I waited until the sliding glass door slammed shut before turning my full attention to Aric. “You know she gets that from you, right?”
“Oh, puh-leez,” Aric scoffed. “She so gets that from you.”
“I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree.”
“I can live with that,” Aric said, glancing around. “Well, we’ve already embarrassed her, so do you want to get naked in the hot tub and entertain ourselves for an hour?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
Two
“I think he’s the hottest guy ever.”
“Me, too.”
“No way!” Sami was scandalized. “Take that back!”
Aric and I sat in chairs beneath the balcony, our heads bent together as we listened to the girls giggle and gossip above us. We agreed to let them stay on the balcony until it got dark, but then insisted they sleep inside. Sami wasn’t happy about that, and likened it to house arrest with insufferable geek parents, but we held firm. I still wasn’t convinced we’d get through the night without some form of paranormal drama.
As a wolf, Aric’s eyes and nose are keenly attuned to sensing intruders. He suggested we sleep outside, under the stars and next to the bonfire, to make sure the girls would be safe. I think he also wanted to get a good grope in when no one was looking, but I couldn’t muster the energy to feign dislike regarding the idea.
We grabbed sleeping bags from inside – which Aric promptly zipped together so we could snuggle – and then waited. We couldn’t make our presence known until Sami led her friends inside. I think that was rule eight.
“I’m not going to take it back,” one of the girls said. “Your father is the hottest guy ever. He’s like … perfect. How do you live in the same house with him?”
Aric’s shoulders shook with silent laughter as I rolled my eyes and leaned back in my chair. The whir of the central air conditioning unit was loud enough to muffle our conversation should it become necessary, but we could still hear what was being said above us. It was sort of surreal.
“He’s my dad,” Sami protested. I imagined the dark look flitting across her face. “He’s not hot. He’s … a dad!”
“I think I should be insulted,” Aric whispered.
“I think that if she thought you were hot we’d have other issues,” I countered. “I mean, that’s even worse than her bringing a professional clown home someday and announcing she’s marrying him and joining the circus.”
Aric made a disgusted face and extended a finger. “She’s twelve. Don’t make jokes about things like that.”
“She’s twelve, which means she’s going to start dating in four years or so,” I said. “In two years she’ll start pseudo dating, which is even worse. You’re going to have to deal with it.”
“No, I’ve decided that she can’t date until she’s thirty,” Aric said. “I’ve honestly given it a lot of thought, and that’s the age I’m comfortable with.”
“That’s going to make her college career very boring.”
“She doesn’t need to meet a guy in college. All college boys are demented perverts.”
“I met you in college,” I reminded him.
“And I was a demented pervert.” Aric didn’t seem remotely bothered about referring to himself in such a manner. “All I cared about was getting you naked.”
“I don’t remember putting up much of a fight.”
Aric pursed his lips. “That’s not true,” he said after a beat. “You put up token resistance at first. Then, after the incident, you put up a strong fight. I was fairly certain I would never get you back after that.”
I knew he hated talking about “the incident.” He wasn’t the only one. Our relationship was derailed for almost a year when I was a junior thanks to a lie he told to remain loyal to his pack, and a death I was forced to mete out if I wanted to survive. It gutted us both for a bit, but we managed to move on and forge fresh bonds.
“You were always going to get me back,” I said, opting for honesty. “It was too much work to stay away from you. I’m unbelievably lazy. You know that.”
Aric snorted. “I don’t think you’re even half as lazy as you pretend to be,” he said. “Still, I’m glad you gave in and embraced your lazy side where I’m concerned. I would’ve been crushed to live without you.”
“Oh, that’s really sweet,” I said, tapping his chin. “We still can’t have sex around the fire with a bunch of twelve-year-olds in the house.”
“Why?” Aric whined. “They’ll be asleep. They’ll never know.”
“You make growling noises when we play Red Rover in the yard,” I pointed out.
