “Come on.”
    “What?” Seth protested. “I think Aiden wants to hang out with me.”
    “Seth!”
    “All right.” He spun around, straightening his shirt.
    I didn’t look back. Once outside the building, I dared a glance at Seth. “Did you need something?”
    He grinned. “Nope.”
    “So, you busted up my training for no apparent reason? I call bullshit on that.”
    Seth dropped his arm over my shoulder. “You can call whatever you want. Let’s go get something to eat. You can still do that, right? Or are you grounded from showing your face in the cafeteria?”
    “I’m not supposed to be hanging out with friends.”
    “Then I guess it’s a good thing that you and I aren’t really friends.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER 6
     
     
     
    AFTER ANOTHER LONG AND BORING DAY OF CLASSES, I WAITED for my turn with Seth, praying I didn’t crack my head again. Last night, I’d gotten another decent night’s sleep after Seth had shown up and popped in a DVD. I was feeling pretty rejuvenated.
    Since I was alone for a few moments before training, I approached the wall of mass destruction. I was about to pick up the dagger Aiden favored when I realized something was off about the wall.
    The weapons hung from little black hooks, and now several spots were empty. Of all the times I’d practiced in this room, I’d never seen any spot open. Daggers and blades were kept in this room for training purposes only. Each blade required a different handling technique and were used at different times throughout the day. Did they remove the blades for cleaning? It wasn’t like they gathered much dust in this room.
    “Ready, my little Apollyon-in-training?”
    I dropped my bag and turned around. Seth strolled across the mats, a cocky grin smeared across his face. Rain dripped from his hair and ran down his neck, giving him a wild look. I forgot about the missing blades at the sight of the wicked look on his face. He was so up to something. “Not really.”
    Seth cracked his knuckles. “Since it’s pouring outside, I figured we could work on your grappling skills—since they are terrible. I know, I know—you’re devastated by the knowledge of not being able to practice with the elements today, but look on the bright side. We get to roll around on the mats. Together.”
    I arched an eyebrow. “Sounds like fun.”
    He stopped behind me and placed his hands on my shoulders. “You up for it?”
    I shrugged off his hands and ripped the hair tie off my wrist. “Yeah, I’m not damaged.”
    “I didn’t say