Page 8 (1/2)

"Alex, what happened to your uilt on yourself wil only hinder you It wil get you nowhere Do you understand?"

"Yeah," I lied

Even though I wanted to believe what Aiden said was true, I kneasn’t If I’d contacted the Covenant, Moht

I was responsible for my mother’s death

CHAPTER 5

THE FOLLOWING DAY WAS LIKE GOING BACK IN

TIME forclothes h, there were a few things different

Looking at Aiden, for exa to be like the Instructors I’d had before They’d been Sentinels or Guards injured on the job, or the ones who’d wanted to settle down Back then, I’d always ended up with Instructors ere either old as dirt or flat out boring

Aiden was neither of those things

He wore the same style of workout pants I’d stolen from the supply closet, but where I wore a modest white shirt, he had on a tank And boy, did he have ar, and he was actual y out there hunting dai in coyh several warm-up exercises and orderedby the end of the day

"How ?"

I looked around, seeing things I hadn’t laid eyes on in three years--training mats to ease fal s, dummies with skin that felt real, and a first aid kit in every corner People usual y bled at so But the furthest wal interestedknives I’d never gotten to practice with

"The nor and punching techniques" I made a beeline for the weapon wal ; it was like co up one of the slender titaniuood stuff started just--"

Aiden reached aroundit back on the walHis fingers lingered over the blade reverently "You haven’t earned the right to touch these weapons, especial y that one"

At first, I thought he was teasing, but one look at his face told me he wasn’t "Why?"

He didn’t answer

I kind of wanted to touch it again, but I pul ed ood at everything I learned I could hit and kick hard I could run faster than anyone in my class"

He returned to the center of the room and placed his hands on his narrow hips "Not much then," he repeated

My eyes fol owed hiet used to this rooht hours a day in here"

"You’re joking, right?"

He didn’t look like he was joking "Down the hal is a gym

You should visit it… often"

My ave me a bland look "You’re far too skinny You need to put soht on and some muscle" He reached out and tapped th, you have natural y But right now, a ten-year-old could take you on"

I closed , I’d had to tie the knot twice in et them to stay up "Wel , it wasn’t like I had three square ry Don’t I get breakfast?"

The hard look in his eyes softened a little, and for a ht before "I brought you a protein shake"

"Ew," I groaned, but when he picked up the plastic container and handed it toto cover soround rules first"

Aiden stepped back "Go ahead and sit I want you to listen"

And there went the softer and kinder look Rol ing erly placed the bottle to my lips It smel ed like stale chocolate and tasted like a watered down milkshake Gross

He stood in front of me with those impossibly ripped ar"

"Gee That ot to kick the crack habit"

He stared down at me, clearly unimpressed "You wil not be able to leave the Covenant without permission or--don’t look at me that way"

"Jeez, how old are you?" I total y kne old he was, but I wanted to pick

Aiden cracked his neck "I turn twenty-one in October"

"Huh" I shook the bottle "So have you always been so…

mature?"

His brows furrowed "Mature?"

"Yeah, you sound like a dad" I deepened my voice and tried to look stern "‘Don’t look at me that way’ or else"

Aiden blinked slowly "I don’t sound like that and I didn’t say ‘or else’"

"But if you had, ould the ‘or else’ be?" I hid lanced to the side, frowning "Can you just not talk through this?"

"Whatever" I took a drink "So why can’t I leave the island?"

"It’s for your safety and inal stance, ars spread wide "You wil not leave this island without being accompanied by someone"

"Do my friends count?" I asked, only half serious

"No"