“I did that once.”
“No, you do it every single time,” I corrected. “You only caught yourself doing it that one time, and we had a good laugh about it. You don’t normally realize you’re doing it.”
“You’re mean,” Aric said, grabbing my hand and holding it close to his chest. “How soon do you think they’ll go to sleep? I’m tired of hiding under the balcony so we don’t break rules one and six.”
“I can’t believe we gave in and agreed to her rules.”
“It was easier than listening to her screech.” Aric is pragmatic at the oddest times. “Also, well, I think she deserves to have a fun night after … everything.”
Sadly, I didn’t disagree with him. One of the great joys of parenting a tween is being able to mercilessly tease and embarrass her. In Sami’s case, she was still struggling to understand what happened weeks ago when her purported friend attacked and she found herself in several trances, wandering through the woods in the middle of the night. She was clingy with us during the immediate aftermath. That faded quickly, though.
“I have no intention of embarrassing her tonight,” I said. “I just … I wish she wasn’t at this age.”
“Yes, this age sucks beyond belief,” Aric agreed. “I liked it when she was little and thought I was her hero.”
“You’re still her hero.”
“I think you’re her hero now,” Aric countered, “but I don’t think she’ll ever admit it. She was in awe when you magically shredded all of those shades and spirits. She hasn’t manifested any powers even close to that. I can tell it bothers her.”
I didn’t want to admit it, but it bothered me, too. She was the daughter of a powerful wolf and mage. She should be exhibiting some form of magic, right? Basically she could share memories and dreams with us, but she’d manifested very little else in the form of power … except for a very brief flash of anger that resulted in the death of one of our enemies that night. As for her wolf lineage, that seemed to be almost completely absent. No matter how much he denied it, I knew that fact grated on Aric.
“You once told me that most wolves turn for the first time when they’re twelve, right?”
Aric stiffened as he clasped my hand tighter. “Yes. What are you getting at?”
“She just turned twelve,” I reminded him. “She was traumatized in the immediate aftermath. There’s still a chance she’ll shift.”
“Zoe, I’m not worried about that,” Aric said. “If she never shifts … .”
“Please don’t lie to me,” I said. “While I know you’re not keen on all of the wolf politics or the other crap that goes with it, you had hopes of being able to run with her in the woods after she shifted for the first time. Don’t deny it.”
“How did you know that?”
“Because we share dreams,” I reminded him. “It’s okay. I’m not even upset about the way you saw me as a scolding pain in the butt in that dream. I get it. She’s your daughter. Unless you leave me and find someone else, she’ll be your only child. It’s normal to want her to be like you.”
“Zoe, I don’t regret having one child,” Aric said, tilting his head to the side as the giggles above increased to annoying levels. “We went over this a long time ago. We didn’t want to risk having to keep more than one child safe. After what just happened … I think we made the right choice.”
; “That doesn’t mean you wouldn’t have liked a son.”
“I think you’re seeing things that aren’t there,” Aric countered. “I don’t care about having some imaginary son I’ve never met. I care about my wife and the child I have. You’re more than enough for me.”
“I know,” I said, leaning over to rest my head against his shoulder. “I still feel like I cheated you out of something because she hasn’t shifted.”
“You didn’t cheat me out of anything,” Aric said. “I have everything I’ve ever wanted.”
“You once told me your dream was to have me serve you chocolate chip cookies in bed while I was wearing a sexy maid costume,” I reminded him.
“Okay, I almost have everything,” Aric conceded, chuckling. “I have everything that’s important. If she never shifts – and that’s a distinct possibility given the fact that she’s a half-breed – then I’ll be okay. I only want her to be happy and protected.”
“I want that, too,” I said. “I’d feel better knowing she was manifesting some sort of power, though. So far she’s been able to do very little. The one time she managed real power she hurt me. She’s been afraid to try ever since.”
