But it couldn’t be me.
I wasn’t going down that road again.
Dusk had turned into a starry, cloudless night. I’d forgotten how dark it got up here, when there was nothing between us and the sky. The University was nestled in the Black Hills, not near Mount Rushmore, but in a part of the protected Northern Hills. People had to know what to be looking for to find the entrance road. Five bumpy miles later, we reached the repaired outer walls of the University. The last time I’d been here, burnt-out cars had lined the roadway and huge chunks of the outer marble walls had been blasted through. The walls were all shiny and new now, looking as if nothing evil had ever crossed their path.
My hands tightened on the steering wheel.
Josie stared up at the twenty-foot walls that circled the acres and acres of land, and then her gaze landed on the titanium-encased gates, speaking for the first time in hours. “Holy crap.”
She was staring at the Sentinels. Kind of hard not to when they had semi-automatic weapons pointed at our SUV. Dressed all in black, they were nothing more than shadows as they drifted forward.
Josie shifted. “Seth…?”
“It’s okay.” I hit the window, rolling it down. “They’re just very cautious.” I rested an arm on the open window, hoping none of the Sentinels approaching were ones I’d tried to kill at some point. That would be awkward.
A male Sentinel leaned down, his shrewd gaze sweeping over me and getting stuck on Josie. His jaw tightened as he lowered his weapon. “What is your purpose, Apollyon?”
I arched a brow. “It’s none of your business.” The Sentinel cocked his head and I gave him my best smile, the kind that pissed off everyone in a ten-mile radius. “I need to see the Dean.”
The Sentinel’s lips curved into a smirk. “You have a mortal with you.”
“And that is also none of your business.” I held his gaze even though I heard Josie inhale sharply. Like I was going to tell some random Sentinel who she was. More than anybody, I knew it was never a great idea to trust anyone. “I need to see the Dean. Now. And if I have to repeat myself, you better hope you not only have great aim, but that you can pull that trigger fast.”
“Oh dear,” Josie murmured.
Holding my stare for a moment that tested my patience, the Sentinel finally straightened. Pressing his free hand to his earpiece, he spoke quickly into it.
Josie was still staring at the Sentinels in front of us. “Do you think you could’ve been…um, nicer to that guy?”
I chortled. “No.”
Slowly, she turned her head toward me and raised her brows. “They could shoot us. They look like they want to shoot us.”
A smile appeared on my lips. “They won’t shoot us.”
She didn’t appear convinced, but the Sentinel raised his arm and motioned toward those at the gate. A second later, the heavy thing swung open. “See? They aren’t going to shoot us.”
“That’s good to know,” she mumbled, staring wide-eyed as we passed a bunch of mean-looking Sentinels.
We traveled on, and she ended up pushing the shotgun aside and leaning forward, placing her hands on the dashboard. “What…what happened to those trees?”
The trees surrounding the inner walls of the University had taken a huge hit. Hundreds of them were still tipped over, their limbs stretching to the ground. Exposed roots were the color of ash.
“Ares,” I said. “When it all started to go down, he went after the University. He couldn’t get in—not at first. But he did eventually.” A dry laugh rattled my chest as I slowed the Porsche. “He’d been around us since the beginning, pretending to be an Instructor at the Deity Island Covenant. That’s how he got into the University here.”
“What happened?”
A big part of me was glad she was talking now, but I wasn’t particularly fond of where this conversation was heading. “He got in, killed a bunch of people, and hurt quite a few more.”
She pressed her lips together as we were guided toward a large parking area that was within walking distance of the second gate. I ended up parking beside a dozen Covenant-owned Hummers, and after killing the engine, I turned to her.
“We’re going to walk from here,” I told her, and I watched her throat work. “What you’re going to see will probably be a bit overwhelming, but you’re safe. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”
“But you’re leaving,” she replied immediately, and only then did I realize what I’d said. My chest hollowed out as she looked away, closing her eyes briefly, and then she nodded curtly. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
I sat there as she opened the door and climbed out, wincing when she put her feet on the ground. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. What kind of fucked-up statement was that? It had been my job to get her here in one piece and I had. Sort of. Definitely not unscathed. My job of keeping her safe was over.
Almost over.
Getting out of the Porsche, I slammed the door shut, headed to the back, and loaded up with our things. She was waiting for me by the passenger side, her chin dipped and arms folded across her chest. My gaze flickered over the Sentinels casually lounging near the wall. Over a dozen of them. I ignored them as I dropped my bag on the ground. Using the tips of my fingers, I urged her chin up. Tired blue eyes met mine. Gods, exhaustion was carved into her features. I had no idea how she was still standing, because her weariness went beyond the physical.