Over his shoulder, I spotted Boobs eyeing the whole thing with a pouty, displeased look. I don’t know if that made me take Seth’s hand or the fact he was embarrassing the hell out of me. Seth yanked me to my feet, keeping my one arm outstretched while placing my other around his back.

Then he started waltzing around the field—with no music.

It was so ridiculous that I had laugh. We rounded a boulder, tripping over the uneven ground. Seth knew how to dance—really dance—like the kind people did in ballrooms. With one arm, he spun me out from him.

I giggled. “Did you pick this up from watching Dancing with the Stars?”

“You mock me.” Seth spun me so my back was against his chest. “You wound my sensibilities when I’m trying to help you.”

“Help me with what?”

Seth twirled me around. “You need to know how to dance without a pole if you’re going to the ball.”

I smacked him on the chest. “I don’t dance like a stripper and I’m not going to that stupid ball.”

He didn’t respond. Grinning, he slipped his hand up my back and dipped me over his arm. I laughed and let my head fall back. I could see Boobs on her rock. Very

slowly, when she was sure she had Seth’s attention in that nanosecond he had me bent backward, she licked her lips.

Seth dropped me.

Much later, after the sun had fallen and we were covered in mud, Seth and I slipped past the dining hall. Trying not to bring attention to ourselves, we moved as quietly as possible.

I rubbed my aching rear and caught Seth watching me. “Your fault,” I whispered.

“You’re never going to let me forget that, are you?”

“You dropped me on my butt.”

He tipped his head back, laughing softly. “I blame the wine coolers.”

“I blame Boobs.”

Grinning madly, Seth grabbed my hand and hurried me down the hall. We passed several quiet rooms, and then we heard Marcus, loud and clear. “I have no idea if Lucian is planning anything!”

We stopped and looked at each other.

“Are you not close with him?” I heard Telly ask.

“Lucian keeps a lot secret, just like every one of you does,” Marcus responded angrily.

Seth pulled me under the stoop beside the room Marcus and Telly occupied, pressing me against the wall. He didn’t have to get thatclose. “Come on, Seth. Back—”

“Shh.” He tipped his head toward mine, strands of his hair swept against my cheeks. “This feels naughty.”

I shot him a dirty look.

“I know he’s up to something!” said Telly. “He thinks he can control him, but he is foolish for believing so.”

Seth straightened an inch, a slight frown pulling at his lips.

“Even Lucian is not that foolish,” Marcus responded.

Telly made a disgusted sound. “It is my job as a Minister to protect them—my duty! If you know something—”

“I know nothing of the sort!” Marcus slapped something down. “You are being paranoid, Minister.”

“You call it being paranoid, and I call it planning for the future. There are certain precautions we could take—just in case. Ways to ensure that they are never threatened.”

I wondered what they were talking about. Seth also had a puzzled look on his face, which almost made me giggle. Maybe the wine coolers were still in my system. He must’ve felt the laugh bubbling up in me, because he looked down at me and smiled.

“What are you suggesting, Minister?”

“There are ways of eliminating the threat—ways in which no one is harmed. Some of the Council members agree that it may be best to do so.”

When Marcus spoke next, his words were cold and flat. “Has the Council already acted on this?”

Telly scoffed. “What are you insinuating, Marcus?”

There was a stretch of silence. “And how would you eliminate the threat, pray tell?”

The tension that followed Marcus’s question was so thick I could feel it. “We already have one here,” replied Telly. “Why not keep them both here?”

There was a stretch of silence. “That is out of the question. I am sorry, but I cannot agree to that.”

“Perhaps you just some need time and motivation. You want that Council seat very badly. I could make it happen.”

Seth dropped his head, his breath warm against my neck. I tried to move back, but there wasn’t anywhere to go. “Do you know what they’re talking about?” he whispered.

For a second I had to think about what he was asking. I felt kind of out of it. “No clue.”

“I do not believe my mind will change,” Marcus finally responded. “It is late, Minister. And this conversation is over.”

Seth’s lips brushed against my neck, right under my ear. I jerked from the unexpected touch, and then socked him in the stomach. He chuckled softly.

Telly laughed mirthlessly. “My offer stands until the end of sessions.”

“Good evening, Minister Telly.”

We ducked into the adjoining room, shutting the door just in time. Telly exited seconds later, followed by Marcus. Seth and I stared at each other. There was something in his eyes, mischief definitely, but something else. He prowled toward me, grinning.

I put my hand up, flattening it against his chest. My pulse sped up. “Playtime is over, Seth.”

He placed his hand over mine. “Sounds like a bit of bribery going on.”

“That doesn’t surprise me.” I gave the room a brief glance. We were in another sitting room. How many of these things were there? “I’m a little surprised over how much Marcus dislikes Telly.”

Shrugging, Seth went to the door and peered out. “All clear.” He paused, grinning over his shoulder. “Unless you want to stay here a little while. That couch looks comfy.”

I shoved past him. “Can’t you think of anything else?”

He followed me out. “No. Not really.”

“Wow. You’re so multi-dimensional, Seth.”

Chuckling, he sidled up to my side and dropped his arm over my shoulders. “And you’re such a killjoy.”

CHAPTER 20

OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, SETH CONSUMED MOST OF MY time. I saw very little of Aiden and Marcus. Once, when Seth wasn’t attached to my hip, I hung out with Laadan while she got a mani and pedi for the ball. I opted out of the indulgence.

People touching my feet creeped me out.

Seth and I had snuck into one of the training classrooms between practices and sparred with some of the halfs the other day. I think we caused more mayhem than anything else, but I’d enjoyed fighting people other than Seth. Goofing off eased some of the pent-up frustration of being in this place, and the growing unease that occupied each day closer to my Council session.

But time with Seth hadn’t been all fun and games. We’d spent most of our training sessions working on avoiding the use of elements in battle. Throwing balls of flame around really wasn’t an indoor sport, so we were forced outside.

We also argued. A lot.

He got pissy because he claimed I’d been watching Aiden when he’d shown up one day during our practice and worked out alongside us. Seth also claimed that I’d drooled on myself.

Not true.

Flushing with embarrassment and anger, I’d stormed off and left him standing in the middle of the field we’d practiced in. A short hour later, Seth reappeared with hamburgers and fries—my favorite—and I kind of forgave him. He’d had hamburgers; what else could I have done?

I still had no recollection of how I’d ended up in the maze. Not knowing what’d happened—or why a pure would do that—nagged at me. So did the conversation we’d overheard between Marcus and Lucian. I couldn’t shake the feeling that those two events were connected.

But that could just be my paranoia.

Today’s practice had been cut short as Seth had something important to discuss with Lucian. When I’d asked what it was, he’d told me not to worry my pretty little butt over it and to go hang out with Laadan.