“And that’s exactly why she doesn’t want to try again,” Aric said. “She was horrified by what she did to you.”
“I healed myself. I’m okay.”
“It was still traumatizing,” Aric said. “Don’t push her. She’s doing the best she can.”
“I’m not trying to push her,” I argued. “I’m trying to … prepare her to protect herself should something ever happen to us.”
“Nothing is going to happen to us.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Hey, don’t ruin my night with deep thoughts,” Aric admonished. “I plan to live forever. I don’t plan to do it alone, so that means you have to live forever, too. That’s just the way of the world, so you need to get used to it.”
I couldn’t help but laugh as I shook my head. “I’ll get right on that.”
“You do that.”
We lapsed into comfortable silence, Aric brushing the occasional kiss across my knuckles. I was close to drifting off, the sound of the girls whispering and giggling above lulling me. That’s when Sami leaned over the railing and cleared her throat.
“What?” Aric asked, snapping open his eyes and scowling. “We’re not doing anything.”
“Oh, I know what you’re not doing,” Sami said. “Andrea Dobson saw what you weren’t doing when you grabbed Mom’s butt by the grill earlier, too.”
“I told you she saw that,” I said, earning a dark look from Aric. “What? You didn’t even try to be subtle.”
“I shouldn’t have to be subtle in my own yard.”
“Whatever,” Sami said, rolling her eyes. “We’re going inside. That means you guys are staying outside, right?”
“Yes,” Aric said. “We have no inclination to listen to you girls wax poetic about little boys who dance instead of play instruments.”
“I don’t even know what that means, and I really don’t care,” Sami said. “You guys need to stay out of the house. That was the agreement.”
“What if we have to go to the bathroom?” I asked. “Do you want us to do that in the yard, too? I mean, I guess I’m not opposed to squatting in front of your father, but your friends might accidentally see. Is that really the message you want to send?”
Sami was horrified. “You do that in the downstairs bathroom, and don’t let anybody see you. I just … gross!”
“That is gross,” Aric agreed, laughing as Sami stomped her feet on the wooden balcony above us. He tilted his head to the side and listened until he heard the sliding glass door shut. Then he let out a relieved sigh and hopped to his feet. “Let’s take a walk.”
I took his extended hand and followed him to the yard. The sun was setting, a brilliant array of oranges and reds descending upon the tree line. It was a beautiful night in mid-Michigan. If only we didn’t have eight tweens taking over the house. Then we might be able to enjoy it.
“What are you thinking?” I asked Aric, studying his handsome profile.
“I was wondering if you’d really squat in the yard,” Aric admitted. “I’m almost as horrified by the visual as Sami.”
“Ha, ha.”
“Other than that, I was thinking how lucky I am,” Aric said. “I have the woman I love and a child I almost like seventy-five percent of the time. What more could I ask for?”
“I hid the ingredients for s’mores on the main floor so we can build a bonfire for your private campout,” I offered.
“Sold!” Aric grabbed the front of my shirt and hauled me in for a smoldering kiss. “You just made my night perfect.”
“Don’t I always?”
“Yes.”
AFTER an inordinate amount of sugar – and a severe case of wandering hands that would’ve made Sami’s head implode if she’d witnessed our actions – Aric and I were about to settle down in our shared sleeping bag when I heard something.
“What was that?” I bolted to a sitting position, earning an annoyed look from Aric. “Did you hear that?”
“I didn’t hear anything but giggling girls,” Aric replied. “I think most of them have fallen asleep, but there are a few stragglers. Sami is one of them.”
“You can hear her from this far away?” That was impressive.
“I can hear her voice, but I can’t make out the words,” Aric said. “That’s almost a relief. I don’t want to hear about boy singers with no body hair.”
I snorted. “I guess I must’ve heard them, although … .”
“Although what?” Aric prodded.
“I … .” The low roll of thunder cut off what I was about to say, and Aric groaned as he rolled to his side.
“No, no, no,” he complained, pressing his forehead against my cheek. “We were supposed to get a private night to ourselves under the stars.”
“I didn’t think it was supposed to storm tonight,” I said, my anxiety ratcheting up a notch. “Didn’t we check the weather this afternoon?”
“Yes, but you know how summer storms pop up,” Aric said. “Come on. Let’s move the sleeping bag under the balcony. I can run inside and get that air mattress thing. We can still enjoy the night without getting wet. We’ll just miss out on the fire.”
“That sounds like a plan,” I said, throwing the top of the sleeping bag off me and swinging my legs out the side. “I love being close to a storm.”
“I know,” Aric said, pulling me in for a hug as he nuzzled my neck. “That’s why I suggested staying outside but getting under cover. I figure that the storm will put you in the mood to break every one of Sami’s rules, and because we’ll be out of earshot and her sightline, she’ll never find out.”
“I can live with that,” I said, laughing as I helped Aric gather up the sleeping bag. “I’ll grab our shoes and meet you under the balcony.”
“That sounds like a plan.” Aric jogged toward the back porch as a terrific flash of lightning split the sky. I happened to be looking at the tree line at the edge of the yard as it happened, and my heart lodged in my throat when I saw movement.
A loud booming thunder followed almost immediately, and found myself frozen as I stared at the location where I saw movement.
“Zoe? What are you doing?” Aric’s voice came from behind me. I knew he was under the balcony as the rain started to fall. It didn’t start with small droplets. No, this was a monsoon as the sky opened up and the heavens wept their warning.
Lightning flashed a second time, and I was certain about the movement. Not only did it continue in the same spot, but it was also closer. Someone – actually, multiple shadowy figures – crept Aric’s way.
“Zoe!” Aric was halfway down the yard when I glanced over my shoulder. The look on my face was enough to stop him before he reached my side. “What is it?”
I shook my head as I dropped the shoes, using my hands to shoot bright arcs of color toward the
trees. That’s when Aric saw the figures. They were slow and lumbering … and there had to be at least fifty of them.
“What is it?” Aric asked, wrinkling his nose. “I … they smell like death.”
I’d seen enough bad movies – and one stellar television show – to answer that question. The brief light showcased sightless eyes when I fixated on one of the figures. “I think they’re zombies.”
“Zombies aren’t real.”
“They are now,” I said grimly, licking my lips as I glanced at the second floor of the house. Everything was dark and silent, which was both a relief and a curse because I desperately wanted to hear Sami’s voice to ease my worry.
As if on cue, the quiet was broken as someone in the house screamed. It was followed by a multitude of other screams, the sounds overlapping so I couldn’t tell where one terrified utterance began and another ended.
Aric jerked his head in the direction of the house. “Sami,” he whispered.
“Go to them,” I ordered, turning back to the creatures on the hill. “Keep them safe … and don’t get bit. I’m not sure if I can heal you if you do.”
“This isn’t a television show, Zoe,” Aric snapped. “I’m not leaving you out here.”
“You have no choice,” I gritted out, steeling myself for an onslaught of death. “I need you to take care of our daughter. She’s the most important thing … and you know it.”
Aric swore under his breath. “And what are you going to do?”
I shrugged and forced a smile for his benefit. “What do I always do?”
“Offend them with sarcasm.”
I barked out a laugh for his benefit. “I’ll do that, too.”
“Zoe, come with me,” Aric pleaded. “Don’t do this alone.”
“Go upstairs,” I ordered, my hands igniting with red fire as I felt one of the figures moving in on my left. “I’ve got this. I’ll be fine.”
Aric didn’t get a chance to answer, because I pushed out the fire with my mind, catching the three closest shadows before they moved too far up the lawn and causing them to burst into flames. The light show was enough to make the girls upstairs scream again, and this time Aric didn’t hesitate when he raced for the stairs.
Dying Covenant: The Complete Series Page 28