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My mouth dropped open "Aiden’s stil there?"

"You ca they would fol ow you?" Caleb frowned

Deacon appeared entertained by both statements "Yes answers al " He brushed a sunny curl off his forehead

"Crap!" Caleb started to stand while Iit up "Alex, we should go"

"Sit down" Deacon put up a hand "You have at least an hour I’l give the party boys enough time to clear out Trust me"

Caleb didn’t seem to hear him He stared back down the seashore, where Olivia and another half stood close, real y close together Seconds passed while his face hardened

Leaning over, I tugged the heave me a broad s to head back to the dorm"

"Boo" Deacon stuck out his lower lip

I stood "Sorry"

"Double boo" He shook his head "And the fun was just starting"

Tossing a quick goodbye to Deacon, I fol owed Caleb up the beach We passed Lea co after my sloppy seconds?" Lea wrinkled her nose "How cute"

A second later, I wrapped my hand around her forearm

"Hey"

Lea tried to pul her arer than her "What?"

I smiled my best smile "You boyfriend just copped a feel

You obviously aren’t doing it for hi alone

"Caleb!" I oing to say, so I don’t want to hear it"

I brushedto say? Al I wanted to point out is if you like the chick back there, you could just--"

With a sideways glance, he raised his brows "I real y don’t want to talk about this"

"But… I don’t understand why you won’t adhed "Soht ent to Myrtle"

I tripped over my feet "What?"

"Not that Wel … not real y, but it ca his ar? With the Olivia chick? Jeez, I’m your best friend and you failed to , Alex We were arguing over who cal ed shotgun first… and the next thing I knoe’re ful -onout"

I bit my lip "That’s kinda hot So, on’t you talk to her?"

Silence stretched between us before he responded

"Because I like her, real y like her, and you would like her, too She’s s, and her ass is just so--"

"Caleb, okay I get the point You real y like her So talk to her"

We headed toward the courtyard nestled between the two dor wil come out of it You kno it is for us"

"Huh?" I stared at the intricate designs on the pathway

They were runes and symbols carved into the ods while others looked like soot ahold of a marker and went to town

Actual y, it looked like so I’d draw

"Never mind I just need to hook up with someone else

Get this stupid whatever out of e s "That sounds like a solid plan"

"Maybe I should just hook up with Lea again or someone else How about you?"

I shot him a dirty look "Gee, thanks But seriously, you don’t want to hook up with just anyone You want soful" I stopped, not sure where that caYou kno it is for us We don’t get ‘hed "Yeah, I know"

"We’re either Guards or Sentinels--not husbands, wives, or parents" He stopped, frowning "Flings and girlfriends

That’s e have Our duty doesn’t al ow forborn a half-blood wiped out any chance for a normal, healthy relationship Like Caleb said, our duty didn’t al ow for us to for behind Once we graduated, we could be assigned anywhere and at any given moment we could be yanked and sent somewhere else

It was a harsh, lonely life, but one with purpose