“He’s still at the wall with Solos. The gate was damaged during the attack, so they’re staying out there until it’s repaired.”

“So responsible,” I murmured.

Alex faced me. For someone who hadn’t slept, there wasn’t a shadow under her eyes. “Solos didn’t make it sound like the University’s been having a lot of daimon problems, so the attack of such a sizable grouping is pretty bizarre.”

“Not really.” My gaze flicked back to the statues. “We have a bunch of pures here. A lot of halfs. An Apollyon. And three demigods. We have so much aether that . . .” My jaw worked. “That this place is like a damn buffet.”

“Good point. And it’s not like they don’t know this place is here.”

“Nope.”

“And what about these lovely ladies?” she gestured at the furies with one arm. “Solos is thinking it has to do with what’s going on between the halfs and pures.”

“What else could it be?”

Her gaze met mine and she raised an eyebrow.

She meant me.

Lowering my chin, I coughed out a laugh. “I’ve been behaving myself, Alex.” Sort of.

“That’s good to hear.” She paused. “Can I say something without you running off or interrupting me?”

My lips quirked up. “Depends.”

“I’m being serious.” Alex wound her hands around her hair, twisting it in the same manner Josie did whenever she was nervous, and man, that was weird to see. “I’ve never gotten the chance to thank you and you won’t let me, so please let me just say thank you.”

I opened my mouth, but snapped it shut as Aiden’s words resurfaced. I kept quiet, not because of him, but I figured the sooner I allowed Alex to apologize the quicker this would be over.

Alex drew in a deep breath. “Thank you for what you did for Aiden and for me. You sacrificed your mortal and afterlife for us.”

Turning my head to the side, I cracked my neck. Standing here, listening to this . . . No words.

“But I also want to thank you for that day,” she said quietly.

“What day?”

A moment passed. “When we fought Ares. I didn’t get a chance to thank you for staying with me when . . . well, you know what.”

“Gods.” I squeezed my eyes shut, but that didn’t stop the rush of memories of that day. They plowed into me with the force of a freight train. Her standing in front of me, tears streaming down her face as she begged me not to leave her, to hold on, and I did. I held her until she was no more. “Alex, you shouldn’t—”

“I said thank you and I mean it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, but I . . .” She cleared her throat, and then without any warning, she sprang forward and wrapped her arms around me.

I was as still as the furie statues.