“I thought you guys were behind me when I came in the house,” Paris said, twisting her hands nervously. “I didn’t realize you were still outside.”
“Really? You didn’t realize that Zoe and I were still fighting the six wolves out there while you hid in here? I find that hard to believe.” Aric’s bare chest heaved, drawing my attention to the wound on his ribcage. I absentmindedly ran my fingers over it. I’d cleaned but forgotten to wrap it during my mini meltdown. Aric captured my fingers and brought them to his lips for a quick kiss. “I’m fine. You won’t even be able to tell anything happened in a few hours. Don’t worry about it.”
I couldn’t help but worry. Now wasn’t the time for that, though. “I was just checking it.”
“I know. We need to focus on this now, though.” Aric shifted his attention back to Paris. “Is there something you want to tell us?”
“I … no,” Paris replied, squaring her shoulders. “I think you guys did an amazing job fighting off those wolves. I wish I could have been more help.”
“That’s not what I mean,” Aric said. “Don’t get me wrong, though. The fact that you left Zoe out there to fend for herself doesn’t make me happy. It also doesn’t remind me of the woman I knew when we were at school. That Paris would’ve died for Zoe. This Paris left her out there to die alone.”
Paris’ eyes widened as her mouth fell open. “I did not leave Zoe to die!”
“You could’ve fooled me,” Aric hissed, all pretense of calm falling away. “You left your friend and the one thing in this world I can’t live without alone to fight off monsters. What the hell is the matter with you?”
I’d been expecting the words – or something very close to them – but Aric’s fury was beyond anything I had seen in a long time. He wasn’t messing around.
“I would never leave Zoe to die,” Paris protested, her eyes filling with tears. “How can you even say something like that to me?”
“Because while Zoe and I were fighting for our lives you were sneaking away without giving our survival a second thought,” Aric snapped. “What’s really funny about this situation is that the wolves were here for you!”
Paris reared back, disbelief and confusion flitting across her features. “How … what … how do you know that?”
I wasn’t sure until I saw her reaction – not completely anyway. I wanted to believe Paris didn’t know the wolves were there for her and that she panicked. I knew it was a fool’s bet, but I was still wagering on the friend I knew in college. That trust and belief was waning.
“The wolves weren’t interested in me,” I said. “They only cared about keeping us separated. There were two wolves near me. The other eight were after you.”
“I want to know why,” Aric pressed. “I want to know why you brought danger into my house so it could threaten my woman!”
I cocked an eyebrow, pursing my lips as I tried to control my mouth. It didn’t work. “Your woman?”
“Don’t push me, Zoe,” Aric growled.
“I wasn’t running away,” Paris said, resigned. “I was coming inside to make sure they didn’t get the book. That’s the most important thing. If they get the book, they can destroy a lot more than your precious yard.”
Aric and I exchanged a look. I shrugged at his unasked question. I had no idea what she was talking about.
“What book?” Aric asked, tugging on his patience so he didn’t accidentally rip off Paris’ head before we had the all-important answers he wanted.
Paris shuffled back and forth in front of the door. “It’s a really long story.”
“I think we have time,” Aric shot back.
“I … you’re probably not going to like me much after you hear it,” Paris added, her voice low.
“I’m not thrilled with you right now, so you have nowhere to go but up,” Aric replied.
Paris exhaled heavily and ran a hand through her hair. She was still dressed in my bikini, though she’d tugged her pants over the bottoms. “I guess you have a right to know.”
“I’m all ears.”
WE settled in the living room, Aric pulling me onto his lap in one of the large armchairs at the side of the room while Paris sat on the couch and faced us. It was truth time, and she looked as if she dreaded the process more than I. Would I ever be able to look at her the same way again? I hoped so. I don’t make friends easily. I gave her up years ago to keep us all safe. Losing her this way would be … crushing.
“After we lost touch, I was … upset,” Paris began, resting her hands on her knees as she launched into her story. “I thought you chose Aric over the rest of us. Before you start arguing, I get it. You two are building a life together. It still hurt.
“Kelsey and I talked from time to time, but it wasn’t the same,” she continued. “She has a business mind and her life is very structured. I don’t do well in structured environments. I always thought that’s why you and I got along so well.”
“I always thought it was because I was the center of the universe and everything revolved around me,” I said, going for levity.
Aric pinched my side to silence me. “Go on,” he said, his face cold. He gave the appearance of being relaxed, yet I could tell he was poised to strike should Paris make a move he didn’t like.
“I’ve always been interested in magic,” Paris said. “You know that. My mother believes in the principles of Wicca and I’ve embraced them, too. I wanted to go beyond that, though. I wanted to learn as much about pagan culture as possible.”
I didn’t like where this was heading.
“I met a few people through some online forums,” Paris continued. “Most of the people in those groups are wannabes. They’re not true practitioners. In most cases, even if they wanted to be true practitioners they don’t have the power to do it.”
“You joined a coven, didn’t you?” The words were out of my mouth before I realized I was saying them.
Aric stiffened beneath me and shifted my body so my back rested against his chest.
“I did,” Paris conceded, lowering her eyes in shame. “I know I shouldn’t have, but … I was lost. I felt abandoned. Whether it was purposeful or not, you walked out on our friendship.”
“I was trying to do the right thing for everyone,” I countered. “You were safer away from me. You know that. Even after we took down the hierarchy at Covenant College, the remnants of that organization were never going to stop looking for me. It wasn’t fair to put you in danger.”
“You let Aric hang around,” Paris pointed out.
I glanced at him, love washing over me. “I can’t seem to shake him.”
“And you never will,” Aric grunted, rubbing small circles on my back as he kept his gaze fixed on Paris. “Where is this coven located?”
“We held most of our meetings at various houses in northern Kent County,” Paris replied. “That’s where I moved after … well, after everything. I opened my own magic shop. Before you fly off the handle, it was mostly kitschy herbs and incense. There was nothing dangerous.
“Things shifted once I formed the coven, though,” Paris said.
“How could you even think of doing something like that after Laura?” I asked, wrinkling my nose at the name of my former roommate. Laura had been seduced by dark power and joined a coven masquerading as a sorority during our sophomore year at Covenant College. That coven was intent on stealing my powers until I ended Laura’s murder attempt in spectacular fashion on the lawn of a sorority house – one that bore a strange resemblance to a vagina. No, I’m not making it up, and I have no idea why it popped into my head now. “You were the one that pointed out the dark path Laura was going down. Why would you follow her?”
“I wasn’t following her,” Paris argued. “When I first envisioned the coven, I thought it was going to be basic spells and sisterhood. I only wanted some people to hang around with who understood about magic and weren’t afraid of it.”
“That’s not what you got, though, is it?” Aric
asked.
“Things got out of hand before I realized what was happening,” Paris admitted. “We kept trying more and more complex spells. Most of them were still harmless but … .” She broke off, biting her lip. “Things got out of control.”
“Why did you come here?” Aric asked.
“One day one of the women in the group brought me a book she found at an estate sale of all places,” Paris said. “She thought it was cool. It was bound in leather – or so she thought – and it contained old spells. They were in Latin, so she couldn’t read them. She still wanted to try them.”
“What was the book,” Aric asked, leaning forward slightly and resting his chin on my shoulder.
“It was The Archimage.” Paris made the pronouncement in dramatic fashion. Unfortunately, I had no idea what that meant.
“Huh?”
“I forgot how ignorant you are when it comes to history,” Paris grumbled.
“Hey!”
“You’re the smartest person in the world, Trouble,” Aric said, not missing a beat. “I bow down in front of your vast knowledge every day.”
“Don’t placate me,” I muttered.
“An archimage is a great wizard or magician,” Paris explained. “The word has fallen out of usage. The Archimage as a book, though, is something else entirely.”
“I’m not going to like the fact that the word ‘mage’ is in it, am I?”
“No,” Paris replied, shaking her head. “The Archimage is a magical book that’s … well, it’s beyond measure. It’s the one book everyone wants to get their hands on. People claim that it holds enough strength to bring down the most powerful person in the world.”
“Meaning Zoe,” Aric interjected. “You’re saying this book can kill Zoe. That’s what you’re getting at, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know,” Paris said, her eyes clouding with fear. “I can’t read it. It’s not classical Latin. I did recognize the book for what it was, though. I knew I had to get it away from my coven. I … they might know about you.”
Aric tightened his arms around my waist and scowled. “You told them about her? Why?”
“I was drunk one night and it slipped out,” Paris said, refusing to cower. “I’m so sorry. They know about Zoe’s power. I never told them her name. They know I used to be friends with a mage, though. It wouldn’t be hard for someone to go through my background and find Zoe’s name.”
“It would be harder than you think,” Aric shot back. “My father paid a lot of money to have Zoe’s name scrubbed from as many public documents as possible. As far as anyone knows, Zoe never went to Covenant College. She was never your roommate.”
Paris’ eyebrows flew up her forehead. “Seriously?”
“I’m not messing around with Zoe’s safety,” Aric snapped. “We did what we had to do.”
“I still couldn’t leave the book with them,” Paris said. “The problem is … they realized what the book was after I took and hid it. They came after me two weeks ago. I’ve been on the run and in hiding since then.”
“That’s why you came to us,” I mused. “You knew the only way you could keep yourself safe was by bringing the death book to us.”
“I was hoping you could help me,” Paris clarified. “I … I never meant for any of this to happen.”
“Well, it did,” Aric snapped. “I want that book, and I want you out of this house right now.”
Paris blinked rapidly, her face draining of color. “But … .”
“You can’t do that,” I protested, shooting him a look. “If we don’t help her, they’ll kill her. Even if she doesn’t have the book, that won’t stop them from torturing her until they get our location.”
Aric rubbed the back of his neck as he considered my words. I could tell he hadn’t thought that far ahead. He pushed me to a standing position and followed suit, stepping in front of Paris and planting his hands on his narrow hips as he scorched her with a dark look. Even dressed in nothing but boxer shorts, he was a terrifying sight.
“Have you told us everything?” Aric asked.
“Yes.” Paris’ voice was weak.
“Where is the book?”
“It’s in my bag.”
“I want it,” Aric said. “I want it locked in the safe overnight. You can stay here while I think about this. I’m not promising anything until I’ve had a good night’s sleep, though.”
I let out a relieved sigh. That would give me time to think, too.
Paris left the room long enough to get her bag from the rug by the front door. She wordlessly handed the book to Aric. He didn’t even glance at it.
“There’s a guestroom at the end of that hall,” Aric said, pointing. “I suggest you go there now and get some sleep. If you hear anyone in the yard, don’t worry about it. There will be a team here working through the night to clean up the bodies.”
“What happens then?” Paris asked, licking her lips.
“I have no idea,” Aric replied. “I’m sore. I’m tired. I want to take Zoe to bed. Those are the only things I know right now.”
Paris opened her mouth to press him further, but I shook my head to still her. She wisely snapped her mouth shut and nodded. “I’ll go to bed.”
“Great,” Aric muttered.
I slipped my hand into Aric’s and led him toward our bedroom, casting a rueful look in Paris’ direction. “We’ll talk again in the morning.”
Paris nodded, morose and mute.
“If you try to leave this house while we’re sleeping, I will hunt you down and kill you,” Aric warned. “Don’t you dare think of betraying us again. You won’t like what happens if you do.”
7
Seven
I left Aric with his thoughts for the rest of the night. I could see his mind busily working on the problem, but I didn’t want to push him when he wasn’t ready to talk. I’d lived with him long enough to know when he needed quiet time. I’m not a quiet person by nature, but poking him when he’s uneasy is a horrible idea. It would lead to a fight, and that was the last thing I wanted.
We took a subdued shower together, one that didn’t lead to wandering hands for a change, and then we went to bed. I drifted off quickly, the knowledge that Aric would never let anyone get close enough to us in our sleep making me feel safe enough to nod off. I thought Aric did the same, but I was wrong.
I woke long after midnight, Aric’s cool spot in the bed making my heart thud as I rolled over. He stood at the window, his back to me, intent on whatever was transpiring outside. I crawled out of bed and joined him, letting him wrap his arm around my shoulders as he watched his father’s men work.
“What are you thinking?” I asked.
“I’m thinking that I did a really crummy job of keeping you safe yesterday.”
“Aric … .”
“It’s the truth,” Aric said, cutting me off. “If I hadn’t felt you calling for me, what would have happened?”
“Probably the exact same thing,” I replied, unruffled. “I would’ve fried the werewolves and then waited for you to come back and clean up the mess. You know I hate housework. There’s no way I could’ve handled that alone.”
Aric chuckled, the sound light despite the pall in our bedroom. “I keep worrying that I won’t be able to keep you safe, yet you’re the one who keeps coming through and saving my life. There’s a little bit of irony in there.”
“Do you feel emasculated?”
Aric shifted his eyes to mine. “Should I?”
“Well, you were saved by a lowly girl,” I said, poking him in the side to let him know I was kidding. “I would think in wolf circles that would make you quite the mongrel.”
“Oh, I love it when you use dog words to talk about my heritage,” Aric deadpanned, although his eyes twinkled. “Why are you up? You usually sleep so deep I have to tickle you awake.”
“I missed you.”
“How could you miss me? You were asleep.”
I shrugged. “I felt your absence,” I s
aid. “When I woke up your side of the bed was cool. You run hot. I’m used to that. I just … felt … you weren’t there.”
“I’m sorry,” Aric said, rubbing my neck. “I heard movement out here and I wanted to watch them clean up. I guess I lost track of time.”
“What about the two wolves who were still alive?” I was almost afraid to ask the question.
“They’re gone now, Zoe,” Aric replied. “You know we couldn’t let them live in case they got a message back to anyone looking for this book. It’s better this way. Ten wolves disappearing will give the people who want the book reason to pause. That will give us time to figure out a plan of attack.”
“You’re including Paris is that ‘us,’ right?”
Aric scowled.
“She’s still my friend,” I said. “She made a mistake. She was lonely. Part of this is my fault.”
“Don’t even go there, Zoe,” Aric snapped. “Paris did this on her own.”
“She could have left the book with them and then where would we be?”
Aric didn’t answer, instead keeping his eyes fixed on the workers. They were almost done.
“She tipped us off, Aric,” I pressed. “Now we know the threat is out there and we have what they want. That puts us ahead of the game. That has to count for something.”
“Zoe, the only reason she’s still alive is because you don’t have a scratch on you,” Aric replied. “If you had been hurt … .”
“I wasn’t.”
“You could’ve been.”
“But I wasn’t,” I reminded him. “She was taken because of me once. Don’t forget that. I owe her this. We have to help.”
Aric didn’t respond, but I could feel the emanating from him.
“I love you more than I ever thought possible, Aric,” I said. “Please don’t ask me to abandon her.”
“If I asked you to abandon her, would you?”
It was a pointed question. “I … yes.”
Aric sighed and ran a hand through his sleep-tousled hair. “Then I won’t ask you to abandon her,” he said. “You’re not to go anywhere alone with her, though. She’s going to follow my rules while she’s under this roof.”
Rising Covenant (Living Covenant Trilogy Book 1) Page 5