“You sound like one.”
Her friend clucked her tongue. “You eat like one.”
Lila frowned at her breakfast. She’d once again poured maple syrup over everything.
“It’s good. You should try it sometime.” She snatched up the syrup and poised the spout over Alex’s eggs.
“Don’t you dare!”
Lila grinned evilly but put down the syrup.
“So how are you really doing with all this prime business?”
Lila forked a bite of pancake and chewed thoughtfully before answering. She didn’t want to think about it, just like she didn’t want to think about the warehouse, just like she didn’t want to think about the stupid dream she’d had the night before.
Apparently, some deep, dark part of her felt pride in what she’d done. It also wanted her to visit the New Bristol oracle, probably so she could whine about her stupid feelings and move on like nothing had happened.
That part of her was a murdering sociopath.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“So you’ll stick your head under the pillows until Saturday morning?”
“Something like that.”
“At least someone will be in your bed with you when you wake up. Maybe you’ll be biting that pillow instead of hiding under it.”
Lila dropped her fork.
“Oh, you should be so lucky! I could give you the name of a senator or two who will give you a good time. Just give me the word. They’ll fuck you so well that you won’t care if you’re prime or not. You won’t even remember your name for days.”
Lila had to admit, the offer tempted her—at least until she thought of Tristan, naked and sweaty atop her, his eyes and mouth set on Tristanville. “Maybe later.”
Alex nodded. “Are you going to the execution?”
Lila choked on her pancake.
“I’m sorry. I have to ask.”
“No, I’m not going.”
Alex put down her fork. “I need you to go, and I need you to take me. I can’t go unless my masters give me permission, and your mother has denied it. I need you to change her mind. I need you to come with me. I couldn’t go alone even if I didn’t need anyone’s permission. I can’t watch it without…”
Lila wiped her hands on her napkin, partly to stall, mostly because she had no idea how to answer. The last thing she wanted to do was attend the execution. She’d seen enough death lately, especially death that she had caused. Watching Patrick and Celeste Wilson hang would only add to her dreams.
Two more bodies would appe
ar in the warehouse.
And what of Alex? She’d never get it out of her mind either.
“I don’t think you should go.”
Alex’s face fell. “Don’t do this to me. I know what I want, and I want to go. I have to go. You owe me this much. You know you do.”
Lila couldn’t dispute her words. She did owe her friend, but what was the best way to be a friend? Should she keep Alex from witnessing the executions because it was for the best? Or should she go with her and let her make a mistake?
Watching the executions would haunt Alex.