Free A Beautiful Evil by Kelly Keaton Page A

Something he knows is wrong.” Her dark eyes traveled over my features. “He sees beauty now, is lured by it, even though he knows what lies beneath is evil. So intriguing, this flirting with danger.” She flicked a glance at the jar. “Pandora was the same way, you know? A deceptive package. The Greek writers called her Kalon Kakon , a beautiful evil. It won’t be long before you destroy those around you, just like she did.”
    My fists clenched hard. “And if that happens, Josephine, if I turn into a monster, I’ll be coming for you first, and there isn’t a damn thing you can do to stop me.”

 
Ten
    I TURNED MY BACK AND WALKED AWAY FROM J OSEPHINE, KNOWING that right then she could’ve snapped my neck, killed me before I even made it to the iron door. She could’ve, but she wouldn’t have.
    The Novem had agreed to keep me in the city, shield me from Athena, and allow me into their library. And I knew the only reason Josephine had agreed was because she thought me going after Athena was a suicide mission.
    Whatever. I’d spent my life proving people wrong. What was one more?
    I shoved the tall iron door open, went four steps, and then pushed the double doors wide. There’d always be a target on my back when it came to Josephine. The only question was when she’d choose to strike.
    Every step I took down the stairs, I let out a little more of the anger I’d been holding in. By the time I got to the first floor, I was less angry but way more irritated, cussing under my breath and saying all the rude, obnoxious things I’d wanted to say to Josephine. I ignored the looks thrown my way as I marched into the large study hall, her comments about Sebastian echoing in my head.
    I knew Josephine’s game. Her clever words had been designed to sink into my psyche in my quiet moments, when I was alone and not feeling confident, when her words would cut me the most. I saw it for what it was, but the worst part was that she might be right. If I didn’t find a way to reverse the curse, things might go exactly like she said. I’d be a gorgon and Sebastian would walk away from me.
    I found a quiet table, slapped my backpack down, and jerked out my notebook, throwing a glare over my shoulder at the group of kids sitting at the nearest table. They turned away quickly.
    Like I was some kind of freak show.
    Whatever. Get to work and forget them. They don’t matter.
    I sat down, drew in long breath to steady myself, and started writing down everything I could remember about what I’d read in the library. After a few notes, I was able to sink into my task and forget Josephine and the fact that the entire school seemed bent on ogling me at every opportunity.
    The sudden squeak of the chair across from me made me look up, my pen skipping over the edge of the paper. A guy dropped into the chair.
    “Well, if it isn’t the Moon Queen herself.”
    Images of the Arnaud ball slammed into me before I could stop them. Spinning around and around on the dance floor amid a sea of beautiful gowns and masks. Like a glittering dream . . .
    Gabriel Baptiste, Novem heir and Bloodborn vampire, rocked back in the chair, crossed his arms over his chest, and stared at me, his lips twisting into a playful smile.
    My cheeks flared hot. I’d danced in Gabriel’s arms during the ball. I’d flirted with him and nearly allowed him, a masked stranger, to kiss my neck—and possibly do more had Sebastian not showed up.
    First Josephine and now Gabriel. I shook my head at my shitty luck.
    “My father told me you’d be attending Presby. Didn’t quite believe him. But”—he smiled—“here you are.”
    I rolled my eyes.
    “Everyone is talking about you. Word spreads fast, you know. Gorgon. God-killer. Freak. You’re to be our savior, our protector from Athena, is that it?”
    His mocking words held an edge to them, as though his male Bloodborn ego couldn’t handle the idea of me saving the Novem or, more to the point, him. Sebastian